Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Roofing Contractor
When it comes to choosing a roofing contractor there are a lot to choose from, but it’s your roof and you want only the best. So how do you go about picking the ideal candidate for your specific roofing project? Asking a few important questions will certainly help you to narrow the field.
- Does the roofing contractor offer onsite inspections and estimates? If a contractor tries to offer you an estimate over the phone, without also setting up an appointment to view the roof firsthand you may want to consider another contractor. The size, shape and condition of the roof are all factors that can only be determined by an onsite inspection.
- Does the roofing company have a physical address? While a physical address isn’t necessarily an indication of reliability, it does suggest that the company is established and will be around should you have problems while the roof is under warranty.
- How long has the company been in business? Again this is not a guarantee of dependability or quality work but the number of years a company has been in business is often an indication of their success. Of course every contractor or company must start somewhere so don’t let the fact they are a startup business rule them out if they meet all the other specifications.
- Does the roofing contractor or company carry insurance? This is an absolute must. Any contractor you hire should have liability insurance as well as workers’ compensation if they have employees working with them. If a worker is hurt while working on your property and no workers’ comp is in place, you could be held liable for medical expenses and loss wages. Ask the roofing contractor for verification of this insurance.
- Is the contractor licensed? Before you hire any roofing contractor make sure he is licensed in the state where he is working. Every state requires that contractors be licensed while local cities and towns may have varying regulations. Check with your local government offices and then make certain that the roofing contractor has the appropriate licenses.
- Can the roofing contractor provide references from past jobs? Ask for a list of names and numbers for projects completed over the past year. Call a few of these customers to see if they were pleased with the job. Did the contractor show up on time? Was he responsible yet easy to work with? Was the job completed on time?
- Does the company provide a warranty on workmanship? The materials will usually be covered under a manufacturer’s warranty but you want to make sure the contractor will back up his work if there should be a problem and get this in writing.
- Has the company had any complaints and how do they attempt to solve them? This may seem like a tricky question but you want to know that if there is an issue, they will do everything possible to solve it. Check with your local Better Business Bureau to find out if any complaints have been filed. If so how have they been handled?
- Does the contractor clean up the site and remove all the old roofing materials and is this included in the cost? Usually this is part of the job but it’s a good idea to ask. You don’t want to be stuck with a pile of debris in your yard and have to pay extra to have it hauled away.
- Does the roofing contractor offer a written contract? A handshake is nice but it won’t protect you in the event of a problem. You need to have a detailed contract listing the work to be completed, the time frame for completion, the type and brand of materials and an itemized list of all labor and materials costs.