A roof that’s well cared for and doesn’t have to contend with extremes of weather can last for decades. Even a roof that’s been subject to Barrie’s hard winters can last for a long time. However, there will come a time when even these roofs will need to be replaced. Even a sturdy roof might be replaced by a homeowner who is doing a major remodeling and simply wants a different look for his or her roof.

But even before one shingle is replaced, the customer will need to do some homework. This largely involves finding the best contractor to re-roof the property whose cost falls within the budget.

The first thing to do is ask around for referrals. Since contractors in the area are probably familiar with each other, the customer might want to ask the contractor who recently remodeled the bathroom or the kitchen. The customer might even ask his or her real estate agent or ask a neighbor who has recently had his or her own home re-roofed.

roofDiagram

The customer should eventually have a list of three or four highly recommended roofing contractors and set up a time to interview them. Ideally, a representative should come to the home and take a look at the roof and get an idea of what needs to be done.

The contractor who is finally hired needs to be:

 

It’s also a great plus if the contractor is a member in good standing with a professional roofer’s organization and has been in business for more than five years. Neither of these is an absolute requirement, for even a new company can do excellent roofing work.

 

After this, the customer can put the roofing job out for bid. Some people claim that the lowest and highest bid should be discounted, but again this isn’t a hard and fast rule. A high bidder might be a contractor who does such stellar work that he’s in demand and can charge top prices. A low bidder might also be an excellent roofer who’s just starting out and needs customers.

After the contractor is chosen, he should be ready to go to work between two weeks and a month and half after he and the customer draw up and sign the contract. A roofer who’s in demand might take a bit longer, but shouldn’t take that much longer. The contract should reflect both the start date and the proposed end date of the project. The contract should also take into account those inevitable delays caused by the weather and other factors beyond anyone’s control.

The type of roofing materials should also be specified in the contract. The variety of these materials can be dizzying. Does the customer want cedar shingles or shakes? Does he or she want slate or clay tiles or asphalt shingles? Maybe the customer wants a metal roof. What color should the materials be? The roof will also need to be properly ventilated and have a good felt underlay. All of this should be spelled out in the contract.

A roofing job that requires replacing a few shingles can be completed in a couple of days, while a complete re-roofing job can take less than a fortnight if the weather cooperates.

Alair Homes prides itself on top quality home renovations, including re-roofing for residents in Canada and now the United States. They have zero obligation quotes, warranty their work and send a representative to inspect the project at the three, six and 12 month mark. For more information, residents of Barrie can give them a call at (705) 309-9863.