When you know your home's roof needs repairs, you want to call a roofer right away. Putting off those repairs can lead to extensive damage and bigger repair bills down the road.
However, you may be hesitant about asking certain questions of a roofer. Whatever the reason for your hesitation, note a few questions you should ask a roofer so you know how to keep your home's roof in good repair.
The roof is damaged in just one area; why is a full replacement necessary?
Even if the roof is missing shingles or has developed a water leak in only one area, it may still be good to replace the entire roof, depending on its overall condition. Those shingles may have fallen off or blown off because they're old and brittle, which means the rest of the tiles may easily blow off during a storm. The same is true of a water leak; this may have been caused by old and worn shingles, damaged flashing under the shingles and the like. If you do not replace those materials outright, the roof may develop water leaks in other areas, causing more damage over time.
Why are you recommending new gutters when the roof is what's damaged?
Undersized gutters or gutters that need replacing can allow water to collect around the roof's edge; that water then backs up under the roof shingles, causing damage to the tiles and the materials under them. Getting new gutters at the same time as your roof repairs can mean protecting a new roof or ensuring completed roof repairs are protected.
Why can't a new roof be installed over the existing roof?
In some cases, you have can a metal roof installed right over the current shingles or have a type of foam that seeps into cracks and holes in the roof sprayed on over those shingles. However, if your roofer has told you that this is not an option, there can be many reasons for this. One is that local building codes may not allow another roof layer on your home. Also, the home's current roof and structure may not be strong enough for another layer and may not hold foam or silicone. Do not be afraid to ask your roofer why a new layer of roofing material is not recommended in your case, as there may be a simple explanation of which you are not aware.
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