Keeping a roof in good shape is not always easy. It takes a lot of time and you have to put in some effort for the homeowner. The roof protects your home and it should be taken care for it properly. Read these tips to keep your roof and deal with any problems.

Never neglect safety precautions when planning repairs on your roof. You can be seriously injured by attempting to fix a leak during a storm. Put a bucket under that leak until weather conditions improve and wait for clear weather.

Give your roof a good looking at least once each year. Winter and spring are the two seasons where your roof can become corrupt. Because of this, you must pay special attention during these months.

Don’t go up on your roof during wet weather.A slippery or wet roof can cause you to fall and seriously injure yourself.If you’re doing roof work yourself, do it when it’s dry and sunny.

Consider the local climate in your area when replacing your roof. Clay roofs are great in dry climates and may keep the house cool.Clay roof tiles in rainy climates will cause rapid deterioration. If you are unsure, ask an expert.

Leaks are often caused by weak shingles, but you should also inspect the foundations of your roof. If there is dry rot on your roof, water can get into your house. Look at every point of entry to make sure you fix the problem completely.

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

It is important that you check the references of any contractor you allow them to work on your roof.Once given the references, check them out and ask about value and quality of the work. You should check some of their previous work. Drive by them and take a look at them carefully to figure out who to hire.

Trim your grass prior to the arrival of your contractor. That way, you are more likely to be able to locate fallen nails. Your roofer may use a metal detector to locate lost nails, and this job will also go faster if your grass is freshly trimmed.

When you are looking into hiring a roofing contractor, ask your family, friends and co-workers first. Ask as many questions as you can to get the job and if they offer warranties for your money.

Make sure whatever roofing contractor you choose 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 should cover any damages.

You should always first ask family and friends regarding contractors when getting started. If any of them have done business with this contractor, they can let you know how pleased they were with his overall work. You should also find out if they offered a warranty, and make sure they cleaned up well once the job was completed.

When you have come up with a short list of possible contractors, be sure to ask about warranties. You want a warranty that is going to last for about three or more years. It should cover both defective supplies as well as poor workmanship, and they should also give you photocopies of manufacturer warranties too.

Ask about any warranties that you can get for the work done. Some may give you with better deal than others. This will prevent ant disagreements down the future.

If you’re getting pitched to by a high pressure roofing salesman then you need to tell them you’re not interested. These people are generally shady and try to make you sign a contract that has you losing out on things so it’s a good idea to not allow yourself to work with them.

Only hire a roofing contractor that is able to supply you with proof of active licenses and insurance policies.

Don’t cut corners when purchasing roofing materials.The cheapest supplies aren’t necessarily the cost of the damage and repairs that substandard materials lead to.

Check that a prospective roofing contractor carries liability insurance. If for no other reason, this lets you know that your roofer is professional and reliable. This will also help you if something were to go wrong with the project, because it will be paid for by the insurance.

You don’t want to forget the small matters when you’re hiring a roofing contractor. Someone that arrives on time and calls ahead when they say they will is probably dependable. You would like your roofer to have both qualities.

Ask any contractor to tell you are considering what industry associations the roofing company is a member of. The good contractors are going to be involved in these groups to stay informed on the latest technological advances and current information. If they aren’t a part of these associations, question whether they are dedicated to their field.

Never go up onto your roof to inspect for damage. If you have issues, find a pro to come look at it. If you’re unsure of the severity, there could be loose shingles and foundational problems that could lead to injury if you don’t know what you are doing.

It’s very important to catch damage to the shingles are replaced as early as possible and even a few flying off can add up to major leaks. Give it a brief look, but remember to do so safely.

Speak with people you are good. Word of mouth advertising is the best way to find a reliable company. They may at least have the ability to send you where to look.

You should always consider a roofer’s experience while going through the hiring process. Those who have been around in your area for a long time obviously know how to keep their customers happy. If the contractor is new, it can be very difficult to gauge their legitimacy. It could be someone out to scam you.

Have your contractor outline the whole project in full.He ought to talk about the materials required, cleaning up and costs.Ask plenty of questions if you fully understand the plan. If you still have questions after talking to him, it may be time to look in a different direction.

Take your time when hiring a roofer because it is not an easy decision to make.Ask a ton of questions about the contractors these people have used to ascertain whether they recommend someone that is well worth speaking to.

Look into architectural shingles if you want to replace your roof. Benefits of this type of shingle include longevity and an attractive appearance. In addition, these shingles are highly sought by many buyers, and that means they can add value to your home when it comes time to consider resale.

When you are looking into hiring a roofing company, find out if their workers are subcontractors. If the people they intend to have working on your home are not employed by the company, there might be liability issues later. Make sure to check this in advance before entering into a repair contract.

Don’t hire anyone to do a contractor who doesn’t hold an active license with officials in your state. If the job turns out poor, the roofer will need to have been licensed in your state. What happens if you are paying someone unlicensed contractor more than a grand in money? You are committing a crime in many states.

Make sure you have a number of quotes before you hire anyone to do your roofing job. There are contractors out there that are just going to rip you off because they’re scamming you. To make sure this is not you, you need to see what the going rate is in your market before making decisions.

Although large trees are a great addition to your property, they can be detrimental to the roof. Trim back to keep them away from falling branches. This helps keep the roof won’t get damaged and you won’t have to worry about a gutter full of leaves.

Maintaining a roof is a lot of work, time consuming and expensive. Now you know just how important your roof is. Save this article and refer to it if you experience future roofing problems. You’ll appreciate its advice.

Expect complete professionalism from your contractor at every step in the process. For instance, all contractors need to give you typed quotes with all the costs itemized. You need the whole process to remain professional so that you can be sure their work is too.