TIP! Inspect your roof at least once yearly. A roof will suffer the most damage during winter and springtime.

You may have little expertise on the subject of roofing. You must become educated on roofing if you’re a homeowner. A damaged roof can cause even more damage to other parts of your home and quite possibly to your family. The information below is great roofing advice.

TIP! If you find a leak during a storm, wait until everything is dry before heading up to your roof. You could compromise your safety on a wet and slippery roof.

Faulty shingles are the most common cause of a leaking roof, but structural problems can also be to blame. If your home has dry rot in the outside walls, water can enter there. Just checking the roof is not enough. Consider all the other possible places that water can get in so that you end the problem completely.

TIP! Sometimes a leak is the result of a faulty shingle, but other times, there may be an issue with your roof’s foundation. Water can leak into your home through dry-rotted siding.

Safety should always be your primary concern when repairing a roof. You can get hurt if you try to fix a leak during a storm. Use a bucket to catch the leak, and then check out what is needed for repair when the weather changes.

TIP! Prior to the removal of your old roof, make sure your lawn is cut short. This will allow you to have an easier time locating nails that fall on the ground so you can pick them up later.

Whenever the weather is bad, you should never get on top of your roof. When the roof is wet or slippery, you could end up falling, causing major injury and even death. If you’re doing roof work yourself, make sure to do it during dry and sunny days.

TIP! If you plan on hiring a roofing contractor, talk to your family and friends first. Ask those you trust if the work they had done was good quality and whether they think the price was reasonable.

If you are on the receiving end of high pressure sales tactics, politely decline. They’ll do anything to convince you to hire them to replace your roof, but you get the short end of the stick.

Liability Insurance

TIP! Avoid paying the entire cost of the job in advance. A 25% deposit is typical, but you shouldn’t pay anything over that until the work is completed.

Make sure whatever roofing contractor you hire has adequate liability insurance. First of all, there are plenty of shady roofers out there, but the ability to carry valid liability insurance is beyond most of them. Additionally, if something happens to the roof while they are working, their insurance should pay for the problem.

TIP! When you have your contractors narrowed down, ask them about the warranties they provide. Most roofers offer a warranty on their work for up to five years.

If your roofer is a few days away from attending at your home, there are temporary repairs you can undertake. Nail heavy plastic over the leak. It isn’t a long-term solution, but it will do.

TIP! Check to make sure the contractor has all the licenses he needs. If you’re unsure of what that is exactly, don’t just assume everything is okay because the contractors says it is.

Use architectural shingles when you replace your roof. Besides being more durable than bargain shingles, architecturaal shingles have more aesthetic appeal. They can also make your home more valuable because they’re highly in demand.

TIP! The roofing contractor that you hire needs to be completely current with all of their credentials. The need for licensing is nearly universal.

Ask your contractor to tell you what industry associations he takes part in. Contractors worth hiring will keep abreast of all the new technology, news and techniques, which usually means they are members of these groups that discuss these topics. It is reasonable to wonder about the company’s dedication to the field if they do not participate with any of the relevant associations.

TIP! What warranty does your roofer offer? Some contractors might offer better deals than others. Also, require the estimates for the cost of the project in writing and get a paper copy of any warranties that apply.

Before a contractor starts working on your roof, don’t hesitate to ask any question you may have. It would be bad if you avoided asking them a question and have it come back to haunt you down the road. If your questions aren’t being answered by a contractor, your better off working with a different one.

TIP! Ask prospective contractors about their memberships in industry associations. If he is not aware of what is going on, you may want to try someone else.

As was stated earlier, chances are you weren’t too knowledgeable about roofing. But you should now have enough information about roofing to recognize common problems and know where to start in regards to making quality repairs. A roof that’s taken care of will help to keep you and your family safe.