Are you in the market for a new roof? It may seem daunting trying to find a trustworthy partner in your quest to improve the functionality and beauty of your home – so we’re here to help! Whether you’re searching for roof installation, replacement or repair, here are five things you need to look for when you’re hiring a roofing company.

Let’s get started!

1) Don’t Always Go For the Lowest Bid

While a lower proposal may seem attractive with the money saved on your roof project, however, the cheapest option is normally a sign of inexperience or unreliable work. Search for competitive prices and request proposals from a wide number of different roofing contractors. While you shouldn’t need to spend top dollar for what are essentially the same services, you want to protect yourself from any unworthy contractors. After all – you get what you pay for, and when it comes to your roof, you want the best.

2) Look for Signs of Trustworthiness

There are a countless number of professional and trustworthy roofing companies out there, but there are just as many out there that aren’t professional or trustworthy, or even licensed or insured! This is an illegal act, yet some contractors still choose to offer their services without full legal capabilities, leaving you with potential problems that carry a big risk. Upon your first consultation, ask to see the license and insurance of the contractor in question and don’t be afraid to ask them about their experience with your type of roof.

3) Get Everything in Writing

If you want to ensure your protection as a homeowner when hiring a roofing company, make sure you have everything drawn up into a legal, professional contract. The terms of your contract should cover your entire agreement, from the materials used to the work being completed to the final costs and follow-up warranty. If there’s no contract in place, there’s nothing stopping the roofing company from pulling a fast one on you and potentially leaving you out in the cold. At the very least, it gives you assurance that they’re trustworthy.

4) Find a Company with Great Communication Skills

When searching for the ideal roofing company, choose one that displays great communication skills and is highly responsive to your questions or concerns. If a roofer tries to chat with you in an overly technical manner, it may be a sign that they’re trying to upsell you on things that you may not need. A great roofing company will keep you fully informed from the moment you call them until the project is completed and beyond, explaining key components of construction in a way that’s easy for you to understand.

5) Ask for References

When it comes to a roofing company’s reputation, there’s nothing more telling than the opinion of a past client. If you’re trying to find the best roofing company, ask for references upfront and reach out to them for their opinions. Any trustworthy roofer should be more than happy to oblige your request, providing you with the references you need to ensure they’re hirable. You can also look on websites like Better Business Bureau to see their rating, or go to Google Reviews, Yelp of Facebook to see what past clients have to say about their work. After you see past projects that were successful, you’ll be much more comfortable saying yes to the proposal.

Hire the Right Roofing Company and Gain Peace of Mind!

Now that you know five things to look for in a roofing company, you can install the roof you’ve been dreaming of! While it may seem like a challenge to find a contractor who suits your personality, reaching out to a variety of companies and looking for the right signs will ensure that your project is completed to your satisfaction.

If you’re in the market for a new roof, call Northface Construction today. We’re Minnesota’s premier roofing company, putting our clients’ satisfaction above all else. Providing comprehensive roofing installation, replacement and repair services, we make the construction process as simple as possible for you.

If you’re ready to get started improving your home, call one of our dedicated construction specialists today.

For many homeowners, roof problems tend to strike a panic that is unrivaled by any other feature or the house. Whether it’s water leaking in the attic, sunlight shining through the floorboards, or enduring the burden of another severe winter, it’s important to always be aware of the state of your roof before a complication can reach the point of no return. This is why taking a ‘better safe than sorry’ approach is so crucial when it comes to roof maintenance, because even a minor setback could turn into a multi-thousand dollar investment before you know it. To avoid potential disaster, here are seven common roof problems that indicate you should call a residential roofing professional as soon as possible:

1) Leaking

Arguably the biggest signal that you need roofing help quickly is leaking water coming through the roof. Whether it’s gushing water beginning to flood the attic or slight drips making their way through the floorboards, leaking is a problem that will only get worse the longer you wait to get it checked out. While leaking doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to replace the entire roof, having a residential roofer come by to assess the severity of the leaking will not only help you gauge a temporary solution, but also give you longer term options so you can avoid this nagging scenario for many years to come.

2) Shingle Damage

Another common factor that heeds a call for help is shingle damage. It’s easy to go up on your roof and see that your shingles need repair work, but knowing exactly what the source of the damage is as well as understanding the proper solution to fixing the shingles is a whole other aspect to addressing the problem. Having a roofing professional stop by to give a second opinion will help you comprehend what the source of any shingle curling or buckling is, as well as whether the severity of lost granules signals your shingles are past their life expectancy.

3) Faulty Roof Valleys

These changes in direction or elevation on your roof often host areas of complications and damage that can easily go unnoticed to the untrained eye. Roof valleys can be home to a variety of problems. If leaves or debris accumulates in a roof valley for a long period of time, water can easily build up and lead to significant leaking. Roof valleys can also be extremely vulnerable to rust development, which can lead to deterioration over time if not quickly detected.

4) Chimney Flashing

Chimneys are often the most overlooked component to the roof, simply because it can be difficult to detect any complications with them. The flashing of a chimney are either sheets of metal or roof cement or tar that is installed to keep water out, and unless you’re a trained roofing professional, it’s tricky to know when it’s time to get new flashing installed. Having a residential roofer take a look at your chimney can help detect early signs of moisture buildup or rotting that could eventually result in replacing your entire chimney.

5) An Aging Roof

If you’re unsure of how old your roof is, chances are it’s old enough to start needing some repair work. The general consensus is that a roof should be replaced every twenty to twenty-five years, and having a residential roofer handy to evaluate the age and condition of your roof can keep you aware of its overall condition and prepare you in case an entire replacement is necessary.

6) Bleeding Daylight

It may be fairly simple to spot daylight leaking in through the roof, but knowing the degree of repair work necessary to address the problem might be a bit trickier. A residential roofer can detect whether light will seep in through your roof just by walking over it, and also be able to tell whether the cracks in the floorboards may be due to extreme moisture exposure or damaged shingles.

7) Gutter Damage

Gutters can be delicate to assess damage, basically because either a routine unclogging can fix a problem or more intricate handywork is warranted to address rapid decay. Calling a residential roofer whenever you begin to notice leaking or deterioration in your gutters will help you get a better understanding of the root of the problem, so you can build up your line of gutter defense for the future and avoid further complications.

Once the big day of your roof installation is steadily approaching, it’s time to start checking off all the miscellaneous tasks you’ll need to take care of prior to beginning the repair project. Collaboration with your roofing contractor is crucial to ensuring everyone is on the same page throughout the installation process, and will also keep you, your roofing company, and others around you safe and in the know. You can expect a representative to meet up with you a few days to a week prior to construction to review the entire process and inform you on what you’ll need to do on your behalf. Here are the ten pre-roofing installation tasks you’ll need to take charge of and check off the list to help you adequately prepare for your next roofing project:

1) Notify the Neighborhood

First things first, you’ll need to spread the word to your neighbors on the exact dates that roofing construction will be taking place at your house. This is a common courtesy that will also help keep vehicles out of the way so your roofing company team will have adequate space to hustle trucks and equipment in and out, without any obstacles. Also, if you or your neighbors have pets, it might be best to find a temporary location for them away from the construction site, to keep them clear from excess debris or hazardous noise.

2) Protect Interior Belongings

There’s no way around it; a construction team on your roof will mean plenty of vibrations pulsating and rattling your entire house. With this in mind, it’s best to ensure that any loose valuables you have around the house, be it hung up on the walls or freely displaced on shelves and tables, should be placed in a secure and safe location until installation is complete. This could also allude to any expensive furnishings or accessories, such as chandeliers, ceiling fans, or paintings.

3) Secure Exterior Area

Making sure that anything worth value on the outside of your home is removed or at least covered is also a critical component to the pre-roofing installation checklist. Be sure to remove any satellites on the roof, cover up all plants with tarp, move outdoor furniture inside or in the garage. Any miscellaneous objects around your home should be protected, as it’s inevitable that debris will be spilling over from the roof and all over the yard. Turn off any sprinkler or alarm systems you have installed, and cover up all your windows and outdoor heating or cooling systems as well.

4) Establish Easy Access

One of the biggest things your roofing installation team will wish of you is to make access around your house and roof as easy as possible so the project can smoothly go according to plan. This pertains to ridding your driveway and garage of your vehicles, leaving gates and entry doors unlocked, and if you do plan on keeping your pet at home, be sure to keep it locked up away from interacting with the workers.

5) Special Requests or Emergency Contact Information

Obviously, it’s your home and property that’s being worked upon, so let contractors know if there are any requests or rules you have that they need to abide by. This could be anything from staying out of certain areas around the house, keeping particular gates or doors locked, or just keeping an eye out for circuit breakers or watering systems. Always leave them with emergency contact information in the event of an accident or if an urgent question needs to be answered immediately.

6) Obtain Approval

Be sure to check with your roofing contractor in regards to obtaining permission from the Homeowners Association for proper approval. Also keep in contact with them in regards to placing warning signs of upcoming construction around the neighborhood.

7) Keep Children Away

If you have kids, it’s important to try and keep them away from the construction site as much as possible, just to ensure their safety. Having them stay at a friend’s place or a daycare will help them avoid being exposed to constant loud noises, floating debris, and dangerous equipment.

8) Inspect Wiring and Vents

Prior to the roofing installation, be sure to have all your electrical wiring’s, circuit breakers, and exhaust vents inspected to avoid any potential unseen fire hazards or carbon monoxide leaks. Having a carbon monoxide inspector handy during the project is also something to keep in mind.  

9) Review Warranty Information

Keeping yourself in the loop on what your warranty will cover will give you more peace of mind once the project is complete. Don’t be shy when it comes to asking questions to your roofing contractor on what you can expect after your new roofing is installed.

10) Stay Informed

While such a renovation project can seem intimidating, roofing professionals should always do their best to keep you informed on all the details of the installation project. Stay in touch with your Northface Construction consultant to ensure that all your inquiries are answered and all your roofing expectations are met.

From enduring one brutal winter after another, to withstanding the extreme heat waves of summer, it’s inevitable that every Minnesota homeowner will eventually come across various roofing predicaments. Keeping your roof in pristine condition is crucial to ensure you won’t encounter bigger problems further down the road, and knowing how and when to apply the three methods of mending (repair, patch, or replace) can help keep your maintenance costs down and keep your roof adequately protected, all year round. Here are the key signs to knowing whether you need to repair, patch, or replace the roof of your Minnesota home:

When to Repair

Whether it’s a matter of shingle buckling or you’re noticing consistent clogging in the gutters, roof repair is the broad phrase that covers plenty of maintenance issues you may experience with your roof. For starters, routine roof inspection is important to help you catch any needs for repair before any areas of concern grow out of hand. While inspecting, be on the lookout for any signs of shingle damage, be it curling, bending, or missing shingles. Shingles that are placed in areas that receive the most sunlight are more than likely going to need repair work over time.

If you’re noticing that your gutters are clogging up more than usual, it could be because loose shingle granules are plugging up the gutter, which typically happens with older roofs. It’s also important to keep an eye out for any signs of color inconsistencies, which can also signal loose single granules or possible rotting. Catching discoloration before it gets out of control can not only mean the difference between repairing and replacing, but also save you thousands of dollars in maintenance costs. Finally, also try to keep an eye out for loose nails, which can typically happen after you’ve recently experienced extreme winds or rainfall. Loose nails need to be addressed as soon as possible to avoid potential leaking or further shingle damage.  

When to Patch

It’s easy to start to panic whenever you notice signs of leaking from your roof. But just because a little water is falling through doesn’t mean you need to take any extreme courses of repair action or replace the entire roof. Patching up isolated areas of holes or damage that are contributing to leaking is one of the more DIY-friendly methods of repair work you can do without contacting a roofing contractor or serviceperson. The general methods of patching require as little as some roof sealant, a brush to dust off any excess material, and a roof roller to smoothen out the sealant. However, if you’re inexperienced in patching a roof, it’s always a safe bet to contact a roofing specialist, and minor roof patching will never cost you too much.

When to Replace

When the time has come where your roof is vastly approaching the point of no return, there may be no other alternative solution to the problem than full out roof replacement. The first sign that you might need to look into replacing your roof is knowing how old it is. The general rule of thumb is that if your roof is reaching or past fifteen to twenty years of age, then it’s better safe than sorry to replace it. If you’re not sure how old your roof is, then be on the lookout for any neighbors getting their roof replace, because odds are their roof was built around the same time as yours.

Other general indications that a new roof might be in order are large patches of discoloration, multiple areas of daylight coming through the floorboards, dark streaks of moss or algae formulating, or repetitive repair work on cracked shingles. Don’t let money scare you off if you’re hesitant to such an investment. Roof replacement typically saves money over time, so you don’t have to repeatedly repair shingles damaged or old shingles every summer or continue to spend money on annual roof repair equipment. Don’t be shy to reach out to a Northface Construction representative today for an estimate or evaluation on your roof’s status.