So, it’s time to start to work on the roof. The first step is to make sure that any repairs or replacements are carried out by a licensed, insured specialist.
In many states, roofing is unregulated. Even if they are, it is still your responsibility to ensure that your local roofing contractor is qualified for the work. Here’s what to keep an eye out for.
For the most part
Check for Licensing
Is it possible to obtain a contractor license in your state or locality? If it does, double-check that your contractor is licensed.
Check to see if any prospective contractors or roofing companies are currently licensed. And don’t just believe what they say. Check your state’s public license database to be sure.
Each contractor’s profile will display their information, including the phone number they should use (which is useful for fraud protection) and the number of employees they have registered. Use this to verify their identification and check that they are licensed.
This won’t guarantee that you end up with a solid company, but it will eliminate those without this essential qualification.
Bonding and Insurance
Only work with bonded and insured contractors.
A bonded roofing contractor has obtained a third-party guarantee to safeguard you, the property owner, from financial damage if they don’t finish the job or pay their suppliers and laborers.
Workman’s compensation and liability insurance should be carried by your roofing contractor.
- Worker’s compensation protects you from claims if any roofing workers are injured on your property.
- Liability insurance covers you in case faulty contractor work damages your property.
Manufacturer and Product Affiliations
Look for contractors who are connected to the producer of your roofing product. Roofing materials are frequently covered by warranties.
However, in order for these warranties to stay valid, the roof must be repaired by a licensed contractor.
Check with your roofing shingle manufacturer to see if this is required. If it does, a public database of affiliated installers and repairmen should be available.
If you’re determined on a specific roofing brand, this is a simple method to cut down your options.
Experience
Examine their professional history after you’ve confirmed their legal eligibility and brand affiliations. Examine each contractor’s bio, social media profiles, list of services, and any case studies or photos.
- Is there a certain type of job they do more of?
- Have they worked on projects like yours before?
- Do they have experience with the same type of residence, roofing type, and repair or installation job?
Make an effort to create a profile of who this contractor is and what types of work they excel at. If they look like they’d be a good fit for your project, ask them for further information.
Ask each contractor:
- What kinds of roofing do they install?
- Do they focus on a certain type of roofing?
- How many jobs have they done that are similar to yours?
- Are they located in your local area?
- How long have they been in business, working in roofing, and working in the area?
- What was their basic training and education in roofing?
- How have they continued to learn?
- What is the crew’s level of roofing installation training?
- Is the owner involved in projects?
- How much experience do project supervisors have?
References
Learn about each contractor’s company reputation immediately. Do they have any previous clients you can speak with, or can you drop by and see a project in progress?
If you can speak to prior clients, ask some of these questions:
- What was the job type and how long ago was it done?
- Did they get an accurate quote or estimate?
- How long did the job take to complete and was this within the quoted timeframe?
- Were there any in-project issues?
- Have there been any issues with the roofing work?
- Was the roofing company prompt, courteous, organized, thorough, and clean on the job?
Make sure to check out each contractor’s profile on homeowner forums and review sites. Look for people they’ve worked with in your neighborhood. You might get a different story from their reference than they did.
See if you can chat with any of their suppliers while you’re at it. Examine whether the contractor pays his payments on time. If they don’t, it’s a red flag.
Working Procedures
Examine how the remaining contractors manage their work on-site. Construction zones can be noisy, filthy, and potentially dangerous.
In strictly business locations, a harsh environment may be acceptable, but your house demands extra attention.
Ask the contractor:
- What’s the estimated project time frame?
- What safety measures do they take to protect you, your home, and the crew?
- Will you need a building permit and who is responsible for that?
- Do they intend to bring a port-a-potty on your property?
- Will they handle any material removal and waste disposal?
- Are they using roofing components approved for use with the shingles?
- Will they inspect areas inside the home, like the attic?
- Who will oversee the project?
- Will there always be a project manager or supervisor when work is in progress?
- Will they protect your driveway, roofing gutters, lawn, and property from damage?
- Will they repair or cover any damage done to your property?
- How do they handle poor weather?
- Do they use subcontractors?
- How do they handle project changes? What happens if an unforeseen issue will delay the project or increase the budget?
- Will they remove the old roof or do they plan to install over it?
- Are they going to reuse flashings and other components? Or are they working with all new accessories?
- Do they guarantee their work?
Get an Estimate
It’s time to receive an estimate once everything else has been satisfied. Always demand a formal pricing breakdown that covers roofing labor, cleanup, installation accessories, and contingency estimates.
Get their payment plan and approved payment methods in writing while you’re at it.
Find Trusted Roofing Experts
This may seem like a lot to cover, but it will help you limit down your list of contractors quickly.
Do you want to skip the search entirely? Canopy Holdings offers more than 20 years of residential and commercial roofing experience. We’ve perfected a simple roofing method that will have your home updated and back to you in no time.
A competent project manager is constantly on-site to ensure that work meets the highest standards.
