Hiring a roofer: What to look for

What's a more important exterior home improvement project than a roof? Few things, so it pays to keep your roof in top condition. And when that's no longer possible, replace it with a quality roof that will last for years.

First, learn about your roofing project. Having some working knowledge of a roof project helps you to make the best decision when choosing a contractor. Some common things you need to know about a roofing job:

• You may not need an entire re-roofing. If your roof is less than 15 years old and in OK shape, you could just need repair. If the repairs are extensive, it might make more sense money-wise to replace the entire thing. Seek several opinions.

• There are many types of roofing tiles. Your choice could make a significant difference in the total price of your roofing job. Asphalt shingles are the most popular and least expensive, followed by wood shingles. When choosing tiles, don't be hooked into higher-priced materials. Most come with a 25-year warranty -- it's the labor that most often causes a quality issue.

• Removing the current roof adds a lot to the cost of a project. Many times a new roof can be laid over the old one, saving money on disposal and removal costs. Check your local building code -- you can often roof over only one time.

When it comes to hiring a roofing contractor, keep the following in mind:

• Check with your local home builders association for licensed roofing contractors, and then make sure you check out any complaints against them.

• Ask for the address of several of the contractor's previous jobs, and for client references you can contact. Then actually check them!

• Use a contractor that has been in business for at least 5 years...unscrupulous contractors don't last long.

• Make sure your roofer has the proper insurance, and ask for a copy of their liability policy. Last thing you need is a worker crashing through your roof and you getting served with a lawsuit for injuries.

• Interview several roofers, and ask them to show you different options. Don't fall for high-pressure tactics to sell you a more expensive roof than you need.

Finally, sound somewhat smart when you talk to a roofing contractor -- learn some roofer ling (good advice when undertaking any complicated exterior project at your home).

Roofing Terms to Know (from the National Roofing Contractors Association):

Deck/sheathing: The surface to which roofing supplies are applied.

Drip edge: An L-shaped metal strip along roof edges that permit water run-off to drip clear of the deck, eaves and siding.

Eave: The lower, horizontal edge of a sloped roof.

Fascia: A flat board, band or face located at a cornice's outer edge.

Felt/underlayment: Often called tar paper, it's used as a secondary layer of protection for the roof deck.

Fire rating: System for classifying the fire resistances of assorted materials. They're rated Class A, B or C, with Class A materials having the highest resistance to fire originating outside the structure.

Flashing: Metal used to prevent seepage around any intersection or projection in a roof system, such as vent pipes, chimneys, and valleys.

Louvers: Slatted devices in a gable or soffit (the underside of eaves) to ventilate the space below a roof deck and equalize air temperature and moisture.

Oriented strand board (OSB): Roof deck panels (4 feet by 8) composed of narrow bits of wood, installed lengthwise and crosswise in layers, and bound with a resin glue. OSB is often a substitute for plywood sheets.

Penetrations: Vents, stacks, pipes, chimneys - something that penetrates a roof deck.

Rafters: The supporting frame to which a roof deck is attached.

Slope: Measured by rise in inches for each foot of horizontal run: A roof with a 4-in-12 slope rises 4 inches for every foot of horizontal distance.

Square: The common measure of a roof area. One square is 100 square feet (10 by 10 feet).

Rake: An inclined edge of a roof over a wall.

Ridge: The top edge of two intersecting sloping roof surfaces.

Sheathing: The boards or sheet materials fastened to rafters to cover a house or building.

Truss: Engineered components that supplement rafters in many newer homes and buildings. Trusses are designed for specific applications and cannot be cut or altered.

Valley: The angle formed at the intersection of two sloping roof surface

Kathy Wilson is a home and garden writer, author and consultant and is the home decorating expert for LifetimeTV.com.