How to Choose a Roofing Contractor

Value of your home is not only increased through a new roof, but the roof also will protect your home from the elements. During a severe storm, when the roof becomes damaged from tree branches, blown off shingles, hail or other debris, a new roof could become a necessity.

When it’s time to select a roof contractor, it’s essential to choose one who is experienced and can provide you with a quality roof that will keep your family safe from the elements as well as your belongings.

According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB) a reputable roof contractor should possess the following:

• Local roofing testimonials and references.
• Roofing Credentials.
• Business License.
• General Liability Insurance.
• Worker’ Comp Insurance.
• Written Manufacturer Warranty.

Tips for Choosing a Roofing Contractor

Go Local
Ensure the company you go with is local; meaning they are established and have a good reputation in the community, not just operating locally now.

Too often, customers would have issues within their warranty period only to find the company they worked with moved, closed or vanished. A piece of paper is fine, however, the warranty offered by the company is only as good as the reputation or longevity of the company.

Must have Insurance
A roofing contractor who is qualified will have insurance. Have them show you a copy of both their general liability insurance and their workers compensation. Many building owners and homes have endured needless costs due to contractors working on their property without the proper coverage.

Don’t Base Your Decision on Price Alone
Price shouldn’t be a sole factor when choosing a roof contractor. The market is driven down by cheap bids and any contractor with proper insurance and overhead has to establish a price to cover these costs.

Contractors who work out of a truck or are working on the side charge cheap rates. However, you really do get what you are paying for. Customers who make their decision based on cost end up spending more later down the road to fix problems. Most of these problems could have been covered under a warranty or workmanship guarantee through an established, reputable roof company.

Ask for References
Established roof contractors who are qualified will be happy to provide past customer references. You can contact these references to see if the work was completed to the customer’s satisfaction. You could even take a peek at some of the work the contractor did.

Other work
An extra bonus would be if the roof contractor does other work too such as waterproof walls, basements or foundations. Perhaps they would help you install a whole house fan or install an attic fan. These shouldn’t weight your overall decision, but could an extra incentive to which roof contractor you choose.

Prior to commencing work, get a written contract from the roofing contractor and be sure to read it thoroughly. It should include the work that will be done, the materials that will be used and the final cost.

In addition, when getting a new roof, be sure to install a new attic fan for proper ventilation or new roof-mounted whole house fan for cooling.