Your house starts with the foundation and ends with the roof. Clearly, it is extremely important to have a good roof on your house. As the owner of a home, taking care of a roof is very important. Read the following advice to learn what you can do to keep your roof in proper shape.

Don’t hesitate when it comes to replacing shingles. Waiting to fix small problems is not a good option since you might end up spending a lot more if the problems get worse. Shingles should be repaired or replaced at the first sign of damage so that small problems don’t become bigger ones. If you keep your roof maintained, it will last you a while.

Use background references to choose your roofing contractor. Make sure to call the references if you can too. Get their real opinions on the jobs that were done and the quality of the service. You should also make it a point to have a look at some of these homes yourself. Drive on by and see for yourself before hiring anyone.

There are a number of questions you should ask your roofer before you sign the contract. How many nails do they use per shingle? Typically, you would want more than three. Ask them about the procedures that they will be using. If you don’t like what they say, choose someone else.

Don’t pay for the job in full before it’s even started. On average, avoid paying more than 25% as a start-up cost. You would hate to spend a lot of money in case their work is sub-par.

Be sure that your roofer has insurance. When your contractor lacks insurance, all responsibility falls on you. You shouldn’t simply ask the contractor if he has insurance and take his word on it. Instead, request proof of insurance so that you can see for yourself whether they have current insurance.

If you select a roofer who uses employees, you may get a better deal than if the roofer works alone. A team will usually finish the project faster, thus reducing the final overall cost. However, if one contractor is your only option, then ensure their price is not too high.

Ask a roofer about their warranties. Some roofers may offer better warranty options than others do. Also, it is important that you get your warranty in writing, as well as the estimate, so as to keep it in your possession. This way, no one can dispute on the terms of the agreement.

Don’t get discouraged if you can’t locate the source of a leak on your roof. It’s only a matter of time before you find it through the process of elimination and using a water hose may help in combination with a buddy-system. If you have a big area to cover, talk to your helper by cell phone when you test various areas to avoid excess water from getting into the house.

Part of your responsibility as a homeowner is to keep your roof in good condition. While many aspects of home ownership can be put off and/or neglected, roof maintenance is not one of them. If you use the suggestions you’ve just read to keep your roof in good condition, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble down the road.