Whether you are building your house from scratch or you’re just an average homeowner, you are going to want to think long and hard about your roofing needs. There are a number of factors to consider when it comes to addressing any roofing issues. The article below, will tell you everything you need to know about the roofing. Read on and learn.

Since you’re going up on your roof anyway to do work, clean the gutters while you’re there. Sometimes a leak can actually be the result of backed-up gutters. Try cleaning them out and then hose down the roof – if the leak doesn’t reappear, you may have actually solved the problem.

Although your shingles can sometimes cause a leak to occur, you should check out your roof’s foundation. Water can enter into many areas that are rotting. Look at every entry point, even rotten wood, to see if the problem can be solved for good.

When roofing, think about safety first. Trying to fix a leak during a rainstorm can result in serious injury or even worse. Keep a bucket underneath any leaks until you have improved weather and then go inspect your roof.

Don’t attempt to do roof repairs in bad weather conditions, such as snow, ice or rain. If your roof is slippery and wet, you may fall, causing bad injuries or perhaps death. If you’re doing roof work yourself, make sure to do it during dry and sunny days.

If you have a leak and are going on your roof to search for it, bring a hose with you. You can spray the hose in order to find out where the leak is coming from. However, do not do this in the winter, as the water from the hose could cause ice.

To protect the integrity of your roof, clean the gutters regularly. Many roof problems, such as leaking, are caused by back-ups in the gutter system. Having a clogged gutter means that rain and snow cannot adequately drain and that puts an extra burden on your roofing materials. Buy tools to make cleaning the gutters faster and easier on you.

After you’ve narrowed down your list of contractors, talk to them about what kind of warranties they have available. Most roofers offer a warranty on their work for up to five years. The longer the warranty you can get, the better. The warranty must cover defective supplies and shoddy workmanship. Make sure the contractor gives you a copy of it.

Make sure that the roofing contractor you hire is licensed. If you don’t know what kind of licensing your area requires, you shouldn’t just ask the roofer what’s needed. Instead, contact your local building department and ask them about the requirements.

Now that you’ve read the article above, you should feel much more comfortable with the prospect of addressing any roofing needs or issues your home may need. Use the information provided so that you make a decision that makes sense for your situation. After all, you are going to be stuck with this decision for a long, long time.