So it’s time for some work to be done on your roof. Maybe it’s just an inspection to make sure that everything is looking up to code. Maybe it’s a small repair because you think you saw a crack in your shingles. Or maybe your roof is in its final days and you need someone to come replace your roof. No matter the reason, you’ll want to choose the best of the best when it comes to roofing contractors. Now, of course we have a suggestion on who to choose, we wanted to lay out a few questions you should be asking when it comes to choosing the right roofer.
- Is the roofing business local?
Unfortunately, the roofing industry has a problem with “fly-by-night” roofers or storm chasers. These are roofers who travel to an area after a big storm and start knocking on doors. Sure, they might offer a lower price to attract your attention.
But, those lower prices come with some major asterisks. The main one being, they’ll get their job done as quickly as possible and then leave town to chase the next big storm. So when your roof has a problem, which it almost certainly will, these roofers are nowhere to be found.
So now you’re stuck in the same situation you were before, only you’ve already paid once for this job to be completed. That’s why you’ll always want to make sure your roofers are at least local enough to come by to help if your roof is having issues.
- Is the roofer licensed, bonded, and insured?
You should always ask for proof of all 3 of these before getting too deep into a conversation with a roofer. It will, first off, help you avoid the storm chasers we discussed above. But what do these things mean, exactly?
Being licensed means the roofer has registered with the state’s board of licensing contractors. This helps them operate their business and conduct projects legally.
Bonded means that your roofer is operating ethically. It ensures that even if the business were to go under or there is a problem with the workmanship that their company doesn’t fix, the bonding company will protect you and make sure that your roofing project is completed.
And insured means that the roofing company has general liability and workman’s compensation to protect you and their employees.
Making sure that your roofing contractor has all three of these certifications will give you the peace of mind that you are working with a reputable company.
- Do they have any references for similar roofing jobs?
This is one way to figure out how much experience the roofer has with roofing projects similar to yours. And it’s a good way to figure out how confident they are in handling your roof job. If the roofer quickly and happily sends over some roofs for you to check out or some contacts to call, you’ll know that they’re proud of their work and that they want to instill the same confidence they have about your project. Not only that, but you can talk to the people who worked with the roofer before and see what that process is like and if they would recommend.
Of course, the opposite is true. If they are hesitant or get defensive when you ask for references, there’s a good chance that there’s something behind the scenes that they don’t want you to know about. They may not have any experience with your type of roofing project, or they may not be as reputable as they told you they were when you first started talking. Either way, if the roofer isn’t willing to pass over some references, you’ll want to stay clear.
- What kind of warranty do you offer?
Even the world’s best roofer’s roofs will run into unforeseen events. As the saying goes, “You can plan a pretty picnic, but you can’t predict the weather.” And although that saying is more of a metaphor, weather is definitely the number one unforeseen event that your roof will take.
But, like all humans, the world’s best roofer is also prone to a mistake from time to time. So checking on your roofer’s warranty is a big thing to check off your to-do list when deciding who to work with. These warranties give you the peace of mind knowing that your roofer will be there to help with any of those unexpected occurrences.
These are just a few of the things you should ask any potential roofer when you’re looking for help on your next roofing project. These questions will make sure that you will be protected for years to come and that you’re working with a roofer that wants to help you.
