Any time you run into a problem with your roof and need it replaced or repaired, you will get stressed. Hiring a roofing contractor, however, should not add any more anxiety. You already have enough to worry about! While sorting through all the local contractors can take some time, knowing what to look for in a top-rated roofing contractor, as well as how to interview the candidates, can shave off hours of effort and get a professional to your home more quickly.
Today we’re going to talk about what questions to ask your roofing contractor to determine if they are the right one for the job. Let’s get started.
Determining Credibility
You may have already done some of the work and gathered up a list of professional roofers that friends, family, and other acquaintances have recommended to you. Now, it is time to see which one is the best for your project. There are three points you can discuss to quickly establish credibility and reliability:
Company Name
When you ask about the company’s legal business name, it reveals whether that business is being falsely represented. Although the chances of this are low, it is always worthwhile to make sure that you are talking to a representative from the correct company. Do not accept any answers that are not the name in which the company is marketing itself or an explanation, such as “While our legal business name is _____, we do business as _____.”
The business should be able to give you additional information on their legal business name and marketing name, so you can verify.
Additional questions to ask include:
- How long have you been in business?
- Is your business local? Do you have other locations?
- Who is the owner of the business? How long have they been the owner?
- Do you have any before-and-after pictures? Any current jobs I may be able to visit with someone?
- What kind of training and experience does the team have? Do they have experience with my kind of project?
- How long do you think my project will take?
Insurance Policies
There are a few reasons why you want to verify that the roof replacement contractor has insurance. Any legitimate roofer is going to be insured to protect you from any repercussions should there be an accident on your property. Also, it shows that the business is following state and local guidelines, making them more reputable.
Therefore, you should never accept a roofing contractor who does not have insurance. Don’t accept “yes, we are insured.” Make sure you are getting the exact policy that matches state requirements. Ask them to send a copy of the policy to your email as proof.
Other ways to ask:
- Is your roofing contractor license current?
- What kinds of insurance do you have? How much coverage is that?
- Do you protect your workers while they are on my property?
Project Management
The next thing that determines whether a contractor is reliable or not is who is going to be present during the project. You will want to know who is going to be installing the roof or replacing it. Is it employees hired directly under the roof replacement contractor? Or will those laborers be subcontractors?
Furthermore, you want to be reassured that there will be a project manager of some sort onsite. This person can be a foreman from an organization, the owner of the roofing company, or a manager.
No project manager? Don’t hire that roofing company.
Do You Have Workman’s Comp?
It is required by law for a business like roofing companies to offer their employees with workman’s compensation. However, you should always confirm this. Some contractors may decide to try making do without workman’s comp. While that may not be a big deal to them, it can be for you if the accident occurs on your property.
You will be held liable for those medical expenses if the injured worker does not have workman’s compensation insurance. Any top rated roofing contractor is going to have their entire team covered to protect them and you from undue harm.
Will You Remove The Original Roof? What About Refuse?
Not every roofing contractor is going to do this step, so it is best to ask. Sometimes, you may opt to do it yourself and save some money on the roof repairs or replacement. Ask if the roofing contractor will inspect the old roof once the top layer has been removed. See if they will identify issues and address them. That will give you additional peace of mind.
Of course, that torn off material is going to need to go somewhere. Double check if the roofing contractor brings a container for drip edges, nails, plywood, and shingles, or if it is your responsibility to provide one.
Are You Going to Use Stabilizers and Other Tools to Protect My Property?
When shopping for a new roof or looking for someone to repair it, you may forget that these people will be accessing your property and climbing atop your house. When they do arrive, you want to make sure they are going to leave no trace of their passing. Confirm with the roofing company that the workers are going to use things like stabilizers for ladders and standoffs to prevent damage to the gutters.
Other questions to ask include:
- How do you plan to access the roof?
- How will my gutters be protected?
- Will you use fasteners that are approved by the manufacturer of the roofing material to protect the warranty? Do you have proof of that?
- Can you explain how pipe penetrations will be handled?
- How do you check the condition of my roof? What happens if you find any damages?
- Please describe some steps you will take to protect my property (or landscaping or plants).
Will You Provide a Written Estimate?
One thing to keep in mind: A top-rated roofing contractor will never deign to mail you an estimate or just “drop it off.” Any reputable roofing company will prefer to ask you questions to ensure the estimate is accurate. Only after they have come to your property to perform an inspection and discuss the project will you should they hand you a written estimate.
Also, make sure the cost is honest. You do not want any surprise fees in that final bill.
It’s Time To Pick Up The Phone & Call a Roofing Contractor
Now that you have learned some ins and outs of hiring a roofing contractor and studied up on interview questions, you are ready to pick up the phone or contact a company. Soon, you will have a reputable roofing company ready to help with your roof replacement, repair, or installation.
We are more than happy to answer your questions about roof repairs, replacement, maintenance and more. Why not fill out the contact form and see how we can help?
