Your roof is an important asset to your home. It provides you safety, comfort and protection for yourself and your family. Cincinnati roofs undergo a great deal of weather stress from the intense winds of spring to the extreme 100 degree summer heat to the cold winter weather.

When roofs are installed incorrectly, mold and mildew can begin to grow in the attic space. Fueled by the heat that collects in the attic and the moisture from a poorly installed roof, owners can be left with a situation that costs more money to repair than it did to install.

It is important to choose a qualified roofer to replace and install your roofing. There are several ways of selecting a professional who will meet your needs, be cost effective and produce excellent results. Here are 7 factors that must be considered when you are hiring a professional roofer.

1. Bonded and Insured. It won't matter how much you like the roofer, how many references he came with or what a great deal he made you - if he is not bonded and insured you may be paying for the roof for years to come. Being bonded and insured by a reputable company ensures your financial safety if one of the workers has an accident on your property or if one of the roofers accidentally causes damage to your property.

Medical bills can increase quickly and drastically with an injury. And, if the worker has suffered an injury that results in a disability it can cost you thousands and thousands of dollars for years in the future.

2. Length in Business. According to the Small Business Association over 53% of small companies with employees numbering less than 20 will be out of business within five years of opening their doors. How long the roofer has been in business will be a testament to the company's ability to perform good service and honor their contracts. That's not to say that a small business who has been installing roofs for 3 years will be less able to meet your needs than a company who has been in business for 20 years. However, it is one factor that should be considered when choosing the right company for your home.

3. References. When you meet a roofer you are taking his word that his company and workers are able to do the installation, repair or replacement you need. If the salesman is good you will not even ask for a reference. However, good salesman may be good or they may be hiding dissatisfied customers or poor workmanship. Be sure to get the addresses of at least three homes they completed in the past 6 months.

4. Contract. Contracts help not only you but also the business owner. When there is an explicit contract that lays out the instructions for payment, total price, recourse if you are not satisfied and how the roofer will handle the debris from the job you are both protected. Some roofers like to work on a handshake. They may be honest or they may not be. In today's society it has become all too difficult to discern the scam artist from the honest businessman. Use a contract and protect your assets.

5. Complaints. Find out how the company handles any complaints or dissatisfaction with service provided. Everyone at the roofing company is human and humans make mistakes. Most professional businessmen acknowledge that mistakes are sometimes made but their company handles them by making the customer happy, even at their own expense.

6. Warranty. How long is the warranty on the work on the roof and is it provided to you, the home owner, in writing? Warranties that are not written into the contract or provided separately are useless. It will not matter to the judge that the contractor promised the roof would last 10 years and it only lasted 6 months before a leak developed in the dining room and completely ruined Aunt Marie's antique dining room table. Get the warranty in writing.

7. Legal Action. Ask if the roofing contractor has any current legal action pending against the company. Any business that has been doing business in a high risk field like roofing for more than 5 years is likely to have had some legal action. The question is not if there is but how the company is handling the situation. What do they value most - their reputation and satisfaction of their clients or getting the last penny correct.