A new roof system is a big expense — it can be one of the largest exterior building components. It’s also the one you’ll want to get right, especially for longevity purposes! That said, choosing your contractor plays an important role in determining how well this project ends up working out. Here are 10 factors that should go into consideration when vetting and selecting the best company for your needs:
1.Double-check licensing and insurance
Roofing is among some of the dangerous construction jobs, so make sure your contractor has all of the necessary safety equipment, materials, and tools to adequately perform it before hiring them for a job. Ask the roofers you’re considering if they have appropriate licenses or are insured – these two things will separate out those who can be trusted from those that might put your property at risk by using unsafe practices.
The best roofing contractors will be insured to protect all their employees who work at the company. If your prospective hire is unwilling or unable to provide proof of this license, it’s wise that you look elsewhere before signing on with them.
2. Local Referrals
Doing business with a local contractor is the best way to avoid being scammed or getting shoddy work on your roof. It can be hard, though, when you don’t know any contractors in the area and need to call around asking about prices until one agrees on giving you, their quote. How do we make this process easier? Understand that good service often costs more than just cheap labor! A lot of times people will lower their price so they get more customers but then offer low quality service because it’s not worth paying for higher-quality materials. Also, if there are no complaints from clients then look up any other roofers as this one seems fishy.
3. Financing Agreements
Do you know what it’s like to have your roof collapse in the middle of a storm? It can be devastating, and that is why there are so many companies out there who will come at any time with their tools for an emergency fix. But unless they put everything on paper before starting work, like agreements about how much money each side owes – or doesn’t owe, things may not go as smoothly as planned.
If something does happen during installation–which unfortunately happens sometimes when working high up off the ground! –you’ll want to make sure everyone has agreed beforehand just how much needs paying back from which party.
4. Reputation and Previous Samples
Is a contractor’s reputation everything when it comes to finding the right one for your roof? While you can get some insight from asking around, there are better ways of learning about contractors than using word-of-mouth alone. There aren’t many websites that will give an honest review so be sure to dig deep and look at their past work before making any decisions! You can also ask the company if they have a small list of past customers, you could contact directly to inquire about their work. Keep in mind that even the best roofing contractors will occasionally receive negative reviews, but this is often due to minor hiccups with customer service or scheduling rather than an overall quality issue.
5. Safety
Anyone who is looking for a roofing contractor should always make sure that they are qualified. Roofers need to have the right safety equipment and training in order to do their job well, which includes keeping your work area safe while working on it. If you want someone with experience, then take into account how much time has passed since the last accident before hiring them because this will tell you whether or not they know what they’re doing when it comes to taking care of people’s lives as well as property values by ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks due to accidents occurring during construction projects such as faulty roofs installed incorrectly-which can lead up being an expensive mistake if left unchecked!
6. Pre-Qualify
Prequalified contractors are distinguished from other bids by an objective process which ensures the contractor is equal in professionalism, experience and workmanship. This may include: test scores, qualifications for insurance coverage (which can be verified), a company’s financial stability rating or credit score, licensing information such as whether they have been cited with any violations related to their license type within the last two years.
7. Insurance
The contractors must provide a Certificate of Insurance that meets your requirements and the state requirement. The insurance should be in effect throughout construction to cover damage inside or outside of the building, landscaping, and contents. This is heavy duty work with potential for destruction so you need this coverage,
8. Better Business Bureau rating
If you want to find a reputable roofing contractor, check for their BBB rating. The Better Business Bureau provides ratings that are specifically designed to help people determine the reliability of companies in this industry. Nearly all high-quality and trustworthy contractors will have good or excellent ratings with better business bureau reviews–if not, be wary!
9. Choose The One Who Has Specialized
There are many contractors claiming to do it all, but one should look for a contractor that specializes in their particular need. For example, if you have shingle replacement needs or roofing repair issues then they will be the perfect fit! They not only know what type of service is needed but also how much time and money it takes.
10. Educate Yourself
Every once in a while, it is important to take some time for yourself and understand the condition of your roof and what you plan to do with it. Are there just minor repairs that need doing or do you have structural issues from recent storms? Understanding what work needs to be done will allow you to keep an eye on contractors as they are working and ensure things go smoothly with them completing their job right.
