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No, you can’t use your home’s square footage. You have to calculate your roof’s square footage, and then you may have to convert your square footage measurement to correspond with how the roofing material is measured. For instance, some roofing is sold in “squares,” which equals the total square footage of the roof divided by 100. Shingles are sold in bundles that may not correspond to the number of squares you need. Metal roofing is sold as sheets, so determine the amount of square feet each panel will cover and then divide the total square footage by the coverage area.

While the terms of individual home insurance policies vary, most premiums won't increase if it's been a long time since a homeowner has filed a claim. However, more frequent claims will lead to a higher homeowners insurance premium. Other factors that influence whether your premium will increase include your claim history and the type of damage in the claim.

There should be small gaps between your roof and the walls of your home, and other buildings. These small gaps let building materials shift, expand, and contract with weather and other outside forces, and they prevent moisture from wicking down walls from roofing and gutter systems. Without these strategic gaps, your home’s exterior and its finishes can sustain water damage, decay, peel, delaminate, and crack. However, there is a fine line between a smart gap and a problematic gap—all  gaps should be small, intentional, and covered or filled in with foam insulation to prevent pests from using them as access points.

Roofs last about 20 to 50 years, depending on the material, quality of installation, level of maintenance, and local climate. An asphalt shingle roof tends not to last as long, about 20 years, while a metal, slate, or tile roof may last over 50 years with proper care. Many roofs last an average of 25 years.