Before you install a new roof on your home, it's vitally important to find the right roofer for your needs. The best roofers are established businesses with a good reputation, transparent billing practices, a long list of references and a team of highly trained, skilled workers. Choosing the wrong roofing company can lead to a poor roofing job, premature deterioration of your roof, structural damage and more. If you're looking for a roofer to perform work on your home, here's what you need to know.
Ask three companies to submit proposals.
Interview several roofing businesses before choosing one to do the work. Interviewing multiple companies can help you decide what's a fair price for the work that needs to be done, and also allows you to compare and contrast customer service, professionalism and more. The more companies you interview, the easier it is to see which roofing companies are worth hiring.
Ask questions.
Have a list of prepared questions for each professional that you invite to your home or building. Don't consider a contractor that will quote you a firm price sight unseen. When you meet with contractors, ask questions such as:
- What materials are best to re-roof my home/business?
- How long will the job take?
- When can you begin work?
- What challenges would you anticipate encountering on this job?
Check references.
Always check references before hiring a contractor. Never hire a contractor that has no references.
Don’t prioritize price over quality.
It's tempting to hire the contractor that quotes the lowest price. Unfortunately, the lowest bid may not be the best choice for your re-roofing project. Avoid any contractor that dramatically under bids their competition. Ask yourself what corners they might be cutting to produce a bid that is so much lower than the rest.
When considering bids from multiple contractors, consider what each contractor is offering. Make sure it's an apples to apples comparison, and if it's not, ask yourself what your priorities are.
Watch out for hidden costs. Avoid working with contractors that will not be upfront about their costs. It's better to know for sure how much your project will cost than to be surprised with several fees you weren't anticipating or couldn't plan for in advance!
Check the license and insurance.
Make sure your contractor has an active license to work in your state, and also has insurance. It's important to hire a contractor that follows the rules, and has all the credentials to get the job done.
Don't hire a contractor on a handshake.
An estimate is a roofer's best guess (when things can’t be seen or measured). Estimates are not firm. A bid is a fixed price that your contractor will charge to do the work. It should be solidified in writing (not on a handshake). Getting the bid in writing protects you, sets expectations, and holds your contractor to the price they quoted.
The contract should have many details in it, such as:
Payment. Some contractors charge a percentage upfront to pay for the materials, others expect the full amount due when the work is over.
Timeline. Know when the work will start and end. Your contractor may give you an exact date, or a date range.
Warranty. Find out the manufacturer's warranty, and what warranty the roofing contractor offers. If this isn't in the contract, get it in writing somewhere.
Venting and flashing. Venting and flashing is the most frequent cause of roof deterioration. Find out how the roofer plans to deal with your venting and flashing. This will most likely be outlined in the contract.
Chimney repair. The best time to fix the chimney is before you install a new roof. Ask the roofer if the chimney needs work. If your roofer will be fixing your chimney, this too should be in the contract.
Ask the roofer how many layers of roof are already on your home. Are they removing all the layers and checking for rot? Will they clean up when they're done? You should be able to find this information in the contract as well.
Need a New Roof? Call Pickard Roofing
Are you re-roofing your home? Contact a trustworthy roofer in North Carolina. Call Pickard Roofing to get started with your upcoming roofing project
At Pickard Roofing, we think Design. Craft. Renew. We are experienced in all types of roofing systems- and provide the right roofing design and selective craftsmanship for renewing our customer’s assets. We invite sustainable building customers to give us a call for your free evaluation. For over 90 years Pickard Roofing Company has installed countless metal, tile, slate, TPO, EPDM, and all types of shingle roofing in the Triangle. Our services include residential, commercial, custom architectural metal fabrication, and historical renovation.
