It can be a daunting task hiring the right roofing contractor who you can trust to repair your roof to perfection. Here are some important questions to ask when considering which roofing contractor to fix your roof.
1. Are you licensed and do you have insurance?
Most, if not all, professional roofing contractors will show you proof of their current license without you even having to ask. Different cities and towns can have varying regulations when it comes to licensing so investigate this with your local licensing authority. The contractor should have both worker’s compensation insurance and liability insurance so that if anything goes wrong, you won’t be the one forking out money for a wrecked garden or for an injured worker’s hospital bills.
2. Can I have a written contract?
Get a contract in writing and signed to ensure that both you and your roofing contractor know of and agree to the entire process of repairing your roof, the scope of work, the timeline it will span to be fully repaired, the clean-up responsibilities, the complete cost and the details of the warranties provided.
3. Do you provide a warranty on workmanship?
On that note, there are two types of warranty – a manufacturer’s warranty and a warranty on workmanship. Roofing materials are normally covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Most contractors will offer a one-year warranty on workmanship. Read the entire proposal very carefully.
4. How long have you been in the business?
When hiring a roofer, it’s obvious that the longer a roofing contractor has been in the business, the better, however, new businesses shouldn’t be ruled out. You simply want a company that stands behind their work and will be in business for the life of your roof. It’s a great idea to ask to see some references from recent prior jobs to confirm your contractor’s ability to provide competent and courteous service.
5. What is the full name and address of the company?
If a company isn’t local to your area, it may be quite tricky to get them back out to you to fix any problems. As much as possible, aim to hire a roofing contractor who is local to your area.
6. How will you remove the debris? And is debris removal included in the cost?
You don’t want to come home to a beautiful new roof, but a complete mess of a property. Make sure the contractor has organised a container to be placed in a suitable spot on your property in which to place all the old roofing material and debris.
7. Has your company had any complaints? How did you resolve these?
No company is perfect, but it is in the way that they deal with problems that will set good contractors apart from the rest. Ask about how past disputes have been resolved to test the reputation of your contractor.
Hopefully these 7 points will help you when you're hiring a roofing contractor!