Archive for the ‘roofing’ Category

Many properties these days have a lead roof. If you are thinking of fitting a lead roof, it is important that this be properly designed and executed. To ensure this, it is equally necessary to have a good understanding of the material and the skills necessary to work it. There are some common things that can lead to the failure of lead roofing and these should be understood.

Lead is one of the best and most durable roofing covers available. It is commonly used on older building such as churches but is becoming more common on other types of building. A hired contractor or lead roof specialist needs to understand potential faults that can occur when fitting a lead roof and how to recognise problems:

• weaknesses, holes, ripples or splits
• using pieces that are too large for the area covered
• poor fittings and fixings
• poor consideration of temperature and potential for movement
• the use of inappropriate or ill-fitting underlays

Each of these can have an impact on how long the lead roofing will last as well as how effective it will be in its protective function.

One of the main causes of failure in fitting a lead roof is making it too tight or the where the sheet is the incorrect size. Because lead is usually fitted on the outside of buildings it is subject to all kinds of weather conditions and in particular changes in temperature. Lead expands and shrinks in changing temperatures and this should be borne in mind when fitting. A fitting should be the correct size for the area and sufficiently tight to keep it in place but not so tight as to not allow it to move, expand and contract in the changing temperatures.

FIND A ROOFING SPECIALIST OR SERVICE HERE

Other aspects that should be considered when fitting a lead roof are the weight of a sheet and strong winds. Both of these can cause a sheet to rip away from its fittings or move around excessively. Also, corrosion caused by moisture or dampness underneath the lead sheet can be caused by fitting to a damp surface or warm air escaping from inside the building. This can be eradicated by allowing sufficient ventilation between the lead and the surface. Finally, Lead is a highly valuable and desirable material making it vulnerable to thieves all too ready to steal it. There are some protective measures (ask your contractor) you can take and vigilance is highly recommended.

There is little doubt that lead sheet is a good roofing material – keeping a building dry and protected. But it is highly recommended that you use only trained and qualified tradesmen, skilled in the techniques to fit one.

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Roof repair like any other kind of building work is technical and requires skill so if you’ve discovered a problem with your roof and that it needs to be repaired, our very simple recommendation is to seek out a professional rather than attempt to repair it yourself. This is because it is likely to be quicker, better quality and (in the long run) cheaper.

But when you seek a quote from a roofer be sure to include as much detail as you can and anything else that would be useful for a roofer to know. For example,

What in your view is wrong with the roof? Not being a specialist you may not be able to describe the source of the problem but you will know the symptoms – what’s happening? Is there a leak? Is it cold? Both? Can you see broken or cracked tiles or a damaged coating? Be precise.

Roof coating – maybe your roof just requires coating. There are treatments available for roofs that protect tiles etc from the weather. If this is all you require and you know it needs nothing else the explain this to a roofer.

Flat roofs –  Does your home have a flat roof or sloped? Flat roofs require a special kind of care. They can be more vulnerable than sloping roofs as water does not easily drain off.

Roof restoration – roofs may require more than a simple repair job but complete restoration. Depending on the materials, extent of restoration and location this might mean specialist roof repairers. Bear this in mind if you think you have a roof that is different from the norm.

Roof replacement – likewise some roofs require complete replacement or a least partial replacement. This is different from simple roof repair. Consider this as a possibility even if your leaking problem seems small.

FIND A ROOFING SPECIALIST OR SERVICE HERE

Gutter and facias – this is not exactly roof repair but gutters and facias are necessary parts of roofing that can easily get neglected. These require as much care and attention as the roof itself. And don’t assume that a leak is the cause of a hole in your roof – it may be your guttering.

Do as much investigation as you can before you inform any prospective roof repair tradesman. Tell them about the property, explain what the ‘symptoms’ are then give you view of the problem. In most cases, a roof repair person is likely to want to assess a job for themselves before attempting it but a brief pre-description can help.

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There are lots of things to consider when thinking about getting a new roof fitted to your house. If you are just starting to think about this then this short ‘new roof – top tips’ guide will help you to make some good decisions. It will also be of great help to your service provider. If you have a clearer idea of what you want then that assists them in making decisions about what is best for your project. It will also help you both to control the cost and get the roof that you want and need.

1.       what kind of new roof do you want? Is it flat, slanted, house, garage etc. Can you describe the kind of roof you want: the kind of tiles, covering, colour. The more detail you have the better.

2.       A new roof can many other possible features like Velux windows (if you want light coming in) additional leading and flashwork, guttering and fascias. Think about how you want these to look.

3.       Why do you want a new roof in any case? Some people think they need a completely new roof when all is required is a renovation. A good service provider will advise on this and make recommendations based on your budget

4.       Think ahead. Is your roof on top of a loft that you might convert one day? This might make a difference as to what you decide.

5.       There are roof coatings and coverings to think about. You don’t need to know the details as your roofer will recommend for you. But make sure they explain the advantages of one kind over another before you spend

6.       Plan your budget carefully and how much you can afford to spend. It’s generally true that when getting a new roof the better quality you can afford the longer it will last.

7.       A new roof like any building project takes time and needs project planning. Agree start and finish times with your provider and how they will carry out the work

8.       Get a few quotes before you decide which provider to use. Don’t just go for the cheapest or even what seems to be the most detailed – both can be unintentionally deceptive.

9.       Obviously you need to agree a price for your new roof before they start – get it in writing.

10.   As the work progresses try to get a verbal report from your provider as to what they are doing at each stage and how long it will take. This will build a relationship with them, show that you are monitoring the process, and indicate that you are keen to get the job done.

If you are thinking of getting a new roof you can GET A QUOTE HERE from a local provider

Repairing or maintaining a roof is not easy, particularly if you need to remove tiles, replace guttering or re-point a chimney.  If tiles need replacing, you might be able to fix the problem yourself if you have competence in this area, but bear in mind that these are technical jobs with a high degree of risk (around the job itself and around personal safety).  Of course, there is information around – especially on the internet and in books or DIY magazines that can help you but, to be honest, you are better off getting a proper roofing contractor to do the for you. A roofing contractor will certainly save time, energy and (in the long run) money. The problem is finding a reputable one who will do the job at a price and a time you want them to.

Choosing a roofing contractor is not easy. There are so many companies and so many individuals that could offer you a service that it is difficult to know where to begin. Here are some options that are commonly used to find a roofing contractor when we have a roofing problem.

1. You could ask a few neighbours if they know someone who has used a roofing contractor and whether they can recommend a good person or company.
2. Another way is to go to your directories (either online or offline). There will be plenty of roofing contractors there. But that still doesn’t help you much especially since there will be lots of them and when they all seem to be offering the same thing.
3. You could go online and simply do a search for ‘roofing contractors’ – but the problem here is that you will get all kinds of results of contractors that you won’t really be in a position to know which contractor is best for you – so you end up spending time and phone calls finding out.
4. The best way is to post up the job you want completing at somewhere like comcero.com (where it won’t cost you anything in money and very little in time) and where you can state exactly what it is you want doing, where you want your service provider to be, and you can wait for the right roofing contractors to tell you what they can do for you, when, and how much it will cost.

GET A QUOTE OR OFFER A SERVICE HERE

Hiring the roofing contractor

Once you have some contractors responding to your post, you can check they have all the right memberships, certificates, testimonials and endorsements etc., (if that’s important to you), and you can choose the roofing contractor that best suits your budget and timing.

Be clear

Be sure you agree the details of the work to be done carefully and get a clear price up front (it is not always possible to get precise costs in every situation but you should at least try). You don’t want someone to start the work and then tell you it will be 50% more than what was quoted once they are half way through the job. Also be clear on what aspects of the work should be completed by when. You might want to see that each part of a job is completed by a certain time and then paid for as each ‘stage’ is finished.

Be clear if you want the contractor to abide by certain rules (like start and finish times each day), being considerate to your neighbours, warning you if there is to be lots of sustained noise from machinery. Also, don’t be afraid to request that a contractor clear up any mess which results from the work. Good roofing contractors don’t need to be reminded of these things but less experienced or less conscientious ones might. Be clear on both what you want doing, what you want to spend and the methods the roofing contractor will be using.

Get a guarantee

After the work is completed – make sure you check it before you make the final payment. Also, get your roofing contractor to agree a guarantee of some kind. This way you don’t have to worry about problems later on.  This can protect both you and the contractor if it is done properly and will also be in their commercial and reputational interests.

Comcero.com starts you off and makes much of this very easy for you by helping you to get the roofing contractor of your choice, allowing you to set out the details of the job and inviting those with the competence and availability to do the job how and when you require.