5 Things You Need To Know Before Replacing Your Waukesha County Roof

Do You Need To Replace Your Roof This Season?

If you’re going to be replacing your roof this year there are a few things you should know that might help you make a better decision for your home and your wallet.  Roofing is something most homeowners can expect to do only once or twice in their lifetime.  This article will share a few important tips to help you get the most out of your new roof.

Be Careful Hiring A Roofer Based On Price Alone

Don’t make the mistake many homeowners do of choosing a roofer based on their price alone.  If you are seeking the lowest price, you may just be setting yourself up (and your home) for trouble down the road.  It’s important to consider why they are the lowest price before you decide to hire them.  Maybe they are using unskilled and uncertified labor?  Are they really using the materials that they say they are?  Most homeowners won’t know the difference between the various roofing shingle manufacturers so it’s easy for an unsavoury contractor to take advantage of a trusting homeowner.

Because roof replacement is only required once every few decades there are many roofers out there who don’t really take customer satisfaction seriously.  They know they’ll only have to deal with you once and they aren’t worried about your repeat business nor are they worried about being around in a few years if you happen to have a problem with your roof.

It’s OK to shop around for your roof to get the best price but make sure you’re price shopping certified roofing companies so you know you’re getting a high quality shingle, with an installation that meets or exceeds the shingle manufacturers recommended installation practices.  Most reputable roofing contractors in Waukesha County offer a price match guarantee to protect the consumer.

Paragon Exteriors LLC can meet or beat the roofing estimate you’ve received so long as it’s from a certified roofing company and we’re comparing the same shingles and installation practices.

In this day-and-age it’s extremely easy for a consumer to check the background and prior history of a roofing company by simply reading their online reviews.  You can also ask your neighbors for recommendations or even the local roofing supply store to recommend a roofer that they trust.

How Many Layers Of Shingles Does Your Roof Have?

This is important to know because you could potentially save yourself a bit of money on your roof replacement if you are OK with installing your new shingles over-top the old shingles.  If you only have one layer of shingles on your roof this is entirely possibly, generally 2 layers of shingles is the maximum.  If you decide to have your new shingles installed over the existing layer you should know your contractor won’t have the ability to thoroughly inspect your roof decking or the existing flashing that may be in place in your roof valleys.

Understand The Warranty For The Shingles You’ve Chosen

Different shingle manufacturers offer different warranties on every level of shingle they sell.  These warranties can vary from as little as 10 years and go all the way up to 50 years for their highest quality shingle.  You’ll want to ask your roofing contractor if the warranty is “pro-rated” or not.  The best warranty is a non-pro rated warranty, this means if the roofing shingles fail during the warranty period you’ll have them replaced at full value.  A “pro-rated” warranty will only pay-out a portion of the roof replacement cost based on how long the shingles have been on your home, this is a practice that has left many homeowners frustrated if their roofing shingles have failed.

Remember:  You’ll likely only receive the full manufacturers warranty if your roof was installed by a factory certified contractor who’s followed the recommended installation procedure for the particular type of shingle you’ve purchased.  Often, the manufacturer will require the roofing to be installed as a “system” which may include their own water and ice barrier, their own ridge vents, flashing, and fasteners.  This is why it’s important to choose a contractor who is certified by the manufacturer as they will know this already and do as required.

Paragon Exteriors LLC offers our roof replacement customers an additional 10 year workmanship warranty on top of the manufacturers shingle warranty.  This means that if there is ever a problem with your roof due to an error or mistake we’ve made, we’ll fix it, for as long as you own the home.

Don’t Be Afraid To Spend More For Higher Quality Materials

Often times the difference between a lower quality roofing shingle and a higher quality roofing shingle isn’t very much money.  If the difference in a better roofing shingle is only a couple thousand dollars it’s a wise decision for any homeowner to go with the better product.  You’ll get better performance, a better warranty, and a longer life out of your roof.  If you plan on selling the home within a few years this might be less important to you, but think about the person who might be considering buying your home?  Having a good quality roof with an excellent warranty is a good selling feature and builds buyer confidence.  If you’re going to be staying in your home for many more years, you should go with the best roofing shingle you can afford.

Roof Maintenance And On-Going Care

Once your roof is installed you can’t really just forget about it, even if you’ve chosen the best quality shingle.  It’s still a good idea to have your roof inspected annually, especially if there has been some severe weather or you’ve noticed any problems with the roof.  In our area of the country, ice dams are a common problem and often they are attributed to an improper roofing installation and because of homeowner neglect (often not on purpose) they can quickly develop into very damaging problems.  An annual roofing inspection can help keep on-top of any potential problems.

Looking For A Great Roofing Company In Waukesha County WI?

Paragon Exteriors LLC is a full service roofing company based out of Waukesha County, WI.  Since 2010 we’ve installed hundreds of roofs in the area and we have a track record of very satisfied customers.  With our price match guarantee, easy to qualify roof financing, quality workmanship, and an unbeatable warranty, we’re a great choice for your new roof!

If you’d like to schedule your roof replacement quote with Paragon Exteriors LLC it’s as simple as giving us a call (262) 565-8282 or filling out our online contact form and we’ll get right back to you.