Maintaining a roof can be a lot of work. It takes a lot of effort and time. You shouldn’t neglect it. Without a solid roof, you will face disaster; take good care of it! Read these tips to keep your roof in good shape for years.

Check out your roof yearly. Common seasons for roof damage are winter and spring. Therefore, stay alert during this time for damage.

Before you hire a roofing contractor ask for references. Ask previous customers whether they are satisfied with the work done and the price paid. Visit some of the homes on the list. Check out the work and see what it looks like for yourself.

Get contractor referrals from loved ones. You need ask questions about cost, quality and whether they were pleased overall with the work. In addition, find out how the contractor cleaned away materials following the end of the job and whether the contractor has a future repair warranty.

The last thing you should do is go onto your roof and walk around looking for damaged areas. If you think there are problems, hire a professional to do an inspection. You don’t need to walk up there and have it cave in.

After narrowing down your list of roofers, determine which one offers the best warranty. Don’t contract with anyone who offers a warranty of less than three years. Five or more years is ideal. Ideally, look for warranties that cover any issues caused by human error and defective materials. Ask for copies of each warranty.

Proper insurance is an absolute must-have. If the roofer you use causes damage and they are uninsured, you are responsible for the bill. Don’t simply ask if your contractor is insured, make them show you the documentation that proves it.

Living Roof

If you wish to install a brand new, environmentally-friendly roof, don’t overlook using a living roof. You can use a living roof for growing flowers and many other types of plants. Living roofs require a flat surface and appropriate climate conditions to thrive.

Hire only roofing professionals able to show proof of insurance and necessary licenses. If they can’t, don’t hire them. If your contractor does not have insurance and causes a large amount of damage, then you will be the one to pay.

Don’t pay for a roof fully before there has been some work done. Scamming contractors like to get payment upfront so that they don’t have to return to complete the work. Only pay a portion upfront, and pay the rest when a satisfactory job has been completed.

Industry Associations

You need to know if your contractor belongs to any industry associations. A good contractor is a member in associations that meet and discuss the latest technologies of the trade. If your contractor is not a part of any industry associations, you must question the commitment to their field.

There’s one area of roof maintenance that many people forget about – roof boots. Roof boots are made of rubber and are susceptible to drying out. This opens up your roof to leaks, so check them out frequently.

Whether you are having a new roof installed or having repairs done, make sure you inspect all materials being used. Shingles sometimes crack and need to be replaced immediately. Be sure the materials are in good shape before, during, and after being installed.

Before agreeing for work to begin, make sure the chosen contractor has completely documented the project from beginning to end. His outline should include the types of materials that will be used, the expenses, the timeline, and the cleanup procedure. Be sure that you fully understand the plan they lay out for you. If the outline is very vague or incomplete, it is a red flag, and you should consider hiring a different contractor.

If you’re going to hire a contractor to do roofing for you, be sure that all of the correct paperwork is filled out. They may need to get permits or bonds before they can start. Contact your local government building department to determine what is necessary for contractors to start on your roof.

To decide whether you need a complete roof replacement or just a few repairs, be sure to take your roof’s age into account. Roofs have a limited lifespan, and this should guide your decisions. The majority of roofs last about 15 to 20 years. Once a roof’s age is between these numbers, it needs updating.

When you are conducting interviews to find a roofer, ask them about any surrent projects they are working on. Will other workers be present, and if so, how many? How might this affect the completion date of the project? Find out how many employees work for this company. If a company has a limited number of employees but multiple jobs being done, then this could lead to problems with meeting their deadlines.

Keeping your roof in good condition isn’t an easy task. Still, it is crucial that you maintain it to avoid serious problems that could cost a lot of money. Look at this article when you have roofing issues down the road. You will be happy to have it.