Are you a homeowner? Is your roof giving you sleepless nights because of the wear and tear around the vents and pipes or the cracked and curled shingles that are nearing the end of their lifespan? It’s time to call in a roofing contractor to replace your roof. Your roofing system is a very important part of your home. The roof is usually your first line of defence against the rains, storms, winds, and other elements. When your roof becomes problematic, letting the problem linger on for a long time will only leave you with serious issues to fix in the long run.
However, not everybody can fix a roof. You will need to identify reputable and trustworthy roofing services that will do the job right the first time. Be sure to do your research on roofing products and ask for several estimates from potential roofing contractors before settling on the best.
Here are 7 tips to identifying and finding a trustworthy roofing contractor
1. Check Their License and Insurance
When looking for a roofing contractor, the first thing you need to do is ask for proof of licensing and insurance. Remember, a roofing business is not legal until the company is fully licensed and insured. Licenses vary depending on location and city laws.
Check the requirements needed for roofing contractors in your area before working with a contractor. However, as a rule of thumb, every roofing service must have insurance for every worker going up your roof. In the event something unexpected happens, the insurance cover should take care of the problem. If the contractor you choose is not insured, you will be liable for all the injuries that occur when the workers are on your property.
2. Ask About the Building Materials They Will Be Using
There are so many roofing materials in the market today but not all of them are ideal for your roof. When talking to roofing contractors, ask them about the roofing materials they will be using on your roof. Do your own research too and find out which materials are the best for you. Compare the quality of what the contractor is suggesting and what other people are recommending and choose the one that will suit your needs best.
It is also important to note that some shingle manufacturing companies do offer product training to roofing contractors to ensure that they get the job done right. Ask your potential roofing service if they have gone through any training on specific building materials. Ask all the important questions and remember, sourcing for a roofing contractor is not something you can do in just a few minutes.
3. Does The Contractor Have a Project Manager?
One important question to ask when looking for a roofing contractor is how they handle their projects on-site? Do they have a dedicated project manager? Who will be in charge of directing the activities of the servicemen when on-site? Will the onsite manager report to work every day or do they sometimes send workers to carry out duties without any oversight?
If you can, it is always a good idea to work with a roofing service that has a designated site manager. The manager will ensure that the workers stay on track and when a problem occurs, they will be able to manage it.
4. Work With a Contractor with A Local Address and Contact
When hiring a roofing contractor, it is important to get one with a local office in your city. The contractor should also be available on the phone so that when you need them, they will be available immediately. Beware of city or state roofing services that only show up after a big storm in your area and charge way less than the local companies. Chances are, when there is a storm in a nearby city, they will be gone, and getting them to fix your emergency will be impossible.
Secondly, when you work with a local contractor, they will be informed of the local installation codes and will ensure that your roof is properly installed and compliant with the local state requirements.
5. Ask For References
Don’t forget to ask for references when you meet with potential roofing contractors. Ask them to give you references from recent jobs, that is, jobs completed in the last six months. A trustworthy roofing contractor will be glad to give you references because they know that their work is commendable but a roofing contractor who completely refuses to give you a single reference is not worth your time and you should not invest in building your new roof with them.
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