Are you getting set to get down with the contractors who offered you quotations for your roof replacement? If so, do you know what questions you need to ask them?
If you don’t, you’re not alone. Lucky for you, I’ve come up with the top 6 questions to ask a roofing contractor.
When it comes to hiring the best DFW roofers, there are a few things you need to consider. First and foremost, you want to make sure that the company you choose has a solid reputation in the area.
1. Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
The first thing you should ask a roofing contractor is whether they’re licensed, bonded, and insured.
Licensed: For a contractor to receive a license, all they have to do is register with the state’s board of licensing contractors. The price of the work will decide what license they’ll require.
Bonded: Getting bonded implies that a bonding firm recognizes that a contractor conducts business lawfully and ethically. A bond assures that if a firm goes out of business during the course of a task or if there's a mistake with the work and they don't remedy it, then the client may fall back on the bond company.
Insured: All contractors should be properly covered with general liability, workman's comp, and a corporate vehicle insurance policy on all the vehicles owned and unowned.
Don’t be scared to ask to see hard copies of each. Any roofing contractor having all three should be glad and more than willing to show you that papers.
Keep in mind, the state you reside in will have different standards for each of them. Some states may not even need the contractor to have one or the other. Study your local rules and make sure the contractor you pick has the required permissions and papers.
2. Is your company local?
When looking at contractors to employ, it’s vital that you find one that’s local to your region. Always ask a roofing contractor where their real office address is and make sure they have a local phone number. This guarantees you know where to locate them if you ever have an issue with your roof.
Be wary that some out of state firms come in after a large storm, undercut local roofing company pricing, receive the money, and move on to the next storm-hit area. Some firms don’t care about local regulations or whether they properly build your roof.
On the other hand, a reputable local roofing business will know what local installation rules to follow, the documentation necessary, and everything else they’ll need to guarantee your roof is properly done and in conformity with your state’s laws.
To understand more about why you need to employ local, read this article on why it’s crucial to use a local roofing contractor.
3. How long have you been in business?
When you engage in a roof replacement, you need to inquire and research up how long they’ve been in business in your neighborhood. If you select a newer roofing business that’s a couple of years old, chances are their pricing will be a lot less.
The difficulty is they don’t know how to price work effectively to have retained profits at the end of the year to carry them through the winter months. That's when a new firm will shut down.
That's not to imply there aren’t strong startup firms in your neighborhood. Yet, five years from now, you want to be sure the firm will still be around to take care of your roof investment.
Make sure you hire a contractor that’s established and has a great history in your region. The longer a roofing company has been in the industry doesn’t make them any better, it merely means that they'll be there if there's an issue.
4. What is your craftsmanship warranty?
Roof warranties are in place to safeguard your roof investment. You’ll have one on your roofing supplies and another on the contractor’s craftsmanship.
You must ask a roofing contractor what type of guarantee they give on their job. They might give anything from one year, two years, three years, five years, 10 years, 25 years, or even a lifetime.
For example, a firm that depends largely on caulk may issue a two-year craftsmanship guarantee since the caulk will break after a couple of years. Yet, if a roofing firm genuinely cares about how your roof is done, they’ll give you with a lifetime guarantee.
Just be aware, warranties are just worth the paper they're written on. To understand more about your roof warranties, read this article on what roof warranties cover.
5. If I have an issue, may I speak to the owner?
The name of our firm is Bill Ragan Roofing. All you have to do is call and ask to talk to Bill Ragan. It truly is that easy.
You should always question a contractor, “If there's an issue, who do I take it to?
” The opportunity to talk to the owner regarding anything roofing is important.
If they take time out of their day to listen to any concerns or inquiries, you can be fully certain that your issue is their problem. Nevertheless, if you’re chatting to employees in an office who have no power, you’ll wind up getting tossed about from person to person until you become bored of dealing with the problem.
Whether it’s the owner or the president, you want to know who you’re working with and, more crucially, who to go to when you have an issue. The chance to talk to an owner tells you that you’re significant and that you’ll be taken care of from the very top.
6. Are you certified by shingle manufacturers?
The major shingle manufacturers chose six, eight, or 10 of the best contractors in each particular region to go through their certification procedure. The certification(s) permits a contractor to give the finest warranties and increased guarantees on the products from the manufacturer.
Ask the roofing contractor if they’re certified by any of the manufacturers and if you can see a copy of the certification. This accreditation notifies a buyer that the shingle maker trusts that particular contractor and that they’re a respectable organization.
If a contractor is established in the neighborhood and is recognized to provide high quality work, then the manufacturers will be the ones to seek them out about certification. But the major reason they chose the top contractors is because their brand is tied with the contractor’s brand.
They know the contractor will install their items appropriately following the manufacturer’s installation instructions to guarantee the client gets the most out of the materials and that the roof’s lifetime will be maximized.
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