Quality Roofing Work for a Price
When it comes to roofing, the lowest price is not necessarily the best choice. If you are hiring your first roofing contractor, you may feel a bit overwhelmed when determining the best roofer for the job. Though it may be tempting to choose the roofing contractor, that offers the lowest bid, you may discover that just because the project is cheaper in the beginning, it may cost you more down the road.
When a roofing contractor significantly offers a lower bid than other roofing contractors, there may be several reasons why. First, the contractor may not provide insurance for his or her employees. A roofing company that adequately covers the cost of general liability and workman’s compensation for their employees tend to charge a bit more to deflect the cost. Choosing to hire a contractor that doesn’t provide insurance for their employees is very risky. Many homeowners are not aware of the fact that if an employee is to become injured on the homeowner’s property, the homeowner can be held liable. The only way to prevent this from occurring is to make certain that the contractor provides both general liability insurance and workmen’s compensation.
Another reason why a contractor may offer a very low bid is because they are not going to use the best materials for the project. You should always ask for a written estimate that details what type of materials the roofer will use. If you need to, you should call the supply house yourself and ask if those materials are the highest quality for your project. If you find that the materials are inferior or are not the quality that you desire, you will have to make a choice between paying a cheaper price or using better quality materials. Many homeowners soon discover that it is much better to pay a higher price for their roofing project rather than to use inferior materials or be held liable for uninsured workers.
Choose A Licensed & Insured Roofer
It sounds simple enough. If you want to ensure that your roofing project is contracted with a reputable roofing company, choose a roofer that is licensed and insured. However, some states don’t require licensing. This can make finding a qualified roofer a bit more difficult, however, it is not impossible.
The first course of action is to check with your state’s Department of Professional Regulation and Licensing. Your local department is a wealth of information and can give you all of the information that you need to ensure that your roofer is highly qualified for the job. Once you find out what your state’s licensing and insuring policies are, your next step is to ask the roofer for verification.
A common mistake that many homeowners or business owners make in regards to choosing a licensed and insured roofer is that they simply don’t ask for or verify references. You should ask the roofer to see proof of certification, licenses and their insurance as applicable to state law.
However, you should also ask for references from former customers. Yet, those references won’t do you any good if you don’t call them. Make sure you are diligent and thoroughly check out any references that the roofing company gives you.
If your state doesn’t require licensing, you can ask if the roofer has been trained or licensed by any of the manufacturers that they work with. Typically, manufacturers of various roofing materials will provide training and courses in proper installation. A qualified roofing company should be able to provide you with these certifications.
Additionally, you should also check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any past complaints filed against the company. You should also make certain that the roofing company only hires insured and thoroughly trained employees.
Ask to see proof of workman’s compensation or other safety certifications for the company’s employees as well.
Have Your Roofer Give You A Written Estimate
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “Get it in writing,” and when it comes to your roofing project you need to get everything in a detailed written estimate. Your written estimate is the tool that you will use to make an informed decision regarding the work that you will have done, the total cost for the project, as well as the expense of any materials and labor that will be involved. Additionally, you will use your detailed written estimates to compare between roofing contractors and choose the contractor best suited for your roofing project needs.
If you receive the written estimate but find that the roofer failed to include information such as what type of materials will be used, or that they haven’t detailed each category to explain how the labor will proceed or what type of insulation they will use, you may need to ask them for a clearly defined estimate. If the estimate simply has figures or cost estimates without an explanation of how they reached that number, it will be very difficult for you to compare estimates between roofers. You should also make certain that the roofer is making a bid for enough materials to complete the roofing project as well. You may also find that once you have all of the information written down in your estimate, the company you select may not be the one with the lowest bid. When you can review the process that the roofing contractor will use to complete your project, you will be able to ask any pertinent questions regarding their choice of materials, how much material they will need, etc. and you may find that you prefer a roofer that uses higher quality products over one that offers a lower bid. However, without the detailed written estimate, you will be unable to compare roofers and make a qualified decision.
Choose A Professional & Experienced Roofer
All roofers need to begin somewhere, but you should think twice before agreeing to be your roofing company’s first customer. If you want to ensure that your roofing project is completed efficiently, it’s best to choose a roofer that is professional as well as experienced.
You should inquire as to how long the roofer has been in business and ask for verification regarding the history of the business, certifications, licenses, and insurance. As a general rule of thumb, you should consider choosing a roofer that has been established for at least three years. A business that has been established for at least three years tends to have overcome many of the obstacles that face newer companies.
When you are selecting a roofing company, it may seem overwhelming to determine if the company is professional or not. The best way to make this assessment is to simply interview the roofing company. At best, you should try to schedule at least an hour or so to talk with the roofer first hand. This is a great way to determine if the roofer is knowledgeable about the industry and it also gives you a chance to ask any questions that you may have.
It is a good idea to write down your questions before you interview the roofer. You may want to consider asking the roofer if they are licensed with any of the national roofing associations such as the National Roofing Contractors Association or the National Association of Home Builders. This is especially important if your state doesn’t require roofers to be licensed.
When asking the roofer for references, you may want to specify that you would like the name of a previous client who had a complaint that the roofer solved. This is a great way to determine if the company has a history of solving problems that may arise during the project in a reasonable manner.
Make Sure The Roofer Is Prepared
The best way to ensure that your roofer is prepared to handle your project is to hire a roofing contractor with experience. You should always ask for references from previous customers and then call those customers to hear their experiences first hand. You should ask the references questions regarding how long it took until the project was completed, whether or not they have had any serious problems since using the roofer, and if the written estimate was a true description of the final cost of the project. One of the best questions to ask is whether or not the customer feels that the roofing company or roofer could be described as trustworthy. By taking the time to contact the roofer’s references, you can make certain that you are contracting with a professional roofer that is prepared and performs quality work.
You should always double check the written estimate for detailed explanations regarding the project and ask any questions that you may have before you agree to contract with the roofer. The best way to ensure that the roofer is prepared for your project is to take a close look at the estimate and make certain that you feel comfortable with the work, the price of materials, and that the roofer is purchasing enough materials to complete the project in a timely manner.
To make sure that the roofer is prepared, you should ask for verification of needed building permits, insurance, workman’s compensation insurance for any subcontractors or employees, and look for a contractor that is bonded. If a roofer fails to show you any of these items, there is a very good chance that the roofing company is not adequately prepared for your job, and if any accidents were to occur, you could be held liable. You should understand that some roofers may carry certain insurance for their workers, but if it is not specifically general liability insurance or workman’s compensation insurance, you will be held responsible for any injuries. Be sure to see all proof of insurance before entering a contract with the roofing company.
Be wary of the lowest bid
When it comes to choosing a roofer, the lowest bid may not necessarily mean that you’ve contracted the best company for the job. The first thing to realize is the fact that not all states require roofers to be licensed. This means that if you live in a state that doesn’t require certification or licensing, anyone with a building permit may tell you that they are a roofer. The lowest bid does not necessarily mean that you will be contracting a licensed roofer. It is always best to find out what your state’s laws and certification requirements are and choose your roofer based on those qualifications, rather than by choosing the lowest bid.
If you would like to determine your state’s roofing laws and requirements, you will need to check with your state’s Department of Professional Regulation and Licensing. After you determine your state’s licensing procedures, be sure to ask the roofing company to show you their credentials. If your state does not require licensing, you should ask the company for a list of specific items to ensure that they are well qualified for the job.
First, ask the company for proof of the establishment of their business. This may include their business telephone number, address, and tax id number. A very important aspect of hiring a good roofing contractor is choosing a company that provides a carefully thought out written estimate. If a company offers you the lowest bid, but doesn’t explain why you will save money contracting with his company, you should proceed cautiously. A good written estimate will explain in full detail the scope of the project and how much each step, labor, and materials will cost. You should also be able to assess how long it will take to complete the roofing job from the written estimate as well.
It’s also a good practice to ask the roofing company to let you know which manufacturers they are licensed with. Even if the state doesn’t require the company to be licensed or certified, many companies within the roofing business will provide training for roofers. If a company offers you the lowest bid but has no credentials or references to back them up, proceed with caution. It is much better to choose a company that can verify their craftsmanship and business ethics than contract with a company that may offer the lowest bid but will cost you more in the long run.
Don’t Pay The Roofer Until The Job Is Complete
You should never pay for a roofing job up front. If any roofer asks that you pay for the entire project before it is complete, you should consider choosing a different roofing company.
Since many states do not require licensing for roofers, this is a field, where in the past, many con artists have swindled unsuspecting homeowners out of thousands of dollars. Therefore, it is vitally important to ensure that you are contracting with a reputable company before you even begin to think about exchanging money. You should spend several hours interviewing the roofer, calling and verifying references, and double checking the roofer’s insurance policies, policies for the workers who will be on your property, and making certain that the roofer has operated in a professional business manner before the exchange of money is even discussed. If a roofer requests that you pay all of the money up front, this could be a great indicator that you are dealing with a scam artist.
Though you should never pay the roofer the price agreed upon until the job is complete, you may be required to pay a deposit for the job upfront. Some states may regulate how much of the deposit you should pay, however you should never pay more than 73% of the total project cost in a deposit. There should also be a reasonable length of time between the deposit and the beginning and ending of your project as well.
One thing that is very important to note is that many roofers need the deposit to purchase the materials that will be used on the project. It is important that you know who your roofing contractor purchases these materials from and you should verify that the supplier has a good working relationship with the roofing company. In certain situations, homeowners may be held responsible if the contractor fails to pay for the building materials, so make sure that the contractor is paying their bills and that he or she has adequately paid for your building materials. By taking the time to ensure that you are dealing with a reputable and professional company, you can make certain that your project will be completed efficiently and to your satisfaction.
Re-roof the smart way
There is no doubt about it; if you want to re-roof the smart way, you will hire a professional roofer. Many homeowners are unaware of the fact that building permits are required to re-roof and will sometimes try to undertake the project themselves, thinking that they will save money. Instead, they find that they may be fined and did not have the knowledge to perform the job accurately. If you are a homeowner and need to re-roof, it is best to hire a roofing contractor who is licensed and has plenty of experience. There are many strict building codes that must be followed when re-roofing and the best way to ensure that these rules are followed correctly is to hire a professional roofer.
It is also important to realize that re-roofing is costly and many times you can delay the need to completely re-roof if you devise a preventative maintenance plan. By repairing leaks and damage as it occurs, you may be able to delay the need for re-roofing. However, when the time comes to completely re-roof, you should begin the process by having a professional roofing contractor perform a complete inspection of your roof. Your roof will also need to be inspected by a building inspector. If you are planning on performing the work yourself, you will still need to obtain permits and have the roof thoroughly inspected before you can begin.
Since many homeowners feel that the simplest way to re-roof is to lay a new roof over the existing one, they may be surprised to discover that the building inspector determines this option. The building inspector will let the homeowner or roofing contractor know which materials are approved for re-roofing. The first step to ensure that your roofing project is completed accurately is to contact your local building/permit and zoning office for information regarding the steps that you need to take to comply with your local laws.
Roofing Warranties
Prior to hiring a roofer, you want to make sure that you discuss what type of warranty is included. New roofs are big ticket items that can cost thousands of dollars. Therefore, it is imperative that you select a roofing company or roofing contractor that will provide a warranty that will endure as long as your roof. Some roofs may last up to forty years and having a warranty on your roof can save you money as well as headaches throughout the life of your roof. Always check with the roofer and determine what type of warranty they offer before making your final selection. Also keep in mind that most roofers offer a “full” warranty on new roofs but a “limited” warranty when they are only performing a roof repair or patch.
There are several things to look for when reviewing roofing warranties. First, you will want to make certain that your roof is covered in the event of any defects in the materials. Fortunately, it is rare for new roofs to encounter problems, but your warranty will offer you peace of mind and the assurance that if something were to go wrong, you would be adequately protected.
The materials that the roofer uses for your project will come with a manufacturer’s warranty. Make sure that you know what the warranty is for the material that the roofer is using before you enter into a contract. You may find that you prefer to use a different material that has a better warranty than the one the roofer may be offering you. For this reason, many people prefer to use materials that come from reputable manufacturers.
In addition to the manufacturer’s warranty, the roofer or roofing company should also provide you with a warranty in case anything happens to your roof. You should look for a roofer or roofing company that has been in business for several years. This will help lessen the chance that the roofer will go out of business before your warranty expires. If the roofer is out of business, your warranty will become void. By choosing your roofer carefully and choosing materials that come with extended warranties, you can help protect yourself, your home and your roof.