The season of needing to find roofing contractors may be over for now in many parts of the country, but with the continued threat of a changing climate and extreme weather conditions, both commercial and residential roofing companies will be needed again before too long. Professional roof repair and replacement services are in the highest demand in areas of the country where tornadoes, high winds, and hail are more common. In fact, as many as 65% of home owners say that they are the most likely to repair roofs following weather damage and that it was their main motivation in a recent consumer survey.
Whether you are lolling to find roofing contractors for a new construction project or you are in need fo immediate roofing help for repairs after a storm, it is always important to know that you are working with someone you can trust. A roof is an essential and important part of a home, not only providing aesthetics, but also protecting contents of the house from the elements. Knowing that you can find roofing contractors who will still be in town and stand behind the work that they do will allow you to protect any investment that you make.
Durability Is a Top Quality When Home Owners Are Looking to Find Roofing Contractors
Some neighborhoods have special covenants that limit the kind of materials that are used in a subdivision. In addition to these home owner association rules and regulations, of course, there are also the requirements that individual home owners have when they are making this substantial investment. And whether the costs are being covered by an insurance company after a major storm or they are being paid for by the home owner, it is often in your best interest to get the highest quality materials you can afford and have them installed by the most experienced contractors.
Consider some of these facts and figures about the roofing industry and the implications that it has on the value of individual properties and the nation’s economy as well:
- Roof ice dams caused by melting and refreezing can cause significant water damage to ceilings and walls. To minimize dangers, it is important to keep an attic no more than five to 10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature to limit the amount of melting and refreezing that occurs.
- Did you know that six inches of wet snow is equal to the weight of about 38 inches of dry snow? In fact, wet snow is considerably heavier than dry, fluffy snow and can cause significant roof damage in many parts of the country.
- The weight of one foot of fresh snow ranges from three psf (pounds per square foot) for light dry snow to 21 psf for wet heavy snow, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA0 snow load safety guide. As a result it is important to make certain a roof is prepared to withstand the potential of extra weight before winter.
- In addition to saving 10% to 50% on heating and cooling bills, proper attic insulation can prevent the formation of ice dams, and save home owners the trouble of expensive roof repairs.
- Winter storms are the third largest cause of catastrophic losses to homeowners, according to the Insurance Information Institute. In the biggest storms, property damage, like collapsed roofs, are all-too-common.
- Fortunately, most newer roofs are built, or are supposed to be built, to withstand snow loads of 15 to 30 pounds per square foot.
- The number one most common form of ice dam damage is collapsed rain gutters.
- Lower quality roofs and roofs over 20 years old have a greater likelihood of succumbing to winter weather, including snow accumulation, ice, and high winds.
- Followed closely by longevity at 83%, a consumer survey indicated that durability was identified as the number one factor when determining which new roof to purchase by 88% of respondents.
Th middle of winter may seem like a strange time of the year to be thinking about roofing contractors, but if you have recently had repairs or an entire roof replacement, these are exactly the times when you need to be certain that you are watching for any problems that may have occurred during the construction or repair process.
More Stories