6 Questions to Ask When Hiring A Roofing Contractor

Posted by Roofco June 28, 2018

If your roof’s shingles are vanishing as rapidly as the cake at a child’s birthday bash, it probably is time to replace the roof. Roofco has placed together the following list of 6 questions every homeowner ought to ask a prospective roofer before signing on the dotted line, in order for you to ensure the service you hire is reputable and able to get your roof done correctly the first time.

  1. Question to ask: Are you licensed?

The answer you should expect: In most states, yes

Why you should expect it: Most states will require that a roofer be licensed within the state; but, all states vary. That means one code might be needed in Boston whereas another might be needed in Nashville.

  1. Question to ask: Do you carry workman’s compensation insurance?

The answer you should expect: Yes

Why you should expect it: At one point, employers who had three or fewer workers did not need to provide workman’s comp insurance; now they will by law.

  1. Question to ask: Do you have general liability insurance?

The answer you should expect: Yes

Why you should expect it: Workman’s comp covers all employees on your property, and general liability insurance will cover the actual property.

  1. Question to ask: Will you remove the old roof?

The answer you should expect: Yes

Why you should expect it:  Some roofing professionals claim to save money and time by inspecting the old roof then if everything looks alright, they’ll shingle over it. But, unless the older shingles are pulled up you’ll never know if there are any soft spots or rotten wood under the existing shingles. If weak spots stay behind, you’ll have costlier, larger issues in the future. Do not allow the roofer to install a new roof on your home until they’ve taken the old roof up.

  1. Question to ask: Will you put in drip edge or edge metal as you install my new roof?

The answer you should expect: Yes

Why you should expect it: Drip edge or edge metal comprises of a tiny piece of aluminum that is placed underneath the shingle where it’ll come off the roof. This metal piece extends way past the roof and permits runoff to flow into the gutters and protects the wood and fascia on the roof. If the drip edge or edge metal isn’t installed, you’ll incur issues related to water damage. But, unless you ask about drip edge before the project, some roofing professionals will skip over this portion of the process. For that reason, it’s critical that you ask about drip edge before hiring a roofer.

  1. Question to ask: Are you going to you use standoffs or ladder stabilizers to protect the gutters as you install the roof?

The answer you should expect:  Yes

Why you should expect it: Standoffs and/or ladder stabilizers ought to be used in all roofing jobs.

For more information on what questions to ask when hiring a roofing contractor, contact our efficient roofing company, Roofco today!