Though much of the world is convinced that Southern California always has warm, sunny, roof repair near me beautiful beach weather, periods of inclement weather do happen. Certain times of the year, like Santa Ana season, can take its toll on your house and damage the roof. Whether you've experienced roof damage from inclement weather or just want to upgrade your roof to prevent problems down the road, all homeowners should understand how to get roofing estimates and chose the right contractor.
Before any homeowner chooses a contractor, they should always get at least three roofing estimates and talk about what to expect so that there isn't any misunderstanding. In most cases, contractors can provide accurate roofing estimates with complete details on the scope of the job-- but that is not always the case. There are many occasions that prevent contractors from being able to identify potential problems or damage that might have gone unnoticed for years, making it essential that homeowners build a trusting relationship with their contractor before signing a contract.
Things homeowners need to look for in roofing estimates include many things besides the price. Just because a contractor's price might be the lowest doesn't necessarily mean the homeowner is going to get the best job for the money. In a lot of cases homeowners that chose the lowest price end up finding out later that their contract for the work includes clauses that can end up costing more than the most expensive bid.
Other things homeowners should look for besides the price include whether or not the contractor was professional when the bid was presented, how detailed the roofing estimates are and how easy they are to understand. Professional roofing contractors deal every day with construction lingo and terminology that can sometimes seem confusing for homeowners to understand, so homeowners need to ask as many questions as they need to-- especially if they are unfamiliar with the description of the work to be done. During the presentation of roofing estimates, homeowners should feel comfortable that the contractor is answering all their questions.
Contractors that provide detailed and professional looking estimates are usually a good indication that the work will be done in a detailed and professional manner. Roofing contractors that give homeowners roofing estimates that have coffee stains and appear to have been scribbled down in a few minutes aren't necessarily bad roofing best roofer near me estimates, but the homeowner should understand that some costs and expenses might have been missed in the haste to provide a timely bid.
Homeowners that take these simple guidelines and suggestions when getting roofing estimates should find it roofer near me easier to choose a roofing contractor that will make them feel comfortable that the work is going to be done in a professional and timely manner. After the homeowner feels comfortable with their choice in roofing contractor, they should be sure to maintain an open dialogue with their contractor to ensure that there won't be any miscommunications down the road. Even though homeowners feel their job is the most important one, the contractor sometimes has dozens of other projects and roofing estimates to provide to other customers. Remember, communication is the key in any kind of relationship, even professional ones.
When discussing a topic with someone it facilitates the conversation to have a working knowledge of the vocabulary. If you have a need to inquire about your roof whether for repairs, updates or new construction it would be beneficial to know some roofing terms. The basic descriptors of a roof have to do with the style or shape of the construction.
These shapes are often chosen depending on your house style and sometimes the geographic location. Although there are variations, the style of a roof will be classified into two categories - gabled or hipped. When using the roofing terms gabled and hipped you are referring to the elements of slope, overhang and peak style.
A gabled style is the type where the roof slopes from the peak, or ridge in this case, down to the eaves. This results in a triangle appearance on two or more sides of the house. On these sides, the part of the roof that hangs out over the edges is referred to as the rake. The sides of the house without the signature triangle appearance also have an overhang. This is referred to as the eaves.
There are basically three sub-categories of gabled roofs, which also have their own roofing terms. A front-gabled house is the type where the front door is in the gabled side. That is, if you look at the front door you will see the signature triangular section above the door. This is often used with A-frame houses.
The second sub-category is side-gabled. These houses have the front door on an eave side, and the appearance from the front is a view sloping up the roof to the ridge. The triangular areas are on the sides of the house. The third type is cross-gabled. These houses appear to be a blend of two gabled sections merged at a 90-degree angle.
When a roofline is termed hipped, there are generally three other roofing terms that describe the subcategories. A hipped roof does not have the signature triangle as the continuation of the walls. All the slopes of the roof will slant in toward a center ridge or point at the peak. The first sub-category of a hipped roof is termed simple hipped.
All four roof sections of the house slant toward a central ridge running across the top of the house. The second sub-category is termed pyramid due to the appearance of the roof resembling a pyramid. All the sections of the roof slant to single point at the peak of the house. This was a popular design back when historic homes were built. The last sub-category is termed cross-hipped. Like the cross-gabled it has the appearance of two units joined at a 90-degree angle.
All these elements carrying their own unique roofing terms add to the style and type of home construction. Some choices are made based on the climate or other environmental factors, and some are chosen for aesthetic reasons.
Take a look at your roof and define which of these basic types you have on your home. This will assist you in conversing with professionals when you are in need of repairs or updates...