Real Estate Articles - Roofing

All You Need Is A Bucket And An Umbrella

I once heard a wise man in the roofing industry say the best advice he could give about keeping the rain off your head and out of your home was to keep a bucket and an umbrella handy. Well, he was kidding of course. Since roofing isn’t cheap, and putting a new roof on a home is certainly a pricey undertaking, it might be nice if a bucket and umbrella was all we needed.

There are many questions to ask yourself if you are facing the decision to re-roof. So, go ahead, ask yourself the questions and then research the answers. Am I going to go with the cheapest or look for the best? Can I get it repaired or do I need a complete re-roof? Need some help?

First, assess the roof. If you have a shake roof, look and see if there are signs of aging. Are you finding blown-off shakes all over your yard? Are the shakes lifting or curling? Do you find mysterious water spots on your ceilings? Don’t forget to check the attic for leaks too. If you have a composition shingle roof, does the roof look like it is crumbling or granuelly? Can you still see the outline of your shingles? With a tile roof, the problems are not always so evident. Here you look for water stains inside the house or attic then look for broken tiles. By the way, this can be tricky for the inexperienced leak investigator, since you can do more damage walking on this type of roof trying to locate your broken tiles. Yes, there is a method to traversing a tile roof, and usually a roofing contractor is the one you want up there walking around.

If you determine you need a new roof, you will want to do some research and find out what you like in the new roofing materials available now. What is new in the market? Visit some home shows and talk to the vendors. Look at sample boards. Make sure to pick the right look for your house because the roof is an important aspect to enhancing the curb appeal of your home, especially in a luxury real estate market.

Next, call a licensed contractor out to look over the roof and see if you really need a new one or can the existing roof be repaired. If he says you need a new roof, be sure to check his qualifications. You should request the following: Business name, address, and phone number. Experience, training and age of the company (How long have they been in business). Business license and contractor’s license are required. He should have the appropriate insurances; worker’s compensation and general liability. Ask for references; this is a great way to see the contractor’s work and ask others if they are satisfied with the end product and way in which the work was conducted. Discuss warranties, building permits, and length of time to do your work.

Then, when choosing your new roof be sure to take into consideration the local regulations on what kind of materials you can choose from. Many areas of California no longer allow wood shingle or shakes due to fire hazards. Also, many homeowners’ associations only allow certain types of roofing to be installed. Selling in a luxury real estate market can be different and it is important to know your audience and their needs. I know of a situation where a homeowner purchased his shingles, and when they were delivered, the local CC&R people showed up and put a stop to his having the roof installed because it was not up to the code their development required. It was unfortunate as he had already purchased the material and now had to go through the process of sending it back and getting something else that would be allowed.

Hopefully, the steps listed above will help you in determining whether or not you need a new roof, and then help you with the process of getting that new roof installed. Since no new roof is inexpensive, I think you will find it is indeed both a wise investment and a necessary evil. These tips should help prepare you for the task of determining the need for a new roof, finding the right contractor, and ending up with a finished product you will both love and value.

Debra Miller