You can no longer ignore it or put it off. The ceiling has water stains on it. In your yard, you’ve discovered a few shingles. Raccoons, squirrels, or birds—or perhaps all three, yikes!—are in your attic. Regardless, the indications are unmistakable: a new roof is needed.
Select the Best Roofing Professional for the Task
Selecting the best roofing contractor for the task is the first step in getting a new roof or having your roof repaired.
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Do-it-yourself vs. Hiring a Professional Roofer
For your house, installing a new roof or fixing an old one is a major undertaking and financial commitment. The task will be completed correctly if you work with a certified and reliable roofer who is knowledgeable about building rules and requirements, safety, and roofing materials. Additionally, warranty options will provide you the assurance that the roofing contractor will support their work for many years to come.
We strongly advise dealing with a professional roofer for any needs you may have, but if you want to undertake a roof repair or replacement on your own, you might want to look into DIY Roofing!
Roofing Contractor Selection Checklist
Before deciding which roofing contractor to employ, most homeowners first compile a list of two to five and schedule meetings with two to three of them.
You may start the process of making a shortlist of potential roofing contractors by looking for competent roofers online or by asking friends and family for recommendations. However, these methods might not provide you with all the information you need to determine which roofers are qualified and which are not.
15 Things to Consider Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor
Without knowing all the details about the contractor, it is dangerous to base your choice just on recommendations or intuition. To help you choose the best roofer for your project, here are 15 questions to ask:
Can they give a detailed account of the company’s degree of roofing industry experience? Consider this conversation with a contractor to be similar to a job interview. Since many business owners began their careers in the field with other firms, you shouldn’t inquire how long they’ve been in operation. Instead, you should find out how much experience the contractor has overall.
Is the contractor covered by insurance? To assist guard against unintentional damage to your house, your contractor should be insured.
Does the contractor possess the license or other qualifications that the state or local government requires? To find out the prerequisites, you may always give your city’s administrative offices a call. Contractors have the right and obligation to give you a copy of their license. Verify that the contractor has a spotless record and no unresolved complaints by contacting your local Better Business Bureau. All contractors may occasionally have problems with clients; the important question is whether they are resolved.
Will you receive a formal estimate from the contractor? The items chosen for your project as well as a precise and comprehensive description of the work to be done should be included in the estimate your roofing contractor provides. Information about any job that will be subcontracted out should also be included.
Is your roof thoroughly inspected by the contractor? Your roofing contractor should do a comprehensive inspection of your existing roof, including the deck, attic, flashing, chimney, soil stacks, valleys, and other roof penetrations, in addition to looking for storm damage. This is the most effective method for figuring out the entire extent of the roofing project.
Does your contractor make sure there is enough airflow? Has he or she given you an explanation? The current attic ventilation should be inspected by your roofing contractor, who should also discuss the significance of adequate ventilation. This should involve checking your roof from the attic to see if the ventilation system is operating as it should. Inadequate ventilation can lead to severe mold growth and damage your shingles.
Will the contractor spend enough time describing the operation of a suitable roofing system? An description of each component portion and how it functions as a whole for optimal roof performance should be part of this.
Can your contractor describe the variations in performance between the water and ice barriers that are required for your roof deck? Depending on where you live, your roof deck could need water and ice barriers to shield your house from wind-driven showers or ice and snow. Your contractor should be able to suggest the best course of action for sealing your roof deck in addition to explaining the differences between the solutions.
Is the type and color of your shingles sufficiently explained to you by your contractor? Numerous shingle lines and price points are available, and certain shingles have certain performance characteristics that might be necessary in your location (such as impact resistance or solar reflectance). There should always be options available to you.
Does your contractor clarify the distinction between the manufacturer’s warranty coverage for defective equipment and his or her own workmanship warranty coverage? A distinction exists. Additionally, the contractor need to be ready to tell you who to contact in the event of an issue.**
Will they offer references for the work done by this contractor? The majority of qualified contractors are happy to provide their list of references; you ought to give some a call.
When will the contractor be able to complete your project? Even if unforeseen circumstances, such as bad weather, might cause delays in the start of your project, you should know roughly when you can work with the contractor’s timetable.
Do you think the contractor communicates effectively? Do you think they take the time to hear your worries and provide answers to your questions? In the end, follow your instincts when choosing a contractor, regardless of pricing variations, to choose which one is ideal for you and your project. If communication is a problem before the project, it is unlikely to get better once you sign the contract.
Are they able to give precise written terms for payment? The roof should never be paid for in advance. The contractor won’t ask for a deposit on most typical works that are scheduled promptly, but they will want full payment after the job is finished. Large, intricate projects could call for a separate compensation schedule. You ought to feel at ease with the terms of payment.
Is financing available from the contractor? There are more advantages to thinking about a contractor who can provide finance besides securing funds for your project. Because lending organizations usually require contractors to be screened through an application procedure before giving financing alternatives, it may also be a sign of the contractor’s financial stability.