Many homeowners do not give priority to remodeling until something breaks and has to be fixed. The fact is that the roof keeps the house dry, contributes to its overall appearance, and helps lower cooling bills during the summer months. So when the time comes to build a new house or get an older housetop covering redone, it is worthwhile to consider all remodeling options. Here are some areas that need thoughtful consideration before beginning any such work.

Reputable Contractor

When considering contractors, don’t fall into any pitfalls and become a victim of substandard roofers. Here are some ways to prevent a disaster from happening.

• Evaluate - Assess the contractor before hiring. Don’t be easily enticed by commercials. Instead, conduct personal evaluations about each company. Ask for references and conduct a personal interview regarding each candidate.

• Review Bids - Contractors know how to maneuver bids so review each bid thoroughly. Look for what is included on each bid such as labor cost, material cost and length of time to complete the project.

• Compare Bids - Do some comparison of the different bids. Check on the internet about different housetop products and their costs; compare the results with what each contractor’s bid shows.

• Become Knowledgeable - Try to learn roofing basics. Know what to ask during an interview with each contractor. Learn what to expect when the work begins so that the remodeling work will achieve all necessary goals.

Materials

When choosing to use shingles for the remodeling project, there are several aspects to consider in that selection process.

• Cost – Measure the roof for rating purposes. Shingles are usually priced per square (100 square feet). Asphalt shingles, which are highly ranked, have a price range per square from $50 to $150. Remember that this cost only includes installation of the new product and does not include the cost of removing the old product.

• Warranty - New roofing guarantees from manufacturers can range from 20 years to a lifetime. The length of the guarantee can indicate the anticipated performance and serviceability of the final product. For roofing contractors, it is common for them to provide a workmanship warranty, which could be any figure at all. It somewhat indicates what each builder considers to be the level of workmanship afforded to the roof of each client. It is also common for the contractor to provide servicing for any manufacturer guarantee issues that may arise.

• Design - The design of the roof and its slope can be limiting as to a choice of shingles. Once the angle of the slope has been determined by a professional contractor, that company can assist in the selection of the material that is appropriate for the design and slope of the existing housetop. Of course, if the entire roofing system will be remodeled and the slope will change, that will affect the choice of shingles.

Any additional remodeling concerns can be discussed with the roofing contractor. Let them do the hard work and make that remodeling job that much easier to complete!