Sooner of later you are going to buy a house, and when you do, you will find out that the roof is probably one of the most important concerns. A roof leak is an early warning sign that something isn't right in roof land. A leak is usually the result of a condition that has been present for some time, and in many cases it may be too late to preserve that area of the roof. Almost 2 out of every 5 roofs will fail completely before their 5th year. Early inspection and timely care can extend the life of a roof system many years beyond its life expectancy. Early detection of roof problems makes it easier to make permanent repairs; ignoring the condition of the roof can only lead to total replacement of the assembly at an early age. Early detection and orderly inspection of your roof can prevent such damages as stated above. By setting up a maintenance and inspection program, you can save yourself anywhere from $1.00 to $3.00 per square foot in replacement costs. Compare those to $.12 to $.15 per square foot to effectively maintain the roof for several years. With some maintenance (even on the cheapest roof available), you can get more than the normal lifetime out of the system. If a contractor asks for 50% down, and there is a signed contract binding the job, it could mean that he is not financially stable. Be suspicious of a contractor pleading hardship. You don't need his headache, find another contractor—Call Jack! | 
