A well-maintained roof keeps you safe from the outside elements. If your roof is faulty, weather changes can result in catastrophe. Knowing how to care for your roof can really save you trouble in time. The information below will help.

Though shingles could be the cause of leaks, you may also need to inspect your roof’s foundation. Water can enter into your home anywhere that dry rot has occurred. Check all entry points to make sure that there is no deterioration.

Look over your roof carefully at least once a year. Springtime and winter are the harshest times of the year for rooftops. With this in mind, you should monitor the state of your roof frequently during these times.

Don’t try to fix your roof when the weather conditions are poor. A slippery or wet roof can cause you to fall; this may result in a bad injury or worse. If you work on the roof on your own, only work when conditions are sunny and dry.

Wear shoes with rubber boots when you need to get on top of your roof.

The number one priority when doing any roofing repairs is safety. You can get hurt if you try to fix a leak during a storm. Place a bucket under the leak until the weather clears up, then go have a look at your roof to see if you can repair the problem.

Mow your lawn prior to having a contractor work on your roof is replaced. This will make it easier to find any nails that fall on the roof. If they bring a type of magnetic nail finder, it will work best with the short grass.

Make sure to do your homework is done when you’re hiring a contractor. Don’t just accept the cheapest contractor you can find.

Mow the lawn prior to the removal of your old roof. Having cut grass will help both you and the contractor find any nails that have fallen on the ground. If he has a magnetic tool for finding nails, it will work best with the short grass.

Make sure any roofer you hire has adequate liability insurance. The main thing that this will show you about a policy bodes well for a contractor’s reliability.Secondly, if something were to get damaged while your roof was being worked on, their insurance will pay for any problems.

Don’t use short-term solutions for short periods of time when dealing with roof repairs. You may think you are saving money, but ultimately you might have more damage costing more in the end. You want to always catch any roof problems as early as possible before they cause serious damages.

Avoid paying full amounts upfront. Normally, you pay 25% or so to start the job. You don’t want to get stuck with a job that isn’t finished properly, or one that didn’t take as long as expected.

If you plan on hiring a contractor, you should be sure they can provide complete credentials that are totally up to date. Nearly every locale has a license requirement, so make sure yours has a current and valid license.

Ask your roofer about the warranties on his work. Some roofers may offer better deals than others do. This will ensure there are no changes made to your terms of the estimate or warranty later on.

You should never climb on your roof and try finding damaged areas yourself. If you think your roof has problems, be sure to hire a professional to look at it. If you walk around on your roof, you could damage it further or injure yourself.

Always check a contractor to provide references. A legit company that performs well and is honest should have no problem giving you their references. If they’re reluctant to do this, walk away. This usually indicates a sign that the contractor isn’t a true professional.

Don’t cut corners when purchasing roofing materials.The initial cost savings of low priced materials cannot outweigh the best option as they can end up costing you more money down the road.

Check all of the materials that you are using to repair your roof. A lot of leaks come from just installing the roof because shingles are cracked or nails aren’t the correct size. Be sure the shingles you use are durable and do not have any cracks. Also, be sure the nails can penetrated your shingles and keep them in place.

Keep your roof and other debris to make it last. When debris builds up, they can provide a holding place for water. When water sits on the roof, the wood beneath the shingle may rot, making you susceptible to leaks.

You want to identify shingle damage as soon as you don’t have to deal with leaks.Look over your roof, but do so safely.

Before you hire a roofer, ask what types of warranties he offers on his work. You may find a better warranty with another company. Additionally, you should be sure you get a written copy of the warranty at the same time you receive the estimate so that you’ll have the documentation on-hand. This way, you won’t have any term disagreements when the job is finished.

It can be very dangerous to climb up on top of your roof. Roofs aren’t strategically designed for people to safely stand on. Make sure that your shoes with rubber soles so as to prevent slipping. A harness is also be used if you can.

Many homeowners can attest to the problematic situations that arise from poor roof maintenance. When you have the information here, you can avoid that trouble. Make use of your new knowledge when and where it’s appropriate and you’ll have real confidence in the integrity of your roof.

Get references from roofing companies you may hire. Honest companies have no problems giving references. Find another contractor if the roofer you were interested in cannot provide you with references. A contractor who does not have any good references might not perform a quality service.