Roofing Houston - Best Roofers in Houston, Texas?

Remember, the roof is the most abused part of your home, taking punishment from the heat, rain, snow and wind and you should never short cut good quality and workmanship with it. It protects pretty much everything in your home, including your memories and health (can you say toxic mold!).

I consulted with a professional roofer from DK Improvements, which happens to be one of the best companies to work with for home improvements and repairs, to get a better understanding on how to make the best decisions when it comes to roof repairs or replacement:

How do I know if I need a new roof?

Most roofs should last at least 15 to 20 years. Many factors can affect the life of shingles such as climate and weather (hurricanes, hail, extreme heat,) ventilation, proper installation and maintenance (keeping trees from rubbing against the shingles and keeping leaves and pine straw from accumulating.)

If you have missing shingles, curling of shingles, blistering, buckling, a lot of granules in the gutters, rotting or other obvious signs then call your roofing-company (or insurance company) to have them take a closer look and give you their opinion on what to do.

How much is a new roof?

We all want the lowest price and the highest quality. Well, the saying is true in roofing- you get what you pay for.

There are lots of people out there that can do the work, but they may not show up on time, skimp on material, take way too long to complete and expect half down - and they will be the cheapest. I will say this again, DO NOT SKIMP ON YOUR ROOF! Please get a reputable company that will stand behind their work and be there for you if anything happens down the road. A real company will typically cost more on the paper than someone doing it for extra money on the side. However, in the long run, work done by a good company will be faster, last longer, and provide less headaches. So don't just make a decision based on the upfront paper costs, think a little long term.

Roofs are price by the square plus any extras. A square simply means 100 square feet and will be broken down into thirds. A roofer will measure the area (square feet) of your roof, add a percentage for waste, then divide that by 100 and round up to the nearest third. Then he will multiply that number by the price per square which varies based on the shingle, angle of the roof and if it is one or two stories. Remember, the more dangerous the job the higher per square your price will be. Extras are then added into the price such as flashing, replacing decking, roof vents, drip edge and any extra labor.

So with all that said, never expect any roofing-company to be able to give you an accurate quote over the phone, they will have to come out and look. Most companies will replace 2 or 3 sheets of decking free, but be aware that once the old shingles are removed there could be more problems that will cost you more than the estimate. Good roofers will always bring this to your attention so there are not any surprises.

Here in the Houston, Texas area, most roofing-companies will charge somewhere around the $200 per square mark and go up from there. In other parts of the country prices can start around $400 per square. So my best recommendation is to not necessarily go by the lowest price, but the one who is willing to spend the most time with you, answer all your questions and give you options.

Overall Recommendation:

First, always determine if you need a repair or a replacement. If the roof is relatively new, a repair may be all that's needed.
Next, get a hold of a professional local roofing-company such as DK Improvements in Houston, Texas. when the roofer comes around and provides a quote, get a detailed explanation on what needs to be done, why, and what your available options are. Discuss your budget if needed with the roofer -- they may be able to tell you how to make a decision based on your budget too!