Your home’s roof is the elements. This is why you must keep it maintained properly. Many homeowners don’t bother to take care of their roofs until it’s too late. Use the following tips to take good care of your roof remains in great shape for years to come.

Consider your climate when thinking about roofing. Clay roofs are great for dry climates and can help to keep the home cool. Clay tiles applied in rainy climates will cause rapid deterioration. If you don’t know what material is best in your area, you can inquire with a roofing professional.

Always be sure that you’re safe when you have to do any work on your roof. Repairing a roof in bad weather is a recipe for disaster. Stick a bucket beneath your leak while you wait for the weather to return to normal. Afterwards, you can check out your roof and see what it’ll take to fix things.

If you’re taking care of a leak, do it right the first time. This means never stop with only a single spot causing the issue. Check over the whole roof and you might find more problems that you’re going to have to take care of.

Wear shoes with rubber boots when you work on top of your roof.

Consider your climate when roofing. Roofing materials made of clay work great when the climate is dry and they help cool down homes. However, using clay tiles on a roof in a wetter, rainy climate can lead to quicker deterioration of those tiles. If you’re not sure about this, then don’t be afraid to ask.

Mow your lawn prior to having a contractor comes to remove your roof.This will make it easier to find any dropped nails easily. If your roofer has a magnetic nail locator, the shorter grass helps this tool work better.

Make sure your research when looking for a roofing contractor. Don’t just accept the cheapest or first company you locate.

Cut your grass just before a contractor arrives to take off your roof. It’s not uncommon for nails and other debris to land in the grass during construction. Shorter grass allows you to locate any errant nails. If your roofer has a magnetic nail locator, short grass will make things much easier.

Make sure whatever roofing contractor you choose has liability insurance. The mere existence of such a roofer is the fact that they are a reliable person. Secondly, if a worker sustains injury on the job, their insurance should cover any damages.

When you have come up with a short list of possible contractors, ask them about the warranties they provide. You want a warranty that is going to last for at least 3-5 years of coverage. The warranty needs to cover defective supplies and sup-par workmanship, and you should have manufacturer warranty copies too.

Avoid paying full amounts upfront. You should negotiate with your contractor to pay up to a quarter of the amount before he starts working on your roof. 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.

A living roof is one that has soil layers where you with space to plant.

Don’t try to get too miserly when you are 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.

Saving a little time and money in the short-term will set you up for more costly repairs in the future. It may not cost you a lot to do, but after a while it could cause more damage than it saves and that costs a lot of money. It’s best to fix problems immediately, instead of letting them get worse.

Keep your roof clear of leaves and gutters clean.When there is build up, water pools. This can cause your roof to begin to rot, lead to rot and cause leaks.

Find out if your contractor is a part of any industry association. The top contractors are going to be involved in these groups to stay informed on the latest trends and improvements to standard techniques. If they are not, their dedication may be questionable.

If you want your roof to last quite a while then you need to make sure that sticks and leaves are cleared off of it regularly. When such materials are permitted to build up, they can provide a holding place for water. When water sits on your roof, the shingle’s bottom layers with probably rot and those are expensive repairs.

Get quotes before hiring one. There are contractors out there that will try to gouge their clients. To steer clear of rip-offs, check the market before you decide who to hire.

The materials used can be recycled and they are 100% recyclableYou can even install such a roof right on top of your current shingles.

Architectural shingles can be a great addition to your roof. These shingles are not only better looking than traditional shingles, they also have a much longer lifespan. Also these kinds of shingles add some value to a home because people seek them out so it’s a good idea to go with them if you’re selling your home.

Roof boots are an area of a roof that is commonly ignored. These boots can dry out. When this occurs, you are very susceptible to leaks so be sure to check on them and replace if necessary.

Written Contract

Always inspect your roof after a storm. It’s very important to catch damage to the shingles as early as possible and even a few flying off can add up to major leaks. All it takes is a quick inspection following every storm. Just stay safe and don’t rush yourself.

Make sure that you get a written contract. A lot of times when a person has a verbal contract with a roofer they will find that issues occur when the road. A written contract can help should any lapses in quality of work.

Speak with people you are good. This is one of the best ways to find someone suitable. They will at least be able to tell you going the right way.

Only contract with companies who demonstrate professionalism at every step of the process. For instance, contractors should provide typed and clearly formatted quotes. If the individual is professional with you prior to starting the job, he or she is much more likely to do the work in a professional manner as well.

Take your time when choosing a contractor. Ask tons of questions about the contractors these people have used to ascertain whether they recommend someone that is well worth speaking to.

As was stated earlier in this article, your roof is vital in keeping you, your family and your home protected and safe. Use the advice above to keep your loved ones safe year round. It is well worth the effort.

If you want an environmentally-friendly roof, try getting a coated metal roof. Metal roofs are totally recyclable and are known for lowering energy costs. A roof that is made of coated metal can be fitted over asphalt tiles, and this means you don’t have to trash your old roof.