Do you have a roof that didn't quite make it out of winter intact? Are you hoping to get it fixed immediately but you're not sure how to go about doing so? If you've never had to deal with a leaky or storm-damaged roof, this can initially seem daunting or confusing. But it doesn't necessarily have to be. Asking the right questions of potential roofing contractors will help you to find the right one for your needs and to get your roof repaired as quickly as possible. Some questions that you should be asking include:

How soon can you get to work? When the weather has been particularly brutal, the best roofing contractors in your area might not be able to actually start working on your roof for a few days or possibly even weeks. However, they should still be able to send someone out to temporarily cover any damage with a protective tarp to keep the area from leaking into your home. While this obviously isn't a permanent measure, it will keep your roof and your home safe from precipitation until they are free to actually repair or replace your roof. 

Are you able to help with insurance claims? In some circumstances, roof damage may be covered by your homeowner's insurance policy. Unfortunately, insurance companies aren't all that eager to pay out on claims and may initially deny yours. Some roofing contractors specialize in gathering evidence that you can show to your roofing contractor to prove that your claim should be covered and that your roof didn't simply fail due to age or non-covered situations. Not all roofers will do this, however, so you should never assume that this is a service that they offer. If they aren't able to help you in this way, they may be able to suggest a different contractor in the area that will be able to assist.

Will the job take long? Different types of damage take differing amounts of time to repair. For instance, a roof that's been damaged by a falling tree branch will likely take more time to repair than one that has simply had a few shingles blown off. The first one may need sections of the sub-roof replaced while the second will probably only need to have the shingles replaced. Experienced roofing contractors will be able to give you a reasonable estimate as to how long the job will take once they are able to get started. With relatively minor repairs, they may be able to finish in one or two days while more extensive damage may take a few weeks.