Your roof is the most crucial aspect of your home as it is responsible for protecting you, your family, and your properties from many things.
It provides shelter against sunlight and protects your home from extreme weather conditions such as rain, snow, sleet, hail, and high winds.
The roofing contractor you hire is a major deciding factor on the quality roofing you will get.
It’s important to choose carefully, and that’s what I want to show you how to do today.
If you’re thinking about hiring a roofing contractor, I’ve put together 10 questions that can help you make the right choice.
You should ask these questions before hiring anyone so you know exactly what to expect.
1. Are you licensed?
Working with a licensed roofing contractor whose license is up to date will help you determine upfront that you’re working with a reliable roofing company than a “fly by night” roofer whose major aim is to exploit a bad situation to make money by doing shoddy work.
Having said that, it is also important to note that all states have their own different licensing requirements and procedures, which means it is important for you to understand the code requirements for your area.
Make sure your chosen roofing company can provide you with proof of licensure.
2. Do you have the necessary insurance?
The roofing contractor you choose to work with should be able to provide proof of commercial general liability insurance.
Hiring a roofer with commercial general liability insurance helps to protect you, your home, and the roofer in case anything happens while work is being done on your home.
This should not be neglected as some contractors might choose to do without thereby exposing you to many risks in the event your property got damaged or someone gets injured while work is still going on your home.
Hiring an uninsured roofer means you pay for everything including personal injury.
3. Do you use subcontractors?
Some roofers make use of subcontractors to assist them in their roofing work. Asking if they use subcontractors and knowing that they have workman compensation and general liability insurance will help protect you in case the contractor doesn’t pay the subcontractors.
4. Do you provide a warranty?
Although most roofing materials come with a manufacturer’s warranty, it is important to know if the roofing contractor offers their own warranty on their work.
Any reputable roofing contractor will not have a problem standing behind their work.
5. Can you share information on some of your past clients and jobs?
Shopping for a roofing company is just like shopping for anything else. You want to see reviews, testimonials, case studies, and who their past clients were.
If they can’t give you any examples of clients who they have worked with and with a list of references that you can call, that’s a pretty big warning sign. Either they weren’t able to deliver for their past clients, or they don’t have the experience to carry out your roofing project.
6. How long have you been in business?
Hiring a roofing company that has stayed in business for a long time helps you to avoid shoddy roofing contractors (which I called “opportunists”).
While it is possible for a brand new roofing company to deliver great service, it is better and safer to work with someone who has been around for a while.
7. Do you have experience with specific roofing materials?
If you’re getting a specific type of roofing material installed or repaired, it is important to ask your roofer if he is conversant with that material.
8. How long will it take to complete the project?
Knowing the timeline it will take for the roofing company to complete your job is crucial to avoid the event whereby a roofer abandons your work to take on other projects.
When a roofer gives a specific timeline to finish your roof project, they’re compelled to do so.
9. Why do you charge lower than your counterparts?
If someone offers you a basement price for repair, ask WHY?
This might look like an amusing question, trust me, it is not.
Understanding the reason why a roofer decides to charge very low when compared with other roofing companies will save you from falling into the wrong hands.
Here’s what I can say: a reputable roofing contractor will never charge low prices. If you’re hunting for a discount, chances are you’ll end up with a roofer who cuts corners and hurts the quality of your roof in the long run.
That being said, a high price doesn’t guarantee quality work either. Many contractors will mark up prices of basic work by an obscene amount. Since most homeowners don’t know how to evaluate roofing projects and what it might cost, these roofing companies can get away with a lot.
The next question ensures that you’re not getting ripped off by a roofing contractor.
10. Do you offer a written estimate
Hiring a roofing contractor that offers a roofing estimate is crucial as it will help you to determine if you have enough money set aside for the project.
This ensures you take into account all the potential costs that might come up during the actual roofing process like replacement for rotten plywoods and so on.
Having full knowledge of what it would cost you before embarking on a roofing project will help you work within your budget and avoid unnecessary tensions and headaches.
Conclusion
Remember that your roof plays a crucial role in your home.
It’s responsible for shielding your home from the sunlight and protecting your family from adverse weather conditions such as rain, wind, hail, and snow.
Many of the 10 questions I’ve laid out for you in this post are designed to help you weed out those shady roofing companies and individuals.
This will help you decide if a particular company offering roofing services is worth hiring for your home.
Use as many or as few of these questions as you need to ensure you find a roofing company you can trust.
It may be a pain, but trust me, a good roofing team can be essential when it comes to delivering long-lasting, quality work that saves you lot’s of headaches and money in the long run.
Roof Royale is an experienced roofing company that provides homeowners in Austin, TX, and surroundings with high-quality roofing services. We are passionate about what we do and work tirelessly to deliver outstanding services to our clients.
For all your roofing needs in Austin, TX and surrounding cities, contact us today.
