Most home owners hate home maintenance. It is best to address problems early to avoid further damages. However, you can’t ever neglect maintaining your roof. Your roof protects your home from serious damage; you must maintain it properly. Read on to find out how.

Don’t check out and fix a leak until the rain stops. Not only will you not be able to repair a leak quickly at first, you won’t be safe if the roof is wet. When your roof has dried, you can safely fix any leak you find.

Check both the roof’s foundation and the shingles when you notice a leak. If there is dry rot on your home’s sides, you may get water in your home. Check all entry points to make sure this doesn’t happen.

References are critical when choosing a roofer or any other contractor. Once you’ve got them, check them out and ask about value and quality of the work. Drive by some of the addresses on your own. Walk or drive past the homes to check out the roof and, if homeowners are outside, stop to ask some questions.

Do some careful research before deciding which roofer to hire. Don’t just accept the cheapest repairman who comes to call. Instead, you should research all the roofers that are in the area. There are many ways to find good roofing candidates. You can get references from friends and family, research online consumer forums, or utilize a service to find reputable companies.

Never pay the full price up front. On average, avoid paying more than 25% as a start-up cost. You don’t need them to do less or poor work than you expected.

Avoid using short-term remedies on your roof. These shortcuts may seem like affordable solutions, however they can often result in further damage that will cost even more to fix. Fix any issues promptly and properly to ensure that the problem does not worsen down the line.

Talk to your roofer about what kind of warranty they offer on their work. You may find one company to have a better warranty than others. In addition, always get a warranty in writing, along with the estimate, so that you have the information in your possession. This way, you won’t have any term disagreements when the job is finished.

Always consider how long a roofing company has been in business before hiring them for a job. If the company has been in business for quite some time then they probably are able to keep people happy. Companies that are new or don’t have an established history may simply be scam artists who want your money.

If you’re having a hard time locating a leak, take your garden hose and aim it at your roof. This will let you know if you have a leak and where the leak is. It’s cheaper than hiring a pro.

Any roofing contractor you hire needs to have proper licensing and insurance. If they do not provide you with these things, don’t hire them. If you hire them, you could cost yourself a lot of money.

As mentioned previously, properly maintaining your roof is not particularly fun. However, you have to do it for the sake of your home’s protection. Take this information to heart when dealing with any roofing issues in the future. These efforts will pay off.