Looking for a Good Roofer? Follow These Tips

When searching for a good roofing contractor, homeowners may focus on the roofer’s credentials and experience. But, like all contractors you will invite into your home, it’s also important to make sure this is a contractor you can trust and will feel comfortable interacting and doing business with. It’s important to evaluate a few things for yourself, like the contractor’s honesty, work style and how well they may handle problems if they arise. Here are some questions to guide you as you make a choice of a roofer, or any contractor, you plan to use for your home.

Make Sure You Answer These Questions Before You Hire a Roofer

Is this an Honest Roofer?

Always meet with your contractor in person before you sign a contract with them. This is the best way to gauge their professionalism and whether they are right for your project. First, you want to be sure they are honest. Notice whether they are open to answering questions, whether they avoid some questions or seem uncomfortable answering others. Decide if they seem to withhold relevant information. Basically, since you are their customer, your roofer should be happy to answer your questions. If they don’t seem willing to share information, then that could be a sign they don’t have enough knowledge to answer, or that they don’t want to share how they do things. Both are a sign of potential trouble.

Is the Pricing Complete and Understandable?

What if your roofer discovers more damage than originally quoted? You should know the price per sheet of plywood or per square foot of roofing material that has to be replaced in case that happens and an hourly labor rate. Be sure the quote you see is detailed enough that you can understand it and there are no hidden costs. Make sure everything you expect to pay is included so there are no surprise added costs. It’s important to ask questions here until you are fully satisfied, and if not, move on to interview another roofer.

Does the Roofer Offer a Warranty on the Work?

The contractor should be willing to reveal whether they offer a warranty and to fully explain it to you. You should get a copy of the warranty in writing. There are different types of warranties depending on the work you have done and they may vary in length and coverage. Generally, a new residential roof will be warrantied 5-10 years, and repair work generally less than that. Look for a roofer willing to warranty their work so your investment is protected.

Do they have Worker’s Compensation and Liability Insurance?

Any hesitation in answering this question should be a red flag. Some contractors evade paying the workers’ compensation insurance meant to cover costs in case of employee accidents at work. General liability insurance protects your home in the case of damage to your property during the work. Ask the roofer for proof he has insurance, usually in the form of a Certificate of Insurance. You don’t want to find out too late he has no insurance and you may be stuck with the bills.

Check out the Roofer’s Reputation

Nowadays, there is plenty of information available on most companies. References, online reviews and business license records are three places you can gather information to help you choose the best roofer.

Can the roofer supply references?

References from satisfied customers are important to check out. It’s especially good if the customer is local, a neighbor or someone in your town. When you call, ask questions about the experience of working with the roofer as well as their satisfaction with the project now that it’s done. Ask them to tell you a good thing and a bad thing about the experience, which often turns up surprises you otherwise wouldn’t know about. After speaking with at least one or two references, you will be in a better position to judge your own impression of the roofer against the other person’s experience. If they don’t match, move on.

How are their online reviews?

We all know what the Internet is like, so check out reviews with a grain of salt. It’s best to check a few sites and read as many reviews as you can, since you’ll need more than one for a good representation. Reviews with a lot of detail are usually the best and most authentic, and give you a good idea of the roofer’s strengths and weaknesses. Because they get most of the postings for a wider range of consumer experiences, the best review sites to check out are Yelp, Facebook, Google and Angie’s List.

How does your roofer work?

What will day to day life be like while your roofer is working? Obviously you can expect some disruption to your normal routine, but you want that to be minimal. And, you want to be sure the roofer is organized, reliable, responsible and neat. So ask a lot of questions in this area to make sure you can trust that he will treat your home, yard, neighbors and family with respect and get the job done in a professional way. Ask things like what time they arrive and what time they leave, do they leave tools and equipment around overnight, and how they protect plants, trees and fences, including those of any close neighbors, from possible damage.

How will the job proceed when they start?

Finding out how long the work will take should give you an estimate of the contractor’s expertise and experience. They should also explain how they will handle possible challenges – like extra unseen roof damage, materials shortages or delays, worker absences, etc.

What happens when there are weather interruptions?

The contractor should explain what happens in the case of weather interruptions and how that may affect the schedule. You don’t want a roofer who has to move on to another project, leaving yours unfinished because of a rainstorm. Also, in case of storms, the roofer should offer to send someone on site to check the work area to avoid any water or wind damage to the unfinished project.

How do they handle waste generated during the project?

Understanding how refuse will be handled is important so you don’t get stuck with debris and waste left in your yard and having to pay to get it hauled away. A good roofing contractor should have a reliable waste disposal plan that keeps your yard clear of debris and removes all signs of the work at the end of your project, leaving your yard just the way they found it.

Prestige Roofing in Las Vegas

At Prestige Roofing we are committed to offering our clients ideal roofing solutions for their unique needs. Having been in business for over two decades, we have built a solid reputation for quality and reliability. Get in touch with us for an ideal roofing solution for your living space.