Get a free estimate

Top 5 Qualities to Look for in a Residential Roofer

Did you know that the single most frequent complaint to the Better Business Bureau concerns roofing? And did you know that roofing scams, where homeowners typically lose most of their hard earned money, pop up in the newspapers more often than any other type of home repair disaster? These are two very good reasons why you should know the essential qualities to look for in a residential roofer if you ever need roofing repairs carried out.

Repairing or replacing a roof is an expensive business. It will cost thousands,  up to $50,000 or so, which is why you need to be extremely careful when choosing the best roofing contractor for your needs. Think of the process you might go through to choose a good used car. You don’t have to be an expert mechanic to know the common sense things to look out for to ensure you get a good car deal. It’s pretty much the same with a residential roofer. Do your due diligence. It will take a bit of time and effort, but you will end up with a reliable roofing contractor who does a great job at a price you can afford. Here are 5 questions you should ask when you hire a residential roofer.

residential-roof

 

1. Does the roofer have references?
It’s common for an established, reliable and professional roofing company to ask past customers if they would provide a reference. If they know they have provided the customer with a good roofing job well done, they will obviously have no fear of getting a bad reference from the customer. These references, collected over time, provide valuable testimonials and a strong indication of the degree of reliability, trustworthiness and dependability of your chosen residential roofing contractor.
Ask to see a good number of references, perhaps as many as eight or ten. Roofing contractors who are serious about their work and their reputations will have gathered that many at least. Contact two or three of the customers at random from those who have provided a reference, and ask for their honest opinion on the quality of work they provided. This is a very sensible and excellent way to help you decide on the best residential roofer for you.

2. Does the roofer have insurance?
All too often, homeowners assume the roof repair company has its own insurance in place, and they don’t bother to check for themselves. So, what happens when they don’t, and when there is an accident of some kind? If that happens, you – the homeowner – become responsible. You will become liable, and that can become very expensive indeed.
A legitimate roofing service will have no difficulties with producing the necessary paperwork for their worker’s compensation insurance, as well as their general liability insurance, and proving they are both current and fully up to date. You certainly don’t want an accident of any kind to happen to those working on your roof, but neither do you want to be responsible, should it occur.

3. Does the roofer offer a warranty?
Defective roofing work usually doesn’t show up immediately. It might be a year or more before it becomes obvious. A roofing contractor who offers you a warranty is one who has complete confidence in the quality of his work. Look for one who offers a longer period than one year, if possible, though a one year warranty should be the minimum you accept.

4. Does the roofer have the necessary permits?
You can’t simply start major work on a roof. You need certain permits that say you have the right to carry out the work. Your roofer should obtain all the necessary permits, which can amount to quite a lot of cost, and he should pay for the permits as well. This should also include the removal of the old roofing materials.

5. Does the roofer have a permanent place of business?
This is just one more sign that the roofing contractor is reliable. The fly-by-night cowboys rarely have the kind of premises that shows their intention of being in business for years to come. Your chosen roofing service should be able to provide a permanent postal address and landline telephone number, preferably local ones. Anything less may not give you the peace of mind you deserve.