Roofing Tips for New Homeowners
When you first step into your new home you may not know much about the roofing, plumbing or even the appliances inside. However these are all important things that you want to learn more about. You need to know how to tell if there is a problem. You need to know what things you can do to prevent problems and you need to know when it is time to call in the professionals for assistance. The more knowledge you have about your home the better prepared you will be.
Materials Used
The first things that you know about are the materials that were using in the roofing process. It may not seem like a big deal now,
but when you experience a leak and call someone in for assistance they will need to know this information in order to proceed. You may have a roof made of tiles, shingles, tin, or even just wood, depending on the building. Check to see if you have gutters (not all homes do) and the materials used here as well.
Warranty
Most new homes come with some type of roofing warranty. When you get all of the paperwork for your home you may be tempted to skip over reading some of the materials that came with it. If possible at least find out the basic warranty information. You need to know the process to follow, who to call, and what constitutes a warranty issue. This will make things much easier if you do run into a problem.
The Attic
Because the attic is located at the very top of the home there is a lot of exposure in this room to the roofing. Climb up there and take a look at things. You want to check this area regularly to make sure that there is no damage to the roof, no water leaking through, and no rodents or animals that are making their way in through the top of the home. If you do suspect that any of these problems are taking place, call someone to come out and take a look. As with most things in a home, the sooner you notice a problem and solve it, the better off you will be.
Maintenance
Find out what type of regular roofing maintenance needs to be done. You also need to know how often it needs to be done. It may be that you need to have a visual inspection of the area every year or, depending on where you live, every time the weather changes. Much like checking the attic, this will give you a heads up if you see something that just doesn't look right.
Some homeowners choose to set up regular inspections and maintenance with a company in town. The service plan may include checking everything over and even discounts on issues that may arise. Call around to see which companies offer this type of service, how much they cost, and what is included. This will give you some idea of whether or not this is a service this is beneficial to you.
