You will often hear of a person’s home called the “roof” over your family’s head”. The roof is the biggest, literally and figuratively.Keep reading to discover some great advice on maintaining your roof.

Never hesitate if your roof’s shingles. Replacing or repairing shingles immediately saves you both time and money spending in the future. Taking proper care of your roof will make it last.

If you find a leak, make sure that you get it fixed properly the first time. If you detect the problematic area, don’t stop there. Continue to inspect the entire roof to ensure that multiple leaks are not to blame.

Leaks often come from shingles, but you should also inspect the foundations of your roof. Water can enter into your home through dry-rotted siding. You should examine all potential entry points to make sure there is no problem.

It is important that you check the references of any contractor you allow them to work on your roof.Once you’ve got them, give them a call and ask them about the value and quality of the work. You should also look at some of these homes yourself.Drive past them and see for yourself before deciding who to hire.

Rubber soled shoes are a must when you get up on your roof. Even if the weather is warm and dry, such shoes are necessary for grip. Roof repairs will typically place you in harms way several times during the duration of their repairs, so be careful and think twice.

Make sure to do your research when looking for a contractor. Don’t simply hire the cheapest or first company you can find.

Don’t use short-term solutions for your roof. You may think you’re saving money, but in the long run you could end up spending a lot more due to major damage. You want to always catch any roof problems before they cause serious damages.

Make sure to do your research when looking for a roofing contractor. You don’t want to just find the cheapest option that is available. There is much more to it than that. Always research all options available to you instead. You can use online resources or ask trusted friends or family members.

Be sure that you’re hiring a potential roofer that has the proper licensing before they do any work. Do not trust the roofer to tell you the honest truth about what he says. Contact your local building department and inquire about what is necessary.

Insurance is something you need to have when it comes to this type of work. If your roofer does not have insurance and your property is damaged, you’re left to pay the bill. Don’t just ask prospective roofing contractors if they have insurance, get documentation that they do and go over it carefully.

If the contractor does not require you to pay up front in full, do not do it. On average, avoid paying more than 25% as a start-up cost. It would be horrible if they did bad work or didn’t do everything you thought they would.

A good team can achieve good results more quickly.

Ask about warranties they might offer. Some companies may offer you with better deals than others. This will prevent ant disagreements down the future.

Always check the credentials of the roofing contractors you are considering for work on your home. Just about everywhere needs to have licensed roofers working in that area, so be sure they have a valid and current license. They should maintain full liability insurance, and also have a current certificate for workers’ compensation.

You should consider the length of time that a contractor has been doing business.Those who’ve been around in your area for some time likely provide customer satisfaction. A roofer with no track record is pretty suspicious; be aware that hasn’t been in operation for too long may intend to take your money and run.

If you are worried about a roof leak, use your hose to spray the area at issue. This can help you find out if there’s a leak and assess how bad it is. This costs much less than hiring a professional.

The age of your roof is a good indication of whether it needs replacing or not. Most roofs have a lifespan of around 20 years. If you have a roof that was put on top of another roof, if 20 years have gone by, you likely must replace it.

Keep your roof and other debris to make it last. When such materials are permitted to build up, water pools. When you have water on your roof, the materials that make up your roof can rot, which requires costly repair work.

Make sure to ask plenty of questions are clearly answered before letting your roofing contractor begin work.The worst thing you do is keep a question to yourself only to have a problem later on. If you can’t get your questions answered by a contractor, you should probably steer clear of them.

Talk to your roofer about what kind of warranty they offer on their work. Some companies may give you a better deal than others. Also, require the estimates for the cost of the project in writing and get a paper copy of any warranties that apply. This way, no one can dispute on the terms of the agreement.

Get several quotes from different contractors before hiring help. There are contractors out there that will try to gouge their clients. To make sure this is not you, evaluate the roofing market.

Don’t allow people to work for you if they don’t act professional in their entire approach to your job. You want the entire process to remain professional so that their work is too.

If you would like to install an environmentally friendly roof, you should consider a living roof. A living roof has a soil layer that can support vegetation such as grass or even a vegetable garden. Although only appropriate on flat roofs in certain climates, a living roof also provides excellent insulation.

Don’t agree to contracts that aren’t written one. A verbal contract with a roofer they will find that issues occur when the work isn’t done right. A written contract is your best way to ensure that they promised to do.

OSHA requires contractors to have a safety plan in place during a project. These plans are crucial for making sure projects get completed as it should be.

Do not worry if you are unable to immediately find your roof leak. Sooner or later you will find it using a process of elimination. Having a friend help you along with a water hose can aid this process. If you have a large home, have someone inside with a cell phone keep in touch with you as you look for the leak.

When hiring a roofing contractor, ask prospective companies if they employ sub-contractors. If the workers aren’t employed by them, it could cause liability concerns. Make sure to check this in advance before you make a commitment.

The condition of the roof of the home can show how well you are doing as a homeowner. Many maintenance and repair jobs around the house can be ignored, but roof problems aren’t among them. Using the tips you just read will be a huge help.

Pay attention to details when selecting your roofer. People that are always on time or who call when they promise to are good things to look for in a contractor. Also, professional contractors usually provide you with a typed bid for the job. Your roofer must do both.