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Category Archives: roofing

How to Finance a New Roof. 7 Actionable Options You Can Do Right Now

How to finance a new roof? Is your roof is in need of major repairs, or even completely replacing? You’re not alone, it’s actually a more common problem than you might think.

The trouble is – it’s an expensive one. Not everyone has the money for such a large capital outlay like a new roof. But if you need one, it’s not something you should put off, either. Delaying a new roof could cause more problems with your home, so you need to get it sorted as soon as possible.

If you’re in a tight fix for cash – then this article might be for you. We’re going to look at a few ways to raise the money for your all-important new roof, along with some ideas to reduce costs or make your own roof last longer.

How to finance a new roof – How to tell if you need a new roof

You should be able to spot any major damage to your roof fairly easy. It’s a good idea to do regular roof checks to make sure you spot any problems when they’re still in their early stages. If you can fix small tears and cracks before they get serious, you might be able to stop the problem before you actually need a completely new roof.

Try doing a couple of maintenance checks every year – but be careful and use all the right safety equipment if you’re going to get up on your own roof (or call in a professional).

You can normally tell when you need major repairs or a completely new roof. If parts of the roof are falling off or you spot them around your property, this could be a problem. Valleying in the middle of the roof could also be a major indicator, as could light coming through the roof (along with water). While some leaks can be fixed without needing a completely new roof, you’ll want to get an expert to check them.

Can your roof be repaired?

Before deciding to buy a completely new roof, you might want to check if yours can be repaired. This will often depend on what type of roof you have and how bad the damage has been.

Shingle roofs can often be overlayed as a life-extending measure. This could give you another twenty years, so it could be well worth doing and should be a lot cheaper. But remember – a roof can only be overlayed once, so if it’s been done before – you’ll need to rip it off and start again. We wrote a great guide on overlaying a roof vs getting a new one.

For other types of roofs, you might be able to fix individual areas, like if certain tiles are coming unstuck. That means you might be able to prevent roof work being done.

How to make your roof last longer before it needs replacing

There are a few things you can do to make your own roof last a bit longer. As we already looked at – keep checking your roof regularly and deal with any problems immediately before they become too serious.

A good power wash with detergent every once in a while is another great idea. You’ll want to dislodge and remove any mould or moss as these can cause problems for a lot of different roofs. If you live in an area that has extreme weather, your roof might not last quite as well – so look out for south facing pitches and other places you might have had weather damage.

How to raise money for your new roof

if you’ve exhausted all the other options available to you, you might still need a new roof. This can be expensive, but it’s not something you’ll want to put off for too long. The problem with having roof issues is that they often come out of nowhere. That means you might not have the money lying around to deal with getting a new one – so you might need to look for a few ways to help pay for it. Here are some tips:

1. Re-mortgage your home

This one might seem extreme, but new roofs can be expensive – so it might be necessary. One point to consider is that your new roof could add quite a lot of value to your property, which is worth remembering.

2. Get a bank loan

If you don’t want to re-mortgage, you could consider a bank loan. This might be slightly more expensive than a mortgage, but you won’t have to put your house up as collateral.

3. Borrow it from someone you know

If you know someone with some money lying around, you might be able to borrow it from them. This option isn’t available for everyone – but if it is for you, it could be a good one.

4. Get a pay-day loan

This one is slightly more risky and should only be used in extreme circumstances (like if there’s rain pouring through your roof right now). Pay-day loans can be extremely expensive if you don’t pay them back quickly, so make sure you’ve checked all the small-print.

5. Discuss different payment plans with your roofer

If you don’t have the money to pay up-front, some roofing firms might consider paying over monthly instalments or some other way to get the job done straight away without putting your into too much financial trouble.

6. Have a yard sale

If you’ve got a lot of junk up in your roof space, now could be the perfect time to clear some of it. Try a yard sale and see how much money you can make – you might get more than you think.

7. Do overtime

Try and take on as many hours at work as possible to earn that extra cash you need. If you’ve got an understanding boss, you might even be able to ask for an advance on payment without resorting to a payday loan company.

Hopefully, these few tips should be enough to get you going in the right direction and teach you how to finance a new roof if you need to. Soon your roof problems should be a thing of the past.

How Long Do Roofs Last? More Than You Think

If you’ve got a roof you think might need either repaired or replaced – you might be wondering how long do roofs last. Even if you don’t have any problems with your own roof, it can still be a good idea to know how long different types of roofs last. Especially if you’re looking to have a specific roof installed sometime soon.

That’s the thing with the lifespan of roofs – there’s no one specific figure for all roofs. A lot of it will depend on the type of roof construction and a number of other factors.

Things like local weather and how you care for your roof can all play an important role. So in this article, we’re going to look at a few different roof types as well as some other factors that might affect how long your roof lasts.

How long do roofs last – Different types of roofs

The biggest factor in determining how long your roof is going to last is what it was made from. Let’s have a look at a few of the most popular roofing materials and the average lifespans of all of them.

Asphalt

There isn’t one answer for this either – as there are lots of different asphalt roofing solutions. The cheapest and one of the most common asphalt options is 3 tab shingle – and these roofs have a lifespan of about 10 to 20 years.

That means they might be cheap, but you might have to replace them more often than you think. These roofs aren’t good in extreme weather, either – especially storms. They can also develop cracks when it’s really hot, so aren’t recommended for some states.

There’s another type of asphalt roof called dimensional shingle. These are thicker and longer lasting than the more common alternative we just looked at.

These roofs can last a bit longer, upwards of about 15 years, but still not many more than around 20.

The upper end of the asphalt market uses and even thicker shingle and these are the sorts of roofs many luxury homes have. The lifespan of these increases a bit and these could last between 20 and 30 years. Again, depending on the environment and a number of external factors (which will have a closer look at later).

Metal

Metal roofs have long been a mainstay in the commercial industry, but more and more architects are including them in residential designs. The most popular residential metal roofing material is standing seam.

One of the reasons this type of roof is becoming more and more popular is because it has a much longer lifespan than asphalt roofing. A correctly installed standing seam metal roof can last at least 30 and up to 50 years. This makes it a great choice for homeowners.

There are other high-end metal roof solutions like zinc and copper, and while these might be more expensive – they last even longer. Some of these roofs can last well over 100 years.

These roofs are slightly better in extreme weather conditions, too – some able to withstand winds up to 150 miles per hour (although this can vary a lot).

A slightly more affordable metal roof is one made from ribbed metal panels. These don’t last quite as long, but you might expect a lifespan of more than 25 years, and sometimes up to 50 years depending on the construction.

Wood

Wood roofs might not be that popular in roofing anymore – but they can still last up to 50 years.

Clay tiles

Clay roofing has been popular for a long time and this popularity remains because of how durable they are. A good clay tile can be guaranteed to last at least 30 years, and often up to around 60. Severe weather over prolonged periods can shorten this a bit.

Natural slate

Natural slate used to be one of the more popular roofing solutions, but this popularity has decreased somewhat because of how expensive they are. They’re also really heavy – but extremely long lasting. A good slate roof could last up to 100 years, but it will cost a lot to replace.

While slate roofs are good in heavy weather conditions, loose slates in very strong winds can be dangerous, so this might be something to consider inf you live in certain areas.

PVC and TPO membranes

These roofing finishes are becoming more and more popular, and they can be quite durable, along with having good energy-efficient qualities. However, they don’t last the longest – and might have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years. That being said, they’re easy to resurface.

Tips On How to make your roof last longer

Regardless of the sort of roof yours is made from, there are a few useful tips to help make yours last a bit longer. Keep a lookout for any damage and get it fixed immediately.

Inspect your roof once or twice a year to make sure any issues get fixed as soon as possible. Any cracks could become more problematic if they aren’t fixed immediately.

A good pressure clean every so often is also a good idea. You don’t want any mould to develop as this could lead to further problems.

What can reduce the expected life span of a roof?

It might surprise you to know that the color of a roof can actually affect how long it lasts – that’s because a darker roof absorbs more heat, which could reduce the lifespan of some roofs. The direction your roof is facing could also make a difference.

Higher pitched roofs also tend to last longer than lower sloped ones. If you or someone else walks a lot on your roof, this could cause damage and reduce the lifespan. A roof that’s poorly installed by a shoddy contractor might also not last as long. Extreme weather can also play a big role. A poorly ventilated loft or roof area can also have an impact.

Hopefully, you’ve now got a slightly better idea how long your roof might last. This can help you maintain roof and also give you the right information if you need to choose a new roofing solution for your home.

What to Do When Your Roof Leaks. Tips And Advice

If you live in a particularly wet area or simply have a leaking issue that you need fixing, you’re probably already aware how stressful finding the right solution is.

Thankfully – all is not lost. In this article, we’re going to look at some of the issues surrounding roof leaks, as well as some key solutions.

So if you want to know what to do when your roof leaks and how to find a leak and potentially fix it yourself – keep reading.

What to do when your roof leaks – Inspect the roof yourself

If you first think you’ve got a roof leakage problem – you need to find out how serious the problem is and make a decision as to whether you can fix it yourself. Thankfully, some minor roof leaks shouldn’t be too difficult to fix with the right tools. So let’s have a look at how to inspect the roof yourself:

The first step is obvious – you need to get up into your roof and have a look around. While some major leaks will start showing through your house and into your rooms, you don’t want to let it get to that stage. Many smaller leaking issues will only show in the roof cavity or loft area, so get up and have a look around.

Remember: keep safety as your number one priority. Make sure the roof cavity area is well-lit (this will help you spot any problems much more easily as well). Wear the right protective equipment and don’t stand anywhere unsafe.

It might be a good idea to start inspecting your roof when it’s raining, so you’ll see where water is entering your building – and how much. If this isn’t possible, try setting up an unmanned hose to fire water at your roof, or get someone to hold it while you inspect inside. If you have things stored in your loft area that you don’t want to get wet during these tests, you might want to clear the area first.

One problem with finding the leak yourself is that there often might not even be visible drips from actual holes. You may find puddles or spillage in areas that aren’t right next to the roof holes.

In other words, water can slowly collect and build up from small trickles and leaks that are hard to actually spot. One tip is to try and think like the water, and follow any small streams and drips to find the main source. If the drip is already coming through into your main home, you can start your inspection right there and follow the stream to its source in the roof, hopefully.

If you’re having any trouble with this step, you might want to hire a professional to come in and help you. They’ve normally got much more experience finding roof issues than you might have, so it should be reasonably straightforward for them to help.

See if there are any small-scale repairs you can do

While major leaking problems will normally need a professional roofing company to help with, there might be some small things you can do to fix minor leaks yourself. First things first – put buckets in affected areas to catch drips while you work. Protect your furniture and carpets as well as possible.

Your ability to fix a leak might depend on the type of roof you’ve got installed. Shingles, slates and metal roofs will all have different features that might need specialist knowledge before you can fix them. If you’re unsure, consult an expert.

To cover a leaking section of your roof, you can roll out heavy polyethylene sheeting and fix it externally to affected areas. Be aware that this should only be a temporary measure before a more sustainable solution is found.

If you know where a specific hole is causing a leak, you might also be able to fix it by securing a piece of galvanized sheet metal flashing to your roof. You need to be sure that fixing the roof yourself is going to work – and you need to be careful. Working on roofs can be dangerous, so you’ll need to be extra careful and make sure you’ve got all the right equipment.

Consult an expert

If you’re unsure about your roof leak or how to fix it, consult an expert. Don’t take risks and try and fix the roof yourself unless you’re both sure you can do a good job to your roof, and you’re sure you can work safely on top of it.

There should be some good roofing firms in your area that you can talk to. Some will offer free consultations and competitive quotes.

What options are available?

Depending on the type of roof and how badly damaged it is, there might be a number of options available. You’ll find this out by consulting an industry expert. You might need to tear off your roof and have a new one installed, or there might be relaying options as well as specific spot-fixes. Make sure you get a good idea of exactly what’s necessary.

You might want to speak to a couple of different firms to get a range of opinions.

How much might it cost?

Before you hire someone to complete the job, you need to make sure you know how much it’s going to cost. This will depend on what sort of roof it is, the area you live in, how damaged it is and how hard it is to access. Don’t simply go with the first quote as you might be able to find a better price by shopping around. Just remember – don’t just go for the cheapest option. Go for the best.

Check if you’re still under warranty

If you recently had your roof installed or repaired – you might still be under warranty. Many reputable roofing firms will guarantee their work for a number of years. That means if you’ve got an issue, you might be able to get it fixed for free.

Check your insurance

Roof issues like leakage could be covered by your home insurance, so they might be able to take care of the costs. Check the smallprint of your policies and phone them up if you have to.

Hopefully, you now know a bit more about what to do if you roof leaks. If you’re unsure, reach out to a roofing specialist and they might be able to help you.

Hiring a Roofing Contractor Checklist – Read And Bookmark

If you think you need a new roof, have one that needs repairing or simply want to find out what the options are – you might be in the market for finding a new roofing contractor.

While there should be plenty of options in your local area – there’s a big difference between a good roofing contractor and a great one.

Sometimes, the best can be hard to find. But it’s also important that you treat finding a roofer seriously, as wasting your money on a poor quality roofing solution could set you up for more repairs and expenses down the line.

So if you need a roofing contractor – you’re in the right place. Work through this hiring a roofing contractor checklist carefully and make sure you’ve checked every avenue before you decide which firm to hire.

Hiring a roofing contractor checklist

1. What sort of roof do you have?

There are tons of different roof types, and while some contractors might try and specialize in every type of roof – many don’t.

Some of the biggest firms might be able to look after your needs regardless of the type of roof you’ve got, but it’s often a good idea to find a contractor who specializes in your specific roof construction.

So if you’ve got a shingle roof, you might need a different contractor to one who takes care of slate tiles.

There are so many different types of roof finishes, from metal roofs to membranes, it can be hard for one small contractor to specialize in everything.

That’s why you need to make sure the contractor you go with has worked with many of your types of roofs before. T

hey might tell you they can get the job done, but if they can’t show you lots of happy customers with that specific roof finish, you might want to look elsewhere.

2. What options are available in your area?

If you want to relay or repair an existing roof, you should have a few options in your local area – especially if you go back to the firm who first installed your roof.

This can be a good place to start – but it’s not the only place you should look. Especially if you think your roof has under-performed or needs repairs much sooner than you think it appropriate. I

n those circumstances, it’s a good idea to look elsewhere and potentially find a better roofer for your home.

In some cases, you might want a completely different roof solution when you have your roof replaced – but is that a viable option in your local area? Some people are deciding to modernize and replace their old slate roofs with easier-to-maintain metal pitched roofs.

But is this possible in your area? Are there enough contractors who know how to install that type of roof near you?

Aside from finding the right contractor in your area, you also need to look at what sort of roofing options are appropriate in your geographic location.

There are some roofs that can’t handle extreme weather, like snow heavy rain. Make sure you get a roof that both fits in with your neighborhood and can handle the weather.

3. Check reviews online

One great place to start on your search for a contractor is the internet. There are review sites for almost anything these days – and local contractors are no different.

Have a look and see which options are available in your local area, and try and find a contractor with a range of good reviews.

One tip when looking at reviews online is not to pay too much attention to the overall rating. Read the reviews themselves. There might be reasons why people are rating a company high or low.

These reasons might not be relevant to you. Also, make sure you pay close attention to firms that have too many anonymous 5-star ratings.

These could be fake. Look at the reasons why people are giving something 3 or 4 stars as this could be a much better indicator.

4. Ask people you know in the local area about their roofing solutions

If you’ve got neighbors who’ve recently had their roof done – this could be a great place to start. Ask people you know if they can either recommend a specific roofing contractor, or steer you away from one.

5. Ask potential firms to visit your site

You’ll want to get a feel for how professional a team is, and you can do this by asking them to visit your site. Do they arrive on time? Are they presented in a professional manner. Do they answer your questions honestly? These are all things you might want to check.

6. Check their references and testimonials

Any good roofing contractor should have tons of positive reviews and testimonials from happy clients. If they can’t provide you with any, you might want to look elsewhere. Try asking to see their portfolio or work.

If you can, visit some sites yourself and even ask the homeowners how happy they were with their roof construction or repair.

As well as their testimonials, you might also want to check any specific licenses and qualifications each roofer has.

Hiring a roofing contractor checklist #7 Ask for competitive quotes

Don’t go with the first roofer you find – ask for quotes. Some firms might be willing to match or undercut competitors. Just be careful not to go for the cheapest contractor if you aren’t sure they’re the best for the job.

8. See what financing options are available

Do you need to pay up front or can you pay some later? Getting a new roof can be expensive, so you’ll need to check what help with payment might be available.

9. Ask how long they think the work will take

If they’re a big firm, they might be able to bring in a number of employees and finish the job in a matter of days. However, this could also be expensive.

Check how long each roofer thinks the job is going to take and compare that to the quote they offer you.

Weight up the pros and cons associated with getting the job done faster. Will the same team-members be working on your site every day? Are there any issues regarding accessing your roof that might make the job take longer or become more expensive? These are more questions you might want to ask.

Hopefully, this checklist has given you enough information so that you can find the best contractor for you.

What Can I do if a Contractor Ripped Me Off – Some Helpful advice

Ripped off by a roofing contractor? You’re in the right place. It’s something many of us have experienced – but thankfully, there are a number of things you can do if you find yourself in a similar situation.

What can I do if a contractor ripped me off?

Finding a good roofing contractor can sometimes be difficult – but it’s an important choice nonetheless. Actually – it’s one of the most important early steps in preventing yourself being ripped off.

Those that do have bad experiences with roofing contractors will often have made the mistake of simply choosing the wrong service provider to start with.

In this article, we’re going to look at a few ways to make sure you find the best roofing contractor in your local area, so you can reduce the risk of actually having a problem at all.

We’re also aware that that’s not always possible, and even when making a considered choice before you sign-up, things can sometimes go wrong.

If that’s happened to you, we’re also going to give you a few tips to help get you sorted so that you can resolve the situation in the best way possible.

What to do if you’ve been ripped off by your roofing contractor

Has your contractor failed to finish the job to an adequate level? Have they left a mess around your property or walked of with some of the payment? Here are a few things you can do immediately if you’ve got one of these problems:

– Check if they’ve broken any local laws and report them

There are a number of different licensing agreements and local laws that roofing companies have to abide by.

Things like safe working practices and other health and safety regulations are often important, and a good contractor should take them seriously.

If you notice any major transgressions, document then with photographs and provide evidence to relevant authorities.

You might be able to get their industry accreditation revoked, or sometimes even the threat of doing so could be enough to get your problem fixed.

For other issues, like unfinished work, you could try small claims courts or other legal procedures, which we’ll have a look at later.

– Ask to speak to management

This should probably be your first step when you notice an issue – ask to speak to the boss and be forthright with your opinions on exactly what they’ve done wrong.

If it’s a big roofing company, the boss might not even know there’s been an issue and may be more than happy to fix it for you.

Reputable roofing firms sometimes make mistakes, so they might want to solve any staffing issues and over-deliver on fixing their mistakes.

Make sure you’re clear and direct about exactly what the issue was, and what you expect from them. You can offer photographic evidence to support your claim.

– Ask other people you know if this has happened to them

This is important if you’re trying to build a bigger case against your roofer. Ask other people in your area if they’ve been affected by this firm.

Have a look in your local newspaper and online to see if these are common issues. Try reaching out and getting extra evidence from other people who’ve been affected, as this could support your claim.

– Threaten legal action

The next step if your roofing firm is less willing to help – is to threaten legal action. Sometimes just the threat will be enough to sort the problem, but other times you might need to actually go through with it.

This is where supporting evidence form other people who’ve been affected can help, as well as the evidence you gathered yourself. Even just getting an official legal letter drawn up could help your situation.

– Leave a negative review

While this might not have quite the same impact as a letter from your lawyers, people still don’t like negative reviews online as it might affect their ability to get more business.

Some firms are actually quite proactive at dealing with poor reviews, so you could find this a good way to get a response to your minor roofing issues.

How to find a quality contractor that’s less likely to rip you off

One of the biggest factors in helping prevent you getting ripped off is to choose a better roofing contractor in the first place.

There should be a few quality providers in your local area that hardly ever have problems with their work – and when they do, they’ll be proactive in providing a first rate solution.

These are the sort of roofing companies you need to try. But how do you find them?

– Check online reviews

These days, you can get review and for almost anything – so check to see which roofing companies in your area come highly recommended.

– Ask people you know

While reviews are good, nothing beats the personal recommendation from someone you actually know. Ask neighbours or other friends if they’ve had a good roofing experience and who they used.

– Ask to look at finished jobs

When you’re talking to a potential roofing company, ask them to see if they’ve got a portfolio of finished work they can show you.

A good roofer should have plenty, and you might even be able to visit them on-site to have a look at their work.

– Ask for competitive quotes

Don’t just go for the first roofer you meet, and don’t just go for the cheapest. While cost will obviously be an important factor, sometimes – you get what you pay for.

– Check how long they’ve been in the industry

Some roofing companies disappear as quickly as they arrive in the industry – and these are the ones you’ll want to avoid.

Make sure you check any references and whether they’ve changed their trading name recently, as that could be another red flag.

Hopefully, these tips have been enough to get you started so that you know how to find the best roofer in your area.

If you do get ripped off by your roofer, you should also now have a bit more information to help you get it sorted.

The Complete Tar and Gravel Roofing Guide With Pros And Cons

Roofers have been using tar and gravel to cover roofs for a long time now, and for good reason. It’s still a viable option for you and your roof, and in this article – we’re going to look at why.

Tar and gravel roofing presents a number of benefits for mainly flat roofs. While it can be used on slightly pitched roofs, it’s mostly a solution for flat commercial ones.

However, since it’s so cheap and easy to apply, it also has uses in other types of construction.

As architectural tastes change, more and more residential homes are starting to use finishes that have often been reserved only for commercial buildings.

So whether you’re interested in tar and gravel for your commercial, residential, or other type of building – you’re in the right place.

In this article, we’re going to look at some of the pros and cons of tar and gravel roofing, as well as what to look for when choosing the right contractor to carry out the job.

What is tar and gravel roofing?

The reality of “tar and gravel” roofing is that the actual material is slightly more sophisticated than it first sounds.

The material used for this sort of roof finish is made from fibre-glass asphalt sheeting and is applied in layers to the vast majority of homes and commercial buildings with flat or nearly flat roofs.

It’s actually one of the most common roofing materials used in the industry.

Between each layers or sheeting hot bitumen is applied to form a seal. The top layer is then coated with more bitumen and a layer of stone, rock or gravel to hold the other materials down.

This also acts as a way of protecting the roof from weather abrasion and other external effects.

How long can tar and gravel roofs last?

There’s a bit of variance when it comes to asking exactly how long a tar and gravel roof might last. It’s not the most long-lasting of roof solutions, but it’s a cheap and effective way to protect your building in the short term.

This makes it especially popular for property developers or people who’re trying to sell a home or building and are less concerned about how long their roof is going to last.

Roofs built up with layers of tar and gravel normally last between 10 and 20 years. This can often depend on the sort of external weather conditions they’re under pressure from.

So if you live somewhere with extreme heat, wind or other weather factors, your tar and gravel roof might not last quite as long.

There’s another type of roofing that’s slightly similar to tar and gravel called asphalt roll roofing. This has the same general materials but only has one thin layer that’s rolled out onto roofs – often on garages or other secondary buildings rather than main residences.

This is very cheap and easy to install, but also doesn’t last as long – sometimes only 5 to 10 years.

But it’s still a viable option if you’re looking to get something roofed quickly, easily, and cheaply.

What are the advantages of tar and gravel roofing?

1. If you’ve got a flat roof that you need covering, tar and gravel is one of the most popular options for good reason. First and foremost – it’s the cheapest.

2. While you might be slightly put off by the shorter life-spans of these simple roof finishes, you can’t argue with how cheap they are.

3. Tar and gravel roofs are also quick and easy to install, and can be administered by most good roofing companies.

4. There are other roofing solutions that need highly trained specialists to apply, and while this is often more expensive, it can also make it harder to find the right roofer in some locations.

That isn’t a problem with tar and gravel, as it’s one of the most well-known solutions in the industry.

5. Tar and gravel also provides good UV protection and is an excellent fire-resistant material. It’s also considered by some to be quite an aesthetic finish for certain types of buildings.

6. One other benefit of a tar and gravel roof is how solid it is and easy to walk on. That simply isn’t the case with every type of roof, so if you need to do a lot of maintenance to your building, or have a design that needs to be walked on occasionally (like in order to clean windows) then it could be a very good choice.

7. While tar and gravel roofs might not last quite as long as some other roofing solutions, they are easy and cheap to maintain. If looked after properly, the duration of the roof could be extended considerably.

What are some disadvantages of tar and gravel roofs?

While tar and gravel does have a number of benefits for your roof, it also has some drawbacks. Let’s have a look at some of the biggest ones:

1. Tar and gravel roofs can be very heavy. One of the benefits of a flat roof is often its lightweight design, but this benefit can be lost with a tar and gravel roof.

For some buildings, you might need to strengthen the structure before you have the layers applied, so it’s important that you check with a qualified professional before you get the job done.

If structural work is required prior to application, this could negate the cost benefit of getting a tar and gravel roof in the first place.

2. Tar and gravel can also be messy and smelly to apply, which makes it difficult to put on homes while someone is living in them.

3. Tar and gravel can also be dangerous, so it’s important you only rely on a good roofing firm and don’t attempt to do it yourself.

4. It can also be difficult to find leaks in a tar and gravel roof, and the duration might not be as long as some other finishes. When looking for a company to carry out your tar and gravel roof, it’s important you pick someone who’s got plenty of references and finished roofs they can show you.

Hopefully, you’ve now seen enough of the pros and cons associated with tar gravel roofing to make an informed decision about your own roof.

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