Tips On Hiring A Roofing Contractor
Every year, civic agencies across the country process
thousands of complaints against housing contractors, and roofing
contractors consistently rank among the top businesses being complained
about. So be very careful when selecting someone to work on your house!
Your roof is an important part of your home. You shouldn't trust it to
just anyone.
Getting an honest roof estimate from roofing contractors can be confusing.
Some have really high prices, and some are priced so low that you can't
understand what's included and what's not, or if you're getting good value
for your money. Some less-than-scrupulous roofing contractors play games
with their roof estimate, only to jack the costs up later during the job
with unexpected surprises. That's why it's important to use care when
selecting a contractor, and be sure you're dealing with someone honest.
You want your roof taken care of quickly and cheaply as possible, but it
pays to take the time to select a roofing contractor that will do a good
job for a fair price. It's better to do it right the first time, instead
of using the cheapest contractor available and later discovering you've
made a painful mistake.
Hiring a roofing contractor is more than just finding the cheapest quote.
For the best results, you need to find a legitimate roofing professional.
Consider the contractor's experience and qualifications, the duration of
the project, quality of materials, and other factors. For example, GAF
Master Elite Contractors, who by virtue of their excellent workmanship are
granted special status and offer enhanced warranties.
Get recommendations from your neighbors and friends - they're your best
resource. After all, if they were happy with the work you will be too.
One of most important things to find out before hiring a roofing
contractor is that they are fully licensed and insured. Roofing is a
dangerous occupation. Don't leave yourself open to a devastating liability
by hiring an unlicensed roofer. Protect yourself!
Make sure that your contractor is an actual roofing contractor, and not
just a general contractor. Ask how long he's been in business and where
his place of business is located. Take a look at his truck and if there is
a magnetic sign on it, there is a strong possibility that he works as a
subcontractor for multiple companies. Is he going to be in the roofing
business for the full warranty on your new roof? And exactly what is the
warranty, and what does it cover? Does he offer warranties for both
Material and Craftsmanship? Make sure both materials and labor coverage
are specified.
If you get multiple roof estimates, get them in writing from each roofing
contractor, and ensure that they're based on the same roofing project
specification. Never, ever, rely on verbal promises. Insist on getting all
guarantees, promises and warranties in writing. Including warranties from
all the various manufacturers whose products will be used. And investigate
their previous work; any reputable roofing contractor should have job
sites for you to visit to see completed work.
As the roof estimate moves along, ask yourself; are you comfortable with
the roofing contractor? When reviewing the contract, does it spell out the
scope of work in clear and understandable terms? Your contractor must
obtain all required building, roofing or re-roofing permits, and he
schedules the proper inspections. Make sure all project expectations are
in writing and only sign the contract if you completely understand the
terms.
Larger contractors won't require a deposit, but if they do, never pay more
than 10% down or $1,000. Never pay in cash. And if you make ongoing
payments as the work progresses, don't let payments get ahead of the work.
Keep a job file of everything relating to your project, including all
payments. Don't make the final payment until you're satisfied with the
job.
Additional points to consider when deciding between roofing contractors:
Was the contractor on time for your roof estimate appointment? If not, or
if he failed to show at all, calling you later with some excuse, drop him
from consideration immediately. If he's not on time when he most needs to
impress you (before he has been given the job), then he surely cannot be
relied upon after he gets the contract. Does he have an actual office, and
a showroom for you to go visit? If not, does he at least have a secretary
or paging service for emergencies? Trust your instincts. Do you feel
comfortable with him working on your home? Remember, the person you meet
with could just be a convincing salesman, and become totally different
once the actual work starts. Call your city's building department, and ask
if they are familiar with the contractor you plan to use, and see if they
have anything negative to say about the company. And ask lots of
questions. Don't let the contractor confuse you with strange words and
industry jargon. Ask him to explain everything to you in detail. Remember,
you're the boss! They work for you. The bottom line is, trust your
feelings; you must feel comfortable.
Ask about the process that the crew will follow when installing your roof.
It's the roofing contractor's responsibility to see that the roof is
waterproof at the end of the day, and if necessary, there should be enough
tarps to completely cover the roof in case of rain! Take pictures as the
work progresses, to document anything the workers do to cause damage to
your property. And when the job is done, it's nice to offer the contractor
copies of your photos, and give a nice testimonial for a job well-done.
All this may seem like a lot of information to get from the roofing
contractors giving you an estimate, but these are certainly issues that
their clients already ask them about. All reputable, honest roofing
contractors will already be prepared to provide this.
Follow these guidelines, and you're sure to get a quality job done at a
fair price, and be very happy with the results.
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