• Which material to install.
  
• Which roofer to install it.
  

The following information is meant to assist you in making both decisions. In hiring a roofer, your focus should be on quality of workmanship. When there is a large price discrepancy between roofing bids, most likely much of the difference will have to do with time spent on detail. Areas of poor workmanship nearly always occur at flashing points, intersections with chimneys, walls, and joints between roof sections which are sensitive to water seepage. Consequently, it is important to ensure that the roofer you hire will attend to these areas skillfully and with appropriate materials.

To help decide on the type of roof for your house, ask the following questions:

Is the roof flat or pitched?
To prevent water seepage, only well-sealed sheet materials, roll, membrane, or built-up roofing should be used for a flat or nearly flat (very gently sloped) roof. For pitched (sloped) roofs, shingles made of wood, asphalt, slate, terra cotta, or metal are traditionally used, as well as standing or flat-seamed metal sheets.

Will the manufacturer and contractor stand by the new roof?
Most manufacturers give a written warranty attesting to their product’s reliability over a certain number of years. Roofing contractors (installers) should provide you with a written guarantee of their workmanship. Typically, they will fix problems at no charge within one year of installation.

How much weight can the roof structure support?
Consider the weight of the roofing material and the weight of snow.

What conditions will affect the roof?
Consider conditions such as snow, wind, heat, sun, shade, dampness, dryness, and overhanging trees.

How much roof traffic will there be?
If a roof is used for access to areas of the house for repairs or painting, be certain that the roofing material will bear up under feet and ladders.

What are the local codes regarding roofs?
Local municipalities usually limit the number of layers of older roofing materials that can remain under the new roof (a maximum of two underlying layers is typical). Also, if your house is historically certified by a local municipality, make sure your replacement roof complies with historical design guidelines.

How long will the new roof last?
Remember, you usually get what you pay for. For example, roll roofing may be inexpensive initially, but may last only five years. A high-quality slate or terra cotta tile may last over one hundred years.

Once the roof is in place, don’t forget about it. To ensure the longest possible life for your roof, maintenance should include periodic inspection and repairs and replacement of flashings when necessary. Remember to clean gutters, downspouts, and drains in spring and fall.