"To Code" -- What's That?

Sometimes rules and regulations can seem confusing and even overwhelming. Building codes related to roofing are no exception.

Building codes are intended to protect you. Still, they can make you want to yell, "Help!" when you try to understand all the details.You may be tempted to ignore them and figure your roofer will know those things and take care of them for you.

A professional builder will indeed know about the codes. But you should know a little yourself, so you can be sure you're covered.

For example, the roofing code for Johnson County, Kansas, requires that your roofer be licensed in Kansas. You can't call just any Kansas City Roofer if your home is in Johnson County. (You can call Bill West Roofing. We serve all of Johnson County.)

A roofer in Johnson County can't just put together a roof from any old materials he has lying around, either. A complete, approved roofing system must be used.

In the city of Leawood, you must have a permit for all roofing projects, but in Salinas, you won't need a permit for reroofing or repairs to your roof. In other words, there are state, country, and city regulations, and they will be different from one place to another.

This means that the guy who comes to your door in a truck that's driving all over the country doing quick roofs may not be the right choice. You're better off with an established roofer who knows the building code and follows it. Ask a question -- any question -- and you should get a clear answer. If you don't, look elsewhere.