Your Dependable Nashville, Tennessee Roofing Professionals
Every day, of every year, your roof literally braces the elements to keep your home safe and dry. It is the front line of defense. Without a solid exterior, leaks could pour into your home damaging not only your belongings, but allowing mold to develop as well effecting the air you breathe!
And as important as your roof is to your home, it tends to be one of those things that is out of sight out of mind, until there is a problem. For most homeowners, the roofs tends to be one of the most forgotten parts until there is a leak, missing shingle out front, or if the roof caves in entirely!
There are a few reasons you may consider hiring a roofing contractor for your Middle Tennessee home, or requesting a roof inspection:
Hail or Wind Storm Damage To Your Roof
Storm damage in Nashville tends to be the most significant reason why you may call for a roofing inspection, or need a new roof. Your roof is designed to withstand Mother Nature, but even the strongest of roofs can begin to break down after facing 80 MPH winds, or 2” hail! Excessive heat can bake your shingles, while ice storms can cause ice damming, and wind storms can blow off shingles, while hail stones can penetrate the fiberglass on your shingles and in extreme cases hit through decking! There are many different ways that a storm can damage your roof.
Your roof has one primary function: shed water away from your home. And when your roofing system is designed and constructed, that is what is built to do. However, when a storm blows in, and damages your roof, it impedes your roofs ability to function properly. This is a reason that many homeowner’s insurance policies cover storm damage, or “Acts of God” because it is out of your control and it is important to repair or replace your roof in order to prevent the damage from worsening.
What starts as a small repair can quickly turn into an expensive replacement if storm damage is left undetected. It is a good idea to look for missing and curling shingles after a storm. If you see hail indents on your gutters or siding, that is also an indicator that your roof could be damaged as well. Once you begin seeing water spots or leaks after a storm, it is extremely likely that your roof may have suffered storm damage.
We have inspected 100’s of storm damaged roofs, and helped countless homeowners in the Middle Tennessee region restore their roofs to excellent condition. In many of these storm damage restoration cases, the homeowner’s insurance may cover the entire replacement cost.
Improper Roof Installation
While storm damage is one of the main reasons that we see roofs needing to be repaired and replaced in the Middle Tennessee region, improper roof installations also are something that we see. Not every roofing contractor values their craftsmanship & workmanship the same. Some have a volume based business, meaning they need to do dozens of roofs a week to be profitable. We treat our customers like we treat our own family or how we would treat our own roof – spending the time to do the job right the first time.
Unfortunately, not every roof is installed to the manufacturer’s guidelines or code. This improper roof installation will generally not be covered by homeowner’s insurance to replace, and can quickly lead to leaks. A manufacturer may also not honor the warranty if they claim the previous contractor did not install their product to code. This is another reason why price should not be your sole factor while choosing a roofing contractor. A lower price can mean “cutting corners”. While the initial expense may be less, it can equate to a higher long-term cost if you have to replace your roof in another 5 years because of an improper install, versus a slightly more expensive but reputable contractor that uses a higher-grade material and craftsmanship with a roof that could last 20 or 30 years!
Wear & Tear with an Aging Roof
Just like with a car, or other property, a roof unfortunately will begin to wear down with time. Depending on the roofing material that you have on your home, your roof has a limited lifespan. Typically, an asphalt shingle roof will last 15-20 years. With improper installation, it could be less, but could also last 25 or 30 years if it doesn’t suffer any significant wind or hail storm damage. Generally, a metal roof can last from 30 to 40 years. A metal roof can also last 50+ years if it isn’t exposed to extreme storm damage. A slate roof could last 100 years! Similarly, a tile roof can last 50 years or longer!
A lot of customers ask if they can simply patch up an aging 20 year old roof that is starting to leak. Unfortunately, patch up repairs can do more harm than good on an aging roof. As you tear up one layer, it can break layers around the problem spot. And, depending on the severity of the problem, the repair may only hold up for a short period, making the patch up repairs more costly than simply having the roof replaced properly from the onset.
Selling or Buying a Home
Your roof is one of the most prominent things that someone can see from the curb. The expression is “literal” that your roof can add to the curb appeal of your home. You may be considering putting on a new roof to increase your home’s curb appeal and selling value before listing your home on the market. Many times we have been asked to help put on a new roof before a closing date, as it is contingent on the sale. Or, perhaps you purchased a new home and contingent in the agreement is that you would put on a new roof after purchasing the home. In either circumstance, we have helped many Realtors, property managers and new home buyers/sellers by putting on a brand-new roof that not only increases your home’s curb appeal, but will last for years!
