Choosing a roofing contractor can often feel like an overwhelming task. You have numerous questions to ask them, and you may even receive conflicting answers from the various contractors you speak to. Therefore it’s important to cut right to the heart of the matter, and understand what the most important things are to look for when selecting your roofing contractor.
Licensing
No matter what your roofing contractor is charging you or how well he seems to know his work, the first thing you should be confirming is whether or not he is licensed and that this license is in good standing. You can easily verify this by calling your city or town hall and asking number. In some cases when you apply for a building permit, listing your roofer will automatically get his license checked. Don’t rely on this, however, as small jobs may not require permits, and some towns may not check.
References
You should get at least three references from each roofing contractor you are considering. Getting these references is not enough, however; you need to call each one and ask the following questions to determine your contractor’s reliability and ability to get this job done:
- How satisfied were you with the work?
- How did the contractor handle any issues that came up?
- Did he start and finish when he said he would?
- Were there any surprise fees or hidden work that came up later?
- How likely are you to hire him again?
Manufacturer’s Certification
You don’t need to be certified by roofing material manufacturers to work on a roof, but getting a roofing contractor that is certified is a big plus. Certified roofing contractors have undergone special training with the manufacturer, so they are more than familiar with how to install it. Certification also means that your contractor can offer you the extended manufacturer’s warranty on the roof, which will help cover you in the event of a defect or installation error down the road.
Job Knowledge
How knowledgeable does your roofing contractor seem? Is he able to explain to you exactly what he intends to do from start to finish? Can he check things for you before providing the estimate, such as determining how many layers of roofing you already have installed, or is he just guessing and telling you that he’ll find out when he gets up there?
You need to trust that your roofing contractor is going to be able to do the job. Find out how many jobs he’s worked on like yours, check his references, and ask lots of detailed questions about what this job will entail so that you’re satisfied he’s able to do it.
Written Contract
Don’t trust anything that you can’t get in writing. This means that your roofing contractor should provide you with a written estimate that includes everything you discussed from the scope of the work to the start and end dates. If it isn’t in the written contract, ask for it; if your roofing contractor is reluctant to put it in writing, then you may want to find someone else to do the job.
About NV Roofing
NV Roofing has been doing business since 1963. A second-generation-owned company, we’ve had the same phone number since 1980, and have successfully completed more than 40,000 projects. At least 50% of our business is referral-based, and we have one of the best warranties in the business – 25+ years.
Call us today for a free estimate on your roof!