Roofing repairs and replacement can be extremely rattling, especially for new homeowners dealing with their first major leak. After all, your home is something other than a major investment. It is where you live and seek comfort. Yet, when the roof starts to show signs of disrepair, your home becomes a source of anxiety. You also don’t want to hire just anyone to come, because they might damage your roof further.
Hiring a roofing contractor is the first step to ensuring that you will continue to have a functioning roof over your head. Here is everything you need to know to hire a roofing contractor for your home:
Why You Need a Roofing Contractor
There are some things that do not require a professional to accomplish, such as routine maintenance tasks, like clearing gutters and removing debris from the rooftop. However, not everyone is comfortable with climbing up on the roof and scanning for tiny tears or other signs that you need your roof replaced or repaired.
That means that you can hire a roofing contractor for any of the following reasons:
- Maintenance
- Inspection
- Installation
- Roof replacement
- Repairs, both minor and large scale
Tips for Hiring a Top Rated Roofing Contractor
Here are some steps to finding the right roofer for your home improvement project:
Get references
Let the search begin! By finding references, that is. You can use trustworthy sites like Angie’s List or HomeAdvisor to seek out qualified professionals in your area, or you can ask friends, family, and coworkers for their recommendations. Google Maps provides decent insight to a business as well. While the reviews are not as quality-controlled as HomeAdvisor and similar websites, you can double-check the information with what you received from family and friends to what has been written on the internet.
Ask those giving references some questions:
- Why would you use this roofer again?
- Did you have any problems after the roofing contractor completed the job? If so, how did they respond?
- Did the roofer clean up after the project? Were they respectful of your property? Or was anything damaged?
- Was there someone that you could direct questions to during the job?
Interview several recommended contractors
To gauge a reasonable price for your roofing replacement or installation, set aside some time to talk with at least three roofing contractors. Compare their bids. Also, think about your budget while doing so. The price they give is only a small part of the project and not a reflection of materials and labor in most cases.
Do not trust bids that are too low or too high. To know what is outrageous or too good to be true, do some research on the average cost of roof repairs, replacement, and installation for your area.
Check for credentials and experience
Reputable professionals are going to more than happy to prove that they are licensed and accredited. Since license requirements vary by state, be sure to do your research first to know what is necessary.
Next, ask about their experience in your chosen project. How many repairs have they done? How many installations? Don’t hire someone who is inexperienced just to cut down on costs, because it could lead to improper coding and expensive mistakes.
Cover all your bases
Before you hire a roof replacement contractor or someone to install your shingles, you are going to want to make sure you are covered. Ask the contractor if they are going to acquire permits for you or if you have to do it yourself. Usually, roofing contractors will happily complete this step for you—but it is always wise to ask. Next, ask if their employees are protected by worker’s compensation.
Lastly, always review the contract and the warranties detailed within it. If you don’t understand something that is in the contract, ask. Your contractor should be willing to explain these things in greater detail. If they aren’t, do not sign the contract.
Questions to Ask a Roofing Contractor Before Hiring
Ask the roofing contractor these following questions to get a better read on their business practices:
What kind of roofing insurance do you have?
As mentioned earlier, a professional roofing contractor is going to have insurance. Which kind of insurance depends on the state where you are located. Do some homework on the kind of coverage a roof replacement contractor, for example, would need in New Jersey. Then compare their response with what is considered acceptable.
The best responses are:
- The exact insurance described by the state requirements
- Insurance coverage that exceeds the minimum requirements
- A copy of the insurance policy sent to your email after the call
Who will be onsite during the roofing installation or replacement?
Never accept a roofer who says that their workers are so experienced that they don’t require supervision. There should always be a project manager—the company manager, the owner of the company, or a project manager from a local organization—on board who can direct the flow of work at the job site. This ensures your roof is installed according to guidelines and local regulations.
Do you hire subcontractors for the work?
Some roofing contractors will hire subcontractors to assist with work. If this is the case, you will also have to ask if the subcontractors are covered by insurance and have the appropriate licenses.
How do you prefer to get paid?
Any unclear instruction about payment is handled will lead to a frustrating conclusion. Instead, inquire about the payment structure before or during the contract signing.
Note: You should never have to pay the entire balance before the job begins. If a roofing contractor asks for the payment upfront, they are probably going to scam you. Do not sign a contract if this is required and do not use their business.
A reputable roofer is going to ask for payments or a small deposit that is no more than 10 percent of the total.
Hire a Roofing Contractor Today
Looking for a top-rated roofing contractor can be difficult. There are a lot of factors to consider when hiring someone to work on the most integral part of your home. But if you apply the tips and questions in this article, you should have no problem finding someone who can help.
Looking for a reputable roofing contractor? Get in touch by filling out the contact form and talk to us about what you need done!
