The roof of a home is the largest protective component of the house. When it fails, it can cause serious damage and create a huge amount of stress to the home owner. Yet, most homeowners spend as much time choosing a good roofing contractor as they would choosing a new car. The difference between an excellent roofer and a terrible roofer is huge and the potential for damage to a home from a contractor could be in the thousands of dollars and cause many problems for years to come.
Proper licensing and insurance documentation
If a serious and reputable roofer truly cares about his customers, he will have both general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. Don’t take their word for it. Ask for their current certificates of insurance. Then verify them with the insurance company to make sure they are current.
Verify that a roofing contractor has current insurance certificates for both General Liability and Workers’ Compensation coverage. Verify the information with the insurance carrier to verify that the contractor has paid premiums and is in good standing. Smart customers ask for documentation to verify licensing and insurance before allowing a contractor to sign a contract for work.
When looking for a roofing contractor to complete work on your home, it is best to choose a contractor that is licensed in your state. Licensing requirements for roofing contractors vary from state to state, but all licensed roofing contractors must meet several basic requirements. They must be knowledgeable of local building codes and be able to obtain any necessary permits for work completed on homes within the state. They must also know how to properly complete work in order to pass inspections. You can verify a contractor’s license on your state’s licensing board’s website. Make sure the contractor you hire is licensed to work in your state and complete the type of work you need done. If a contractor is vague about his or her license or refuses to obtain permits for a job that requires them, it is best to avoid hiring that contractor.
Comprehensive written estimates with detailed breakdowns
A roofing company Baltimore homeowner can trust will have a written estimate, with a detailed scope of work and a breakdown of the cost of the labor and materials. This will also include the square footage of the roof, the type of material that will be used for the roofing and the corresponding weight of the material. In addition, there should be a detailed scope of work as well as a detailed explanation of the terms of any warranty provided for the work. This written estimate is key to a homeowner making an educated decision as to whether to hire a particular roofing company. A roofing company that is unwilling to provide a written estimate with all of the details as outlined above can be indicative of a roofing company that is engaged in price fixing and that is likely to have a very costly bid that will have many costly surprises along the way.
This should be similar to, but not necessarily identical to, your written estimate. Any reputable roofing contractor will take the time to write out a detailed estimate of the cost of repairs to your roof. A written estimate of the repairs should be similar to your written estimate, but more detailed as to specifics of materials, pricing, time frames for completion, etc. If they cannot take the time to sit down with you and explain all of the specifics of the repairs to be done to your home’s roof in detail prior to beginning work on your home, then they are more than likely to find yourself being billed for work not agreed upon in advance.
Thorough property inspection and damage assessment
The roofing inspection is probably the biggest way to tell whether or not you are hiring a legitimate company to do work on your home or not. The best roofing companies take a lot of time to come to your home and do an inspection of your roof. They will check for structural damage as well as any existing damage to your home and they will also look for potential problems that you may not have even known existed. In addition to checking the roof itself, a good roofer will also look at your gutters and your downspouts to make sure that they are functioning properly. He will also check the flashing around your home as well as your ventilation system. During the inspection, the roofer will take pictures of the problem areas and explain to you in full detail exactly what he is seeing and what needs to be done to repair it. This is probably the biggest difference between the best roofing companies and the worst, the best take the time to do a complete inspection, the worst do not even come to your home until you have already signed a contract. A complete property inspection of your home is probably the biggest factor in determining whether or not a roofing company is legitimate.
A quality roofing company will do a complete inspection of your roof to identify any problems that can potentially cause future damage. They will look for signs of water damage in your attic and check the sheathing under your roof for any damage. They will take pictures of any problems that they find and go through each of the problems with you in detail. The report will list the problems that need to be repaired immediately as well as the problems that may cause damage in the future. They will also list out recommended maintenance for your roof to extend the life of your roof.
Rapid inspections of your home’s roofing system do not allow for the discovery of hidden problems that are not currently visible. These issues can be uncovered at the worst possible time and cause additional damage to your home, and expense for you.
Clear communication about materials and installation process
It is not necessary for a roofer to be pushing the most expensive shingle on the market. Rather, a roofer should be able to discuss the good and the bad of different styles of shingles, the different types of underlayment and ventilation systems that can be used, and what you can expect from a new roof. They should also be able to give you an idea of what type of maintenance you can expect to perform on your new roof as well as how your roof will perform in different weather conditions and how your roof will perform in your local climate.
Additionally, when hiring a roofing company, you should know how long the project will last. Some roofing companies can finish a roof in a matter of days. However, this can put a lot of pressure on the employees of that roofing company to finish the job as quickly as possible. As a result, he or she may rush through the work in order to complete the roofing job on time. A good rule of thumb is to look for a roofing company that has a little extra time to complete the job to account for any unforeseen weather.
Stay Informed About the Roofing Job Process. Many of the more reputable roofing companies have a designated project manager assigned to every job. The project manager will update you every day or so on the status of your roofing project and will be available to answer any questions or ease any concerns that you may have with the roof installed by the roofing contractor. Also, you need to check daily to see if the roofer and crew is cleaning up at the end of the day, protecting your landscaping, plants, grass, shrubs, patio, pool, etc. for the remainder of the roofing project.
Strong warranty coverage and follow-up service
A roofing company should offer warranties on both the roofing materials and the work of the roofer. These warranties are usually offered by the roofing manufacturer for the materials and the workmanship warranty by the roofing contractor. This workmanship warranty is usually offered by the roofer to ensure that they have done the best job in installing your new roof.
Know the terms of your warranty- the length of time, what will be covered for materials and work, etc. The warranty should be outlined in detail in written form and the company should have a way to track your warranty. If the company is unwilling to put their warranty in writing then they are probably trying to hide something.
After the roof on your home has been completed, a quality roofing company will check for any problems and address them to ensure that you are completely satisfied. Even after the work has been covered under warranty, they will address any calls or emails that you make regarding any problems or questions that you may have.
Making the right choice
The Roofing companies will quote a job at the lowest price in order to get your business. However, the cheapest option for a Roofing job will not last as long as the more expensive option. Also, the cheaper option will not provide the best protection for your biggest investment. Invest in your home by hiring a reputable company that will do the job right the first time. A good Roofing company will invest in their company and reputation to provide you with the best quality work and service. Take your time and research the companies, check their credentials, read their reviews and check out their past work.
