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How to Get the Best Roofing Job InspectAPedia®  -     How to get the best roofing job on your home Roof shingle manufacturer certification programs for roofing contractors

This website discusses how to get the best roofing job by outlining some very basic tips and listing what's really important in assuring that the new roof does not leak and lasts as it should. At this website we also give an example of a "bad" roofing contractor, discuss roofing contractor certifications such as the GAF Master Elite^TM roofing contractor certification program, and we give some simple tips on how to get a good roofing job. Also see CHOOSING A ROOFER for a more complete outline of how to choose a roofing contractor.

The photograph above shows a laminate-type roof shingle installed improperly on an irregular dome-shaped roof. (This was job was not done by a GAF Master Elite^TM or Other Certified Roofing Contractor.

The roofer who put these shingles in place probably lacked proper training - something which some roof contractor certification programs are trying to address. But don't assume that every "certified" roofer is one you want to do business with.

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How to Get the Best Roofing Job

1. Workmanship:The best assurance that your new roof will not leak and that it will have a long life is to select a quality shingle product and to be certain that the shingles are installed absolutely correctly - good workmanship is what makes a roof shed water.
   
   
2. Shingle quality: we would not hesitate to buy a quality shingle product from any of the current roofing shingle manufacturers, including GAF, but
   
   
3. Shingle installation standards we would want to be sure that my installer applied them according to the best practices in the industry since otherwise any warranty will be voided anyway. The principal sources of asphalt shingle roofing installation standards are the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA's Roofing and Waterproofing Manual), and the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturer's Association (ARMA). There are also ASTM standards for roofing products.
   
   
4. Roofing contractor reputation and experience: Before hiring ANY roofing contractor we would check with the local better business bureau and would ask for references from local customers of the contractor.
   
   
5. Supervision during the roof shingle installation: we would want to be darn sure that the people actually doing the work are trained or at least supervised, continually, every day all day on the job, by a trained, experienced, roofing contractor. Too many roofing companies have a salesman or prime contractor who sells the job but send un-trained workers to put on the roof with minimal or no actual supervision.
   
   
6. Maintain your roof: with your roofing contractor, discuss regular roof inspections, the condition of your under-roof or attic ventilation, and what special problem spots may be on your roof, and what to do about them
   
   
7. Also see CHOOSING A ROOFER for a more complete outline of how to choose a roofing contractor.

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ROOFING INSPECTION & REPAIR
CERTIFICATIONS for ROOFING CONTRACTORS
  Questions and Answers about GAF Master Elite
  Anecdote of a "Bad" Roofing Contractor
  The GAF Master Elite^TM roofing program
  How to Get the Best Roofing Job
CHOOSING A ROOFING CONTRACTOR
  STEP 1: FINDING A ROOFER
  STEP 2: CHOOSING A ROOFING CONTRACTOR
  STEP 3: CHOOSING ROOF MATERIAL
  STEP 4: NEGOTIATE ROOFING CONTRACT
  STEP 5: LETTING THE ROOFER ROOF
ASBESTOS CEMENT ROOFING
ASPHALT ROOF SHINGLES

• GAF Corporation: www.gaf.com/General/GAFintro_MAIN.asp is the company's website.
• GAF Corporation history and derivation of the GAF name: www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/GAF-Corporation-Company-History.html you can read the history of the company and see the derivation of its name - General Analine and Film - though we doubt it's important in understanding modern roofing materials.
• Consumers shopping for a roofing contractor should not be confused between marketing promise and contractor competence in any building field.

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