Category: Home Services

Home Services

Roof Replacement Tips

Your roof is one of the most critical aspects of a house, and it should be in the best possible condition. If your roof is in poor condition, then it can end up compromising the integrity of your home. The cost of replacing a roof can be one of the most expensive replacements, and this is why people are always looking to save money in this process. It is essential to take good care of your roof so it can have a longer life, saving you a lot of money in the process. Below are some roof replacement tips that will go a long way.

A “roof over”

The cost of replacing a roof is high, and this is why some people prefer to re-roof or “roof over.” This is where you place the new shingles over the old ones. While you will be able to save a lot of money in the process, the potential problems outweigh the benefits. Doing this can reduce the life of the shingles because there will be a buildup of heat and problems with moisture. There is also the risk with the decking under that has not been uncovered or repaired. You should check the warranty so you can avoid loss of coverage because you did a roof over.

Measuring the size of your roof

When you hire a roofing contractor, they will come and measure your roof before providing you with an estimate basing it on the number of squares of roofing materials that are going to be used. A square is used to describe material that is needed to cover one hundred square feet, so a 2,000 square feet surface will have 20 squares. You can use the same type of measurement to arrive at a rough estimate of the roof replacement.

Ventilation

Proper ventilation will play a significant role in extending the life of your roofing. You should make sure that the roof has adequate ventilation to modulate the temperature in the attic during the summer and reducing the buildup of moisture during the winter. You should find out from the contractor the kind of venting that is right for your roofing for it to last a lifetime.

Repairing the wood under the shingles

The work of a roof repair professional is not only the removal of old shingles but also making the repairs needed on the underlying wood. Make sure that these repairs have been addressed and should even be included in the agreement. There is no need to spend more money later on something that could have been done during roof replacement. It is never a good idea to place new shingles over faulty wood because it will affect the life of the new roofing materials, which will cost you a lot in the long run.

Using the above roof replacement tips will help you increase the life of your roofing and ensure that everything is done right to prevent spending money on something that could have been avoided.

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Home Services

How to Find a Plumber in an Emergency

How to Find a Plumber in an Emergency

Sometime while being the owner of a home you’ll need to call a plumbing technician, and it’s very likely going to be an emergency when it happens. Nobody appreciates having a flooded basement or clogged pipes while you are not sure who you can call to fix them. Plumbing emergencies aren’t fun but here are some suggestions to help you find the right plumber for the job.

1. Hire a Pro!

Professional plumbers will get the job finished with less mess and damage in your house. Everybody has a handy friend or family member, but they aren’t professionally qualified. What may appear like a very simple and easy fix could very easily turn into a really expensive headache. Professional plumbers stay current in plumbing technologies and understand how to resolve your issue with minimal invasion to your property. Living without getting to use your bathroom for several weeks because of a poor job is not acceptable.

Just how do you know they are competent? You should ask to see paperwork such as the necessary licenses and insurance. They should also have a telephone that’s answered by a real person together with a web site. Here is how to tell if your plumber is licensed.

2. Get Recommendations!

You will find plumbing companies by looking through the yellow pages or by doing a Google search however you will still have to find out if they’re any good. You can always check with friends to find out if they have a plumber they might recommend to you. Ask about the situation, if the plumber was very good, was there an emergency, how much time did they have to wait.

If nobody has a recommendation for you don’t panic you can still check on the web for a plumber. There’s plenty of web sites on the internet that let you to check references or that make recommendations. You can check the Better Business Bureau in addition to websites like Google and Angie’s List.

An additional good signal to look at is the length of time the plumbing company have been operating. If a plumbing service have been in business for a long time then they’re doing good work. They are still around due to the fact they have given outstanding services.

3. Pay by the Job Not the Hour!

Nobody likes hidden fees and shocks on an invoice. You want to get a plumber that is going to charge you a flat rate for the entire job as opposed to a hourly rate. You should really get a free estimate before the works starts a reputable company will definitely provide one. Get in writing what the job will cost, the materials plus the cost of labor. Like any other services you want some sort of warranty or guarantee on the work completed so be sure you definitely understand the terms and conditions of the warranty.

Getting a plumber is not that difficult using a few of guidelines you will have your pipes running properly in no time.

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