Home is often referred to as “a roof over your family’s head.” The roof is the biggest, literally and figuratively.Read the following advice on how to take care of your roof.

Though leaks may be the result of shingle issues, take a look at your roof’s foundation. Dry rot in siding can allow water to enter your home. Check all areas to make sure this doesn’t happen.

Don’t check out and fix a leak until the rain stops. You can’t walk safely on a slippery roof. Wait until it stops raining and the roof is completely dry before attempting to repair it.

Safety should be your number one priority when working on a roofing project. You can get hurt if you try to fix your roof under severe weather conditions.Put a bucket where it’s leaking and then look at the roof to determine whether or not you can fix the issue.

Make sure that you’re safely secured whenever you climb onto your roof.

Make sure to wear rubber boots if you ever need to get on your roof. Even in dry conditions you will reduce the chance of slipping if you wear the right kind of boots. Fixing things on your roof indicates you will be in some awkward positions that could cause you to slip, so stay safe.

Make sure your homework is done when looking for a roofing contractor. Don’t just accept the cheapest contractor you can find.

Don’t use remedies that only work for your roof repairs. It may seem cost effective at the time, but in the end, and that may cost you more. The best thing to do is take care of any problem as quickly as possible to prevent things from getting worse.

When hiring a roofing contractor, checking their background references is an absolute must. Once you’ve got them, check them out and ask about value and quality of the work. Also, check out a few of the addresses for yourself. Before you choose a contractor, take a good look at their work.

Don’t just climb onto your roof alone. If you feel there might be a problem, hire someone to come out and take a look at it. You do not want to be walking on the roof cave in under your feet.

When you have your contractors narrowed down, check with each with regard to their warranties. You need to find someone offering a warranty that is going to last for about three or more years. The warranty needs to cover defective supplies and sup-par workmanship, and you should have manufacturer warranty copies too.

Check for liability insurance with the roofing company you choose. If your roofer carries liability insurance, it’s a pretty good signal that the company is reputable. This will also assure that should something happen during the roofing process, their insurance will cover it.

Insurance is something you will want to confirm your roofer has. If the roofer lacks sufficient insurance and you suffer damages, you may end up paying that bill. Don’t just take their word for it either; ask for proof that they have plenty of up to date, have them provide the insurance documents saying that it is comprehensive and current.

If you plan on hiring a contractor, you should be sure they can provide complete credentials that are totally up to date. Nearly every area requires some sort of licensing for roofers, so be sure that they have the proper licensing.

If your roofing company can’t fix a problem for several days, take some time to look for a quick band-aid fix. Nail heavy plastic on the leaky area. This is not the most effective way to deal with leaks, but it will tide you over for the time being.

The age of your roof is a major factor in deciding whether it needs to be replaced. Most roofs have a lifespan of twenty years or so before they must be replaced. If your current roof is installed over an older layer of roofing, you really have no choice once twenty years has passed but to replace it.

Get references for any roofer you are thinking about hiring. An honest company will be eager to provide you with references. If a contractor is hesitant to give them to you, you should look into another company. This usually indicates a sign that the contractor isn’t a true professional.

Avoid using short-term remedies on your roof. This will cause damage in the future and is not cost effective. It is in your best interest to address any problem as soon as you can. Cutting corners or delaying the work will almost always end badly.

Don’t get discouraged if you can’t locate the source of a roof is leaking from. You will find the source eventually if you use a water hose, and the use of a water hose and a buddy system can help. If you are dealing with a roof that’s on a large home, use cell phones to communicate so that water isn’t flowing into the house unnecessarily as you test different areas to find the leak.

Ask prospective roofing contractor how long they’ve been roofing. Those who have been around in the area for a long time likely provide customer satisfaction. Anyone who hasn’t been around for very long could be trying to scam you.

Any roofer you are considering using must have the proper license to do business. If you’re unsure of what that is exactly, don’t just assume everything is okay because the contractors says it is. Call the local government to find out what the roofer needs to provide.

If you think you may have a leak, try spraying it with a garden hose. This will let you know if you have a leak and also where the leak is. This is more cost effective than hiring an expert.

It’s imperative that damaged shingles are replaced as early as possible and even a few flying off can add up to major leaks. Give it a quick look-over every time, but make sure to be safe about it.

Confirm your contractor’s credentials before he starts the job. Just about everywhere needs to have licensed roofers working in that area, so be sure they have a valid and current license. Roofers should also have liability insurance and an up to date worker’s comp certificate.

A good roof is a safe roof. While you can ignore sweeping the porch, you can’t ignore your roof. By addressing all roofing-related issues as they arise, you can save yourself a great deal of grief and money.