Whether you have experience dealing with Sarasota roofing contractors or not, when starting a new roof replacement project or repair project it’s important to ask the right questions. While roofing is not rocket science, it can be daunting to find the right roofing contractor for the job. You don’t want to choose a contractor who just meets the minimum standards. Below is 7 things you should ask your Sarasota roofing contractor before starting your next roofing project.

1.) Do I need to replace or is a repair possible?

Sadly, many Sarasota Roofing Contractors will pitch you a roof replacement when in fact your roof can just be repaired or a smaller sections replaced instead of the entire roof. Knowing the severity of the issues along with key information like roof age & roof type will lead you in a direction to know if repair is possible before replacement. A 20 year old shingle roof with several leaks in different areas will probably need replaced, but a 10 year old shingle with a few leaks over the garage may just need repaired or a smaller section replaced. Talk to your Sarasota roofing contractor about the details of the leaks & issues and find out if a repair is available instead of replacing the entire roof.

2.) Do you have references?

This is one of the most important questions to ask your Sarasota roofing contractor. Just like any contractor you invite to your home, you want your roofing contractor to have good reputation and verifiable work references. Ask your contractor for addresses of prior jobs so that you can personally go out and see the work. Most roofing contractors have before and after photos as well which will help you verify their references. Here at Florida Southern Roofing, we have a ‘testimonials’

Metal Roofing is becoming more popular in Florida, and has many advantages over traditional roofing materials. While your neighbor may replace the roof of their home many times, a high-quality metal roofing system will likely be the last roof that you will ever need.

However, there is several misconceptions about metal roofing and many myths involved. Florida Southern Roofing wants you to be prepared with knowledge about the roofing systems available for your home – and we want you to be confident when choosing to install a metal roof in Florida.

Metal roofs are noisy

This common misconception likely comes from a common experience with the sound that rain makes on older worn buildings. The difference between an older building and a new metal roofing system is a solid roof deck. A solid roof deck combined with underlayment actually dampens noise, resulting in a residential metal roof that is no more noisy than any other type of roof. While in Florida, rainy season is practically all year, you can be confident that your metal roof will be no more noisy than other roofing systems you could choose from for your roof replacement.
Is lightning attracted to metal roofs?

Is lightning attracted to metal roofs?

Metal roofs get struck by lightning

Florida is the lightning capital of the US. On average, Florida gets more lightning than any other state. The simple fact about metal roofs and lightning is that while metal does conduct electricity, electricity is not drawn to metal. In fact, metal roofing systems can be safer because metal is noncombustible. Your metal roof would disperse the energy through the structure safely.

Since metal roofing isn’t flammable, it’s low risk and desirable when severe weather is a concern.

Metal roofs are expensive

This isn’t quite a myth, because in reality

So your roof is leaking, it needs to be repaired right? Maybe or maybe not. Do you know the age of your roof? What type of roofing system does your home have? There is a lot of points to consider when it comes to either repairing or replacing a roof, and knowing what you want and need beforehand will give you a head start in getting an appropriate estimate.

Choosing whether to repair leaks and issues with your existing roof or to invest in a new one can be a hard decision. Today’s economy is uncertain.. Most homeowners have the tendency to just patch up a leak and make do with what they have in hopes that it will solve their roofing problems, at least for a little while. However, when you’re thinking about roofing, that might not be the best idea. If your roof has needed several repairs over the years, is leaking on a large scale, is exposed to strong sunlight (we are in Florida after all!), or is more than 15 years old (Shingle roofs in particular), replacement is likely the best option. Advanced new roofing materials are energy-efficient and will keep you protected better than the roofing material your roof probably currently has, and will also save you money on bills in the future.

So do you repair or replace your roof? Knowing which type of estimate you want beforehand can really help you in choosing the right roofing contractor for your estimate. It’s true that most roofing contractors in Florida will try to sell you on a new roof, even if repairing is possible. Florida Southern Roofing is not one of those contractors. Often times the repairs can save you several years before a new roofing system is needed, but could also lead to more