5 Tips on Choosing Your Best New Roof
Remember the simple house drawings of kindergarten, made up of just a square with a triangle on top? It was obvious even then that the roof of a home is important. So when the time comes to purchase a new roof, how do you figure out which roof is best suited to protect your family and provide the best value for your hard-earned dollar? Here are 5 key tips.
1. Consider your household lifestyle.
Before you even start roof shopping, think about the lifestyle and longevity of your home. Will you be living there for a long time, or do you plan to move, perhaps when the family grows? And what kind of climate or weather does your roof need to withstand? These are important questions to ask before you start researching the various roofing materials. Some roof types – such as asphalt ¬– don’t withstand hotter climates, for example, so matters like these should be considered before deciding on a type of roof.
2. Don’t get hung up on the color.
If you type phrases such as “picking out a roof for your home” in a typical search engine, a lot of articles will come up about the color and look of your roof. While this can be “the fun part” of giving your home a new roof, it is not the most important. The main point of a roof, after all, is protection, and you’ll want to carefully consider the materials and durability over everything else.
3. Research and understand the different types of materials.
Research is probably the most important part of the roof shopping process. After all, if you leap blindly into shopping without knowing what, exactly, will suit your needs, it’s very likely that you will spend more money than you wanted to and end up with a product that lets you down. The main materials for roofs include asphalt, slate, wood and metal. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, such as cost, durability and length of life, so be sure to read up on each.
4. Get to know warranties.
Roof warranties are important, but many homeowners don’t take the time to ask about them. The warranty on the materials differs from the service warranty, so you’ll want to know about each one before making a decision. Keep in mind that most roof warranties are written by manufacturers and last 20-50 years, but the service warranty depends on the policy of your roofing contractor.
5. Schedule an appointment with a professional.
Once you’re armed with the necessary information, it’s time to give the professionals a call and share the fruits of your research. Keep a folder with questions to ask and perhaps photos from magazines or the Internet of roofs that you think will work best on your home. The contractors may be pleasantly surprised that you’ve done your research.
