Having a sturdy roof that is free of deviations, holes or missing shingles is vital to protecting your home from all sorts of damage. So what if you have a damaged or leaky roof and need to get your roof repaired or replaced? Despite the continued spread of COVID-19, you may be surprised to find out that you can still get a new roof while remaining safe and using extreme caution.
The coronavirus has resulted in Americans having to socially distance themselves and has negatively impacted industries all over the world. But some businesses have managed to find safe and clever ways to still offer homeowners the services they need during this time of great change. Roofing is one of them. Roof replacement and repair falls under the construction category, which is considered an essential business.
Depending on where you live, most roofing companies have still been able to serve their clients since they are generally considered an essential business. With the help of technology, roofing companies can handle consultations and the overall design of the roof by using virtual and interactive software.
Knowing that you most likely don’t have to come in contact with anyone outside of your household, there is no reason why you should avoid getting your roof repaired or a new roof installed.
Why You Shouldn’t Postpone New Roof Repair or Replacement
Having a solid roof on your home is not only critical for the safety of your property, but also to the structural integrity of your home. Properly installed roofing is integral to keeping both residential and commercial buildings weathertight and protected from the elements.
If you are aware of any minor leaks, missing shingles, cracked gutters or you simply know that your roof is in need of replacement or repair, you’ll want to get those issues resolved in a timely manner. Postponing your roof replacement can lead to more severe and costly damage such as…
- Mold
- Structural damage
- More extensive leaks
- Water damage, either visible or not yet noticeable
If you have decided to go through with a full roof replacement or a partial roof repair project there are some safety precautions you can take to ensure that you keep your home and family safe during quarantine, and after quarantine.
- Comply With Recommendations From the CDC: All government health and safety organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have recommended that workers stay home and self-quarantine if they are feeling the least bit ill. This would include essential workers like your roofers. Your roofing contractor is likely abiding by these safe business standards, but to be sure, you can double-check before starting your roofing installation.
- Maintaining Social Distancing Protocols – According to CDC guidelines, you should stay a minimum of six feet away from anyone that you haven’t been sheltering-in-place with. The best part about getting your roof replaced is that the lion share of the work is done outside of your home, which makes getting your roof repaired a very low-risk project to take care of when you’re quarantining.
If for whatever reason roofing contractors need to enter your home to inspect the attic or check on interior structural elements of the home, you can work with your contractor to agree on a strict set of guidelines to follow so you and your family do not have to come in contact with them. And always remember to sanitize any surfaces that they may come in contact with after them leaving.
- Paying Digitally for Roofing Services: Paying for roofing services using online payment services or giving your card information over the phone to a trusted customer care professional that works for your roofing company are both excellent ways to avoid human contact.
How to Hire the Best Roofing Contractor While Maintaining Distance
Knowing the right questions to ask is central to hiring the best roofing contractor for the job. Here are some important questions that you’ll want to ask multiple contractors before deciding on one for your roof installation project.
- Who will be on the job site?
- Do you have insurance and worker’s compensation coverage?
- Do you use subcontractors?
- How many years have you been in business and do you have references from former customers?
- Do you provide a warranty on materials and labor?
Asking all of these questions prior to signing on the dotted line will be helpful in deciding on what roofing contractor is best for you.
Take Advantage of Digital Visualization Tools
As stated before the convenience of technology is especially helpful during this era of COVID-19. Here are some remote ways to get an overview of your new roof right from the comfort of your living room.
- Owens Corning Roofing DesignEyeQ Tool: If you aren’t entirely sure what kind of shingles, roofing materials, or color schemes match well with your style of home, Owens Corning Roofing now has an interactive visualization tool called DesignEyeQ. This intelligent virtual design tool allows homeowners the ability to upload a photo of their home, or select from a library of homes that might resemble theirs, and then be able to see what your home would look like with a variety of shingle materials down to the shape, material, and color scheme. You can even swap out your front door, siding, trim, and garage door if you’d like. The possibilities are endless. Once you have settled on the design, you can then share this with your roofing contractor via email and have a video conference call to move to the next step in your roof replacement project.
- Get Shingle Samples Sent Directly to You: If you have narrowed down your choices for shingles or roofing materials you can request to get free shingle color swatches from your contractor or the shingle manufacturer. This will allow you to physically touch the material of the shingle and get a better idea of what the true color of the shingle is. Most companies allow you to select up to five samples as long as you pay for shipping.
- Drive-By Homes That Your Roofer Has Previously Worked On: This is especially helpful so you can see your roofing contractor’s past work. Before going on such an adventure, check with your city’s local guidelines for stay at home orders and curfews that may still be in effect in your area.
