The roof is a valuable part of any building. When it's working, tenants don't tend to think about how the roof over their head is protecting them from the elements. However, tenants tend to quickly notice the problems brought on by a faulty roof, or even the appearance of a shoddy looking roof.

Maintaining and fixing a roof is of the utmost importance, and hiring a good roofer or roofing team will ensure that you don't have to divide your attention between your roof problems and the rest of your life.

How do you know when it's time to hire a roofer?

New roof construction aside, you should hire a roofer when you notice, either by hearing or seeing, leaks that are dripping in your building. Inspecting a roof from the outside may reveal problems like loose or missing shingles.

Though you don't (or shouldn't) need to frequently check your building for leaks or damage, it is advisable to do so after a storm or heavy rains have taken place. During heavy rain, it may be possible to detect leaks as it will be the most likely time that they will be made apparent.

How do you choose a roofer?

Rather than looking up a roofing contractor or roofing company in your phone-book or on the internet and choosing the first one that you see, it is recommended that you undertake a small degree of research in determining who you will eventually hire. Use whatever resources you can (phone-book, the internet, classified advertisements, recommendations from friends, acquaintances, co-workers, etc.) and try to create a list of potential candidates. Ask each candidate to give you a written quote of the estimated price of your roofing job. Though getting the best price is important, you'll regret it if you get a second-rate roof in the bargain.

Ask your candidates for the contact information of former customers so you can find out how your candidates have performed in the past. This research should give you a good foundation for what roofing service best suits you.

What are some other factors to be taken into consideration when hiring a roofer?

You may wish to inquire as to how long the roofer has been in business, or validate the quality of the individual or company by contacting a local trade union. Two effective ways to find out the quality of a roofer (or tradesmen in general) are to contact the Trading Standards Institute and to ask your roofer for their CSCS (Construction Skills Certification Scheme) card.

The TSI encourages honest business and helps consumers make good purchasing choices, and a CSCS card is an indication that a tradesman, in this case a roofer, is competent in their occupation.

Once a roofer has been verified as credible, what's the next step?

In order to make sure that neither party forgets their obligations, a contract should be made outlining the responsibilities of the buyer and roofer. The contract can vary in its complexity, but it should at the very least specify the length of the job, the materials to be used, the payment upon finishing, and clean-up details.

Should either party show indications of not fulfilling their promises, the contract is a useful way of reminding the party in breach of the contract what was agreed upon, and if necessary serve as a legal tool.