Roof renovation is a project that can make a huge difference in the overall lifestyle quality within your home. Nonetheless, it’s also something that’s fairly difficult to conduct on your own, especially if it’s your first time. The problem with this is the fact that most of the tasks that come into it are quite simple in nature. Buying the right materials (in quantity and quality), providing the right work platform and dealing with the wooden construction are all tasks that sound much simpler than they actually are. With that in mind, here are five tips on roof renovation that you need to keep in mind.
Measure Everything
The first thing you should keep in mind when renovating your roof is the fact that you have to take a precise measurement of everything, especially if you’re not using the same shingles as the same time. More importantly, keep in mind that you won’t be able to calculate everything to the last shingle. Some might get damaged in the process and due to the fact that you’re doing this to reinvigorate your home, this is the last thing that you should allow to happen. The estimation of roof materials can also be done via a roofing calculator, a simple tool that might provide you with a lot of assistance.
The Wooden Construction Underneath
The second thing you should keep in mind is the fact that the replacement of shingles isn’t all that a roof renovation and repair entail. Namely, fixing wooden construction underneath is just as important. This, on the other hand, may not be something that you can handle on your own, which is why you should always outsource this contract to professional, specialized contractors. The last thing you want to do is put the integrity of the roof in question while fixing it.
Get the Necessary Equipment
One of the reasons why a roof repair is so specific is due to the fact that it requires all tasks to be performed on height. This means that you’ll either have to provide ladders, scaffolding or some other alternative solution as a platform for fixing the roof. One simple solution would be to look for travel tower hire options and browse through the selection of cherry pickers, boom lifts and scissor lifts. This is by far the most efficient way of handling this task, due to the fact that you get a mobile and functional work platform at disposal.
Make Sure There’s Room for a Roof to Breathe
The next thing you should do is ensure that there’s enough room for a roof to breathe. Lack of air circulation can cause your roof materials to rot, which means that it will become A) less efficient and B) less aesthetic. Both of these are reason enough for yet another renovation which, so close to the last one, might seem like a total waste of money. Either way, due to the fact that the previous roof was probably already built with this principle in mind, you might even be able to skip this step altogether.
Don’t Do It On Your Own (Unless You Absolutely Have To)
At the end of the day, this roof renovation really isn’t that complex, yet, it’s still both better and safer to entrust this to professionals. If you absolutely have to do so, then getting the right work platform (something we’ve already discussed) and equipping yourself with an adequate safety gear (hard hat, rubber-soled shoes, etc.) might be advisable. Even getting a roof safety harness might be a good idea.
In Conclusion
Keep in mind that a roof renovation is something that every homeowner out there will have to think about, at least at one point in their life. This means that the above-listed tips may be seen as a useful knowledge, even if you don’t have the plan to engage in this project anytime soon.
Bio: Patrick Adams is a freelance writer and rock-blues fan. When he is not writing about home improvement, he loves to play chess, watch basketball, and play his guitar. More than anything, he loves to spend his time in his garage, repairing appliances and creating stuff from wood.
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