Posted by roofcoadmin December 25, 2018
When you’re looking at installing a new roof, or even repairing an existing one, you should absolutely hire a professional roofing contractor for the job. You may be worried about getting ripped off, getting a crummy job, being left in a lurch by a contractor no-showing, or even being sued. Here are a few questions you should ask to ensure they know their stuff, as well as the answers you should look for before signing them on.
Are you certified?
You should only ever hire a certified contractor. Anyone can walk in off the street and offer to fix some loose shingles, but you want to know they’re qualified, and have the paperwork to prove it. You can absolutely request to see a copy of their certification before agreeing to anything.
How long have you been in business?
While new businesses don’t necessarily mean inexperience, you want to ensure the person knows their stuff, and has seen it all. The longer they’ve been active in the industry, the more scenarios they’ve dealt with, and the better equipped they will be to troubleshoot weird or last-minute issues for you. An experienced roofer will have 10 years or more, or at least be working within a company that’s 10 years in business.
Are you covered by worker’s compensation?
The reason you want to confirm this is because a roofer may become injured in a fall or accident while working on your property. In these situations, if they have no income protection, they sometimes try to sue the homeowner because the injury took place on the clock. A roofer covered by a worker’s compensation plan is a much safer bet.
Is your labor under warranty?
Almost every single roofing company guarantees their labor, in addition to the manufacturers’ warranties on the materials they use. First of all, they should absolutely know the answer to this question. You may want to check their website or do some digging to confirm that they are in fact guaranteed for the work they do. Not only can they mess up the job, they can even cause damage to your home.
Are you bonded?
The answer should absolutely be ‘yes’. Some of the biggest concerns with hiring a contractor are whether they’ll show up, if they acquired the proper permits, and if they pay their workers. Bonding is a form of insurance that holds them liable for these issues, and not you.
Do you have references or can I see a previous job of yours?
Like any service, roofers should be able to provide references of people or business they’ve worked with successfully. Don’t be shy in asking for a list of references, or even for examples of properties they’ve worked on before. Ensuring that someone else had a positive experience with the roofer can give you peace of mind.
Realistically, there are so many more questions you could, and should ask. The info you want to confirm will vary based on the job of job, the depth of work required, your location, etc. As far as important basics, the 6 questions above will give you a solid base for judging the professional roofing contractor before you, and how you’re protected when working with them.