Choosing a roofing contractor is a big decision. Roofs protect your home, and everything inside including your family, plus it’s a big investment, so you should feel 100% confident about your choice.
Here is a list of the top 20 considerations you should read before deciding what roofing contractor to hire for your home.
- Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, website, and in some states, a business license. Unfortunately, Texas does not license roofing companies. Head to any area after a hurricane, tornado, or storm and you’ll see truck after truck roaming the streets, with contractors looking for work. Some of these contractors are on the up and up. However, some are not. After the job is finished and you have an issue or a repair is needed, will you be able to contact the company, and will they fix the issue or make the repair before the warranty expires? Should you choose a company that is not local to your area? You may have an exceedingly difficult time getting the company back to fix or repair any issues in the future.
- Ask the roofing contractor for proof of insurance, if they will not provide you with a copy, move on to another company. Make sure the coverage is in effect throughout the duration of the job. Many homeowners have been dragged into litigation involving uninsured roofing contractors, because of this little, but necessary proof.
- Make sure the contractor is financially stable. Ask for a Letter of Credit from the contractors’ suppliers or call the suppliers yourself. Make sure the funds you pay the contractor are used specifically for the cost of the materials and labor to install your new roof.
- Insist on a list of the materials to be used; this should be listed in the written estimate. Examine the estimate for a detailed description of the scope of work and material specifications, these should include both start and completion dates (weather permitting) and payment amounts and dates. Any changes after the contract signing should be in writing with an addendum to the contract.
- Get local referrals. There will be less of a chance of being swindled when you choose a contractor from your area. The contractors are more familiar with local rules and code regulations and have a relationship with the suppliers and crews.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings. As stated above, many contractors migrate to an area as soon as a storm hits, looking for work. It is important to look the company up on the BBB website and make sure they have a good rating score, reviews, and business location in your area.
- Never give in to pressure. Many contractors state they can perform the work with whatever amount your insurance company pays. Ask yourself, how do they know there will be enough money? How can they offer upgrades before they know the amount of funds that are available for the work? As a homeowner, ensure the funds from the insurance company are the right amount for the repairs. The contractor should be present with the insurance adjuster to inspect the property thoroughly to ensure the adjuster does not miss any damage. Once the insurance company sends you the paperwork for the damages covered, meet with the contractor, and review the paperwork. Should there be items missing from the paperwork, the contractor should supplement the insurance company for the additional items.
- Know the material choices. A contractor who only offers you the same shingle options you currently have is not looking out for your best interest. The type, style, and color of the shingles you install can affect the curb appeal and value of your home. With the insurance company paying for a new roof, it would be a wonderful time to make a change and upgrade to a more appealing style or color that suits your home.
- Ask where and when they will deliver and stage materials and debris trailer. They should deliver the morning of the installation date as a convenience to your daily activities.
- In case of inclement weather during the job, what is the plan to protect my home? Let us face it we live in Texas; the weather guy is not 100% accurate. When your roof is replaced, it would be an enormous issue if a sunny day turned into a rainy day. The crew should make sure your home is “dried in” meaning should rain start to fall; you will not have water penetrating inside your home.
- What is the material warranty and labor warranty on my new roof? These are two separate warranties. Minimum of 25 years to 50 years depending on the material. A labor warranty for leaks/installation typically ranges from five years to a lifetime (for as long as you own the home). Many contractors offer only a two to three-year warranty. Keep in mind that any warranty will be voided when a new hailstorm hits your roof. The best warranty is one you do not have to use.
- How will you protect my landscaping during the roof replacement? If you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on your landscaping, you do not want to come home to a beautiful roof only to see your landscaping torn up. Before you hire a company, ask how they will protect your landscaping. If an accident does occur, what will the company do to mitigate the damage?
- Is there going to be someone on my property who I can communicate with should I have any questions or issues? You want to know if there is a project manager on-site to address your concerns. A reputable roofing company will have someone on-site throughout the project to answer questions and address your concerns.
- To prevent you from being swindled out of your money, do not pay a large deposit. Reputable, financially sound contractors should wait for a partial payment until the materials arrive and the work starts. You should only pay the balance once the job is complete, and you perform a walkthrough with the contractor. Paying a small deposit of a hundred dollars is acceptable for the contractor to schedule your roof and lock your installation date.
- A roof is comprised of many different components making it a complete system. Proper attic ventilation is a necessity. Without it, your shingles may wear out sooner or void the manufacturer’s warranty. Your decking may deteriorate at an accelerated rate causing future issues that may be avoided. Please note that you cannot mix active and passive ventilation. Ridge vents are passive, Power Vents are active.
- Will the contractor make sure that natural gas appliances, water heater, and furnace vents are correctly connected after the work has been finished? This is extremely important for the safety of you and your family due to the possibility of carbon monoxide accumulating in the home.
- In most municipalities, permits are required to install a new roof. Unfortunately, the homeowner will be the one held liable for failure to obtain a permit. Some ramifications may include fines, forced removal of the new roof, or an issue for a potential buyer.
- Will you email me the estimate? If a company agrees to email or drop off the estimate, you would be wise to run in a different direction. Many homeowners use this method to collect several estimates in order to compare and choose the best “deal”. In theory, makes sense to a point. Just getting a price on a piece of paper is a huge disadvantage to you. You lose your opportunity to ask your questions about the company, installation, and products. This information is vital to make an educated decision about a company. Experienced, competent companies know better than to email or drop off an estimate. They understand the importance of the conversation that should happen between you and the company. Make sure to note if they make eye contact with you and maintain eye contact throughout any face-to-face meeting. If not, this is usually a sign they may not be forthcoming.
- While price is important, you should have a healthy amount of skepticism about the lowest bid. As the old saying goes; If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Unscrupulous contractors’ low-cost estimates may seem like a great deal, but these contractors often are uninsured, use cheap quality of materials and perform subpar work, in other words, they cut corners. Please keep in mind, price is only one of the criteria for selecting a roofing company. Quality of workmanship, professionalism, experience, and materials should carry most of the weight in your decision. However, since you are reading this article, you are probably not looking for the cheapest price – good for you in … doing your homework!
- Tidbits
- Have your lawn cut the day before so nails are easier to see and collect.
- There will be vibrations from the work, and wall décor inside the house that may fall. Take down any décor you may be concerned may fall.
- The crew will need access to the outside electrical outlets.
- Move vehicles and lawn decor away from the exterior of the home.
May Your Day Be Blessed.
