How To Choose A Roofing Contractor
If you’re looking for a roofing contractor then you should find out the answer to these and other questions: How many years has your roof been on your house without replacement? Do you know how many years your roof is designed to last? Do you have problems with leaks or moisture? Is part of your roof damaged? Does your state require roofing contractors to be licensed?
Below are some helpful tips that will assist you in selecting a roofing contractor.
Don’t limit yourself. Get bids from multiple roofing companies. Schedule an appointment with each roofing contractor to visit your home or business to inspect your roof, discuss their products and services and provide you with an estimate. It’s okay to tell the sales representative or roofing estimator that you are getting bids from several companies. This will provide them incentive to ensure that their bid is competitive.
Was the contractor punctual and courteous? If the contractor was late to your appointment and/or was not courteous when talking to you when they are trying to make a sale, then you may be in for more of the same if you chose to hire that contractor. If the contractor does not give you 100% when they are trying to sell you the job then they may not give you 100% when they are actually doing the work that the job requires.
Consider different roofing material and guarantees. Review each company’s bid and any brochures that they give you. Be sure to ask for any available brochures. Not all roofing contractors use the same product lines. So ask questions regarding the manufacturers they prefer and why. When they tell you that a particular roof is guaranteed for 20, 30, or 50 years ask if the guarantee is for 100% of the roofing product for the entire time period and ask if that guarantee includes the labor portion of the total cost of any repairs or replacement.
Ask about the roofing company’s contractor’s license. Does the company have a contractor’s license? Is that license “active?” Does that contractor’s license belong to the contractor who is going to do the work? If the roofing contractor tells you that your state does not license roofing contractors, verify that with your state. By calling your state’s contractor’s licensing office you can verify the contractor’s licensing information. If your state does not license roofing contractors or if you use an unlicensed contractor, your state probably will not be able to help you resolve a problem if something goes wrong.
Ask about the roofing contractor’s insurance. You want them to have general liability insurance. This insurance covers damage to your property while work is being performed on your property. If they are going to have employees work on your property then you also want them to have worker’s compensation insurance. Worker’s compensation insurance covers injuries to the roofing contractor’s employees while working on your property. If your roofing contractor does not have the necessary insurance you may be held liable for any damage or injuries that occur on your property. It’s also a good idea to find out if your home owner’s insurance will protect you if you become liable for any injuries or damages that may occur.
Require that the roofing contractor get all necessary permits. The permit protects you from any claims that the roofing project violated any local ordinances and also pays for an inspector to come to your property and inspect the work of the roofing contractor for your protection. Be leery of any contractor that will not get the necessary permits but requires you to get the permit.
