How to Choose a Residential Roofing Contractor
When it comes to choosing a residential roofing contractor, it’s important to select an experienced contractor who can give your roof the quality it needs to keep your family and personal belongings safe from the outside elements. When choosing a roofing contractor for your home, you must seek out multiple candidates with the proper licensing and a great business reputation in your area. Continue reading to learn how you can choose a residential roofing contractor for your home.
Contact three roofing contractors. Treat this step just as you would if hiring a new employee. Making a bad decision regarding which contractor to hire will be very painful.
Verify that the roofing contractor you hire has the required applicable business licenses for your state or local area.
If you are unsure of the business licenses required for roofing contractors in your area, contact the licensing board or Department of Professional Regulation for your area or state.
You may also visit the Contractor’s Licensing website featured in the Sources section of this article to determine the licenses required by specific states
Verify that the roofing contractor or business is legitimate by asking for their tax identification number, a business address, business website or email address, and contact phone number.
Ask the roofing contractor to provide you with proof of insurance, including worker’s compensation and liability coverage.
Not all areas or states require roofing contractors to have insurance, but you may want to hire a person with insurance to protect yourself from lawsuits if the contractor is injured while working on your property.
Check with the contractor to verify that the insurance covers the entire time-span during which the roofing project takes place.
Selecting a professional roofing contractor
Buying a new roof system is an important investment. Before you spend your money, spend time learning how to evaluate roofing contractors. You should insist on working with a professional roofing contractor. NRCA wants to assist you in getting the kind of results you expect—a quality roof system at a fair price. All roofing contractors are not alike, and NRCA recommends that you prequalify roofing contractors to get the job done right the first time
Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax identification number and, where applicable, a business license.
Don’t hesitate to ask a roofing contractor for proof of insurance. In fact, insist on seeing copies of his liability coverage and workers’ compensation certificates. Make sure the coverages are in effect through the duration of the job. Many building and home owners have been dragged into litigation involving uninsured roofing contractors. Also, if a contractor is not properly insured, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.
Check to see if the roofing contractor is properly licensed or bonded. Some states have specific licensing requirements, and others do not. Your state’s Department of Professional Regulation or Licensing Board will have this information.
Make sure the contractor is financially stable. A professional roofing contractor can provide current financial information about his company.
Look for a company with a proven track record that offers client references and a list of completed projects. Call these clients to find out whether they were satisfied.
Insist on a detailed, written proposal and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and spec ifications, including approximate starting and completion dates and payment procedures.
Have the contractor list the roofing manufacturers with which his firm is a licensed or approved applicator. Most roof systems require special application expertise to achieve lasting quality.
Have the contractor explain his project supervision and quality-control procedures. Request the name of the person who will be in charge of your project, how many workers will be required and estimated completion time.
How to Choose a Roofing Contractor
Need to Find a Good Roofer?
Installing a new roof is one of the most important, and expensive, home improvement projects you’ll run into as a homeowner. It and your siding is the first line of defense for your home against the elements. Whether you need a quick repair or a complete replacement, you’ll want to hire a trustworthy roofing pro. Here are a few tips to help you find — and work with — your contractor.
When Do I Need to Find a Roofer?
There are a few reasons you might need a roofer:
installation or replacement
repair
maintenance and inspection
Remember that these companies, especially independent contractors, often specialize in repairs or replacement. An installer might not have much experience with repair, and vice versa. Make sure that the one you hire knows how to work with the material you have (or want).
New Roof Installation or Replacement
A roof will last 20 to 50 years. Afterward, it usually requires replacement. The cost to replace or install a roof ranges from $5,200 to $10,100. High-end materials may cost more. If you’re hiring a pro to put one on a new home,
Roofing Repair
The price to repair a roof runs $350 to $1,300. If it is leaking, sagging or showing other signs of damage, you may need a pro to fix it. Many professionals will perform this work on one they installed. If you need to a hire a pro different from the installer, be sure to look for companies that offer repair.
How to Choose a Roofing Contractor
Selecting a properly certified and high quality roofing contractor is important and often a difficult task for consumers who are unfamiliar with the roofing industry. Roofing in the Ontario region is an unregulated industry. It is important to select certified roofers who will be in business to honour their warranty in the future. There are a large number of roofing contractors who are not certified and have both low quality installations and poor workmanship. The average start-up business is usually closed within three years, and may be out of business when potential roofing problem could arise.
How long has the company been in business?
An established company will most likely be around in the future should any problems arise
Does the contractor have a permanent business office address, phone, and email?
An established contractor should be able to provide a business address, phone, and email. A permanent business address is a sign of a stable company.
Does the contractor use subcontractors?
Subcontractors are often paid on a per job basis, which can result in poor workmanship as the job is completed as fast as possible.
Does the company supply a written contract and estimate (and do they require a deposit)?
All job specifications and prices should be supplied in writing. Established companies with strong financial stability usually do not require a deposit. Deposits are common, be wary of any contractor requesting more than 1/3 of the cost of the project
How to Choose a Residential Roofing Contractor
Many homeowners can have a hard time when it comes to fixing or repairing their roofs, especially when it comes to choosing which residential roofing contractor to hire for the job. People can make the mistake of simply selecting the first one they see, and the results of such a decision can be disastrous.
Homeowners should seek the services of a professional contractor who has a record of being trustworthy with their past clients. Hiring qualified professionals may not be the cheapest in the short run, but settling for the cheaper option could end up costing you in the long run.
Look for Local Contractors
As much as possible, homeowners should look for contractors in their community. Local roofing contractors know more about the local rules and regulations in your area, as well as having an established relationship with the area’s suppliers.
Get Referrals
The best way to find a good roofing contractor is to ask your neighbors. Find out their good and bad experiences and they will tell you what to watch out for. If you don’t know any neighbors who have had roofing done lately, you can check out local chat groups online and ask them for referrals.
Look for Manufacturer Designations
You’ll need to look for roofing contractors who have earned their manufacturer designations. The designations are considered badges of honor that, at the very least says that the contractor passed the minimum requirements to become factory-certified.