Are you looking for a local roofing company to hire to work on your roof? Your choice of a roofing contractor will significantly impact your roofing project, for example, in terms of cost and quality of work. Therefore, it is vital to choose the right roofer for the job.
However, choosing the right roofing company can take time and effort. Additionally, there have been several reported cases of unscrupulous roofing contractors scamming homeowners. Therefore, you must be very careful when selecting a roofer. Fortunately, with the right tips and advice, you can choose an honest and reliable roofing company that can offer you the roof you desire.
If you’re looking for a local roofing company to hire but need help knowing where to start, you’re in the right place. Below are some tips to help you find and hire the right contractor for your next roofing project.
Ask Your Friends and Family
One of the best ways to find a local roofing company to hire is through word-of-mouth referrals. And the best place to start is with your friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, etc. These are people whose opinions you might already trust, so you can be sure they will offer you reliable recommendations.
However, it would be best if you also researched when asking for a roofing company recommendation from family and friends. Talk with them and find out what kind of roofing project they had. Also, ask about additional details such as how long the project took, the costs, and if they had any issues with the roofer they used. Also, ask for photos of the finished job, or visit their home and see the completed work.
You can use online recommendations if you’re having trouble getting referrals from friends and family. Several sites on the internet list roofing contractors – like Angi and Porch. Therefore, you can get some good suggestions for roofing companies, which you can vet further. You can also search for local roofing companies near you on Google, which will offer several suggestions.
Read Reviews
Reviews are an excellent resource you need to use when you are looking for local roofers to hire. By reading through reviews and opinions of other customers, you can better understand the type of company you are dealing with. Therefore, you can rule out roofing companies with a bad reputation, saving you from several homeowner’s roofing nightmares.
There are several places you can look for online reviews. Google is one of the top platforms, and you can find several reviews for a company you are considering – if they have a Google profile. Other top platforms include Yelp and Better Business Bureau Ratings. You can also check out customer reviews on a roofing company’s social media accounts.
However, one thing to remember when reading reviews is that not all are honest. Some customers might exaggerate their positive or negative opinion, thus giving a roofing company an underserved review. There have also been cases of companies paying for fake reviews to boost their reputation.
Additionally, some unscrupulous companies often target competitors with fake negative reviews to gain a competitive edge. Also, people with a grudge, for example, fired employees or past customers, can write fake reviews to retaliate. Therefore, you’ll need to spot fake reviews, allowing you to make an informed decision.
Check If They Offer the Services You Need
When looking for a local roofing company to hire, it’s vital to consider the services they’re offering. Roofing services can vary from one company to another. For example, one roofer might only provide roof repairs and maintenance, while another contractor specializes in installation and replacements. Therefore, it is a good idea to ask beforehand, to ensure they offer the services you require.
Besides asking about the services offered, you should inquire about additional information, such as the type of roofs they deal with. It’s very likely to meet a contractor who only specializes in one roofing material – for example, metal. Therefore, you need to ensure that the roofer you hire has experience working with the type of roof you have.
Lastly, ask about the additional services the roofer you are considering offers. For example, some roofing companies also provide gutter, window, and siding services, which you might also need. Finding such a company can help you tackle your project in one go, which can help you save money in the long run.
Ask for a Detailed Estimate
Your available budget is a huge factor to consider when looking for a local roofing company to hire. Therefore, before you decide on a contractor, ask them to offer you an estimate for your project.
When requesting an estimate, you should ask for an itemized quote. For example, say you are hiring a contractor for roof maintenance. Then, they should indicate how much they charge you for different aspects of the project – inspection, gutter cleaning, debris removal, mold removal, etc. Such a detailed estimate will help you know what you are paying for and even help you cut out some of the project costs.
When asking for an estimate for your roofing project, you should compare quotes from different contractors. Doing this can help you find the most affordable roofer, saving you money. However, when comparing quotes, you should be careful not to choose a roofer who is too cheap, as their services will most likely come with a catch.
Ask If They’re Licensed
Your roof is a big part of your home and an investment that you should always protect. Therefore, when looking for a local roofing company to hire, one of the top things to consider is licensing. The contractor you hire should have the necessary licenses and permits to work on your roof.
There are several benefits to hiring a licensed roofing contractor. First, they are likely to know the industry well and, thus, up-to-date with the best practices. Therefore, you can expect high-quality workmanship if you hire them for a job, say, for roof repairs.
With a licensed roofing company, you also can expect official dealings when it comes to things like contracts and payments. This can protect you from any unethical practices and shoddy work from the roofers. Additionally, if there are any issues, you can complain to the licensing body, which can help hold the contractors accountable.
Besides licenses, it is also a good idea to ask for certifications from a roofing company before hiring them. These include manufacturer certification to show that a roofer meets all the requirements to work on a specific type of roof. While these certifications are not necessary to work as a roofing contractor, they are proof of a roofer’s skill and experience. Therefore, they can assure you that you’re hiring the right person for the job.
Ask If They’re Insured
Besides licenses, insurance is another major factor to consider when looking for a local roofing company to hire. Roofing projects can sometimes go wrong, causing damage to your roof or other structures such as HVAC systems, windows, water pipes, etc. In such situations, the contractor’s insurance will help cover your home’s damages, protecting you from huge losses.
Another benefit of hiring insured roofing contractors is that it protects you from liability should something happen. For example, if an accident occurs during the project and the contractor (or one of their employees) gets injured, their insurance should cover any compensation. However, if the roofer was uninsured, they (or their employees) could sue you for the injuries, leaving you with additional expenses. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that your roofing contractor has the proper insurance before they set foot on your home.
Besides insurance, you should also ask any roofing contractor you’re considering if they’re bonded. A roofing contractor’s bond is vital as it helps protect you from liability if the roofer fails to finish the project you paid them for. It can also provide recourse if the contractor’s work is shoddy.
Look for Guarantees
As stated above, a roof is a considerable investment, and damage or shoddy work could leave you with huge losses. Therefore, when looking for a roofing company to hire, you want to choose one that you can trust to work on your roof and fully protect it. This is where guarantees come into place.
Several roofing companies offer guarantees for their work. The two main types of guarantees include satisfaction and money-back guarantee. With a satisfaction guarantee, the roofing contractor assures you that they’ll deliver the services to your liking. And should there be any issues, they’ll correct them at no cost.
With a money-back guarantee, a roofing contractor offers personal assurance for their work quality. Therefore, if it is not up to the expected standards, you can request back the money you paid them for the project. Most often, a contractor will offer a satisfaction guarantee alongside a money-back guarantee, where they will refund you if they’re not able to satisfy you with their workmanship.
See If They Offer Warranties
Besides guarantees, warranties are also important when you are looking for a local roofing company to hire. Like guarantees, warranties will help put your mind at ease when you have a contractor working on your roof. Additionally, it will help protect you from costly losses if something goes wrong with the roofing services offered.
There are two types of warranty offered by most roofing companies – manufacturer’s warranty and workmanship warranty. The manufacturer’s warranty is for the roofing materials (shingles) used during the job. Most contractors – through the manufacturers – offer warranties ranging from 25 years to a lifetime. Therefore, you will be covered if there is any issue with the roofing install.
Roofing contractors offer a workmanship warranty to guarantee the quality of work. It can protect you from liability in the case of poor installation or other contractor mistakes. The length of these warranties will vary depending on the contractors and could be anywhere from a few months to a year, two years, five years, ten years, 25 years, or even a lifetime.
Look at their Past Work
When looking at a local roofing company to hire, you should also consider their past work. While factors such as license, insurance, warranties, etc., are essential in vetting a roofer, their past work will give you a basic idea of what to expect. This will help you tell whether the contractor is reliable or not.
Most roofing contractors will have a portfolio section on their website showcasing their past completed works. Some will also have photos of the completed projects on their social media profiles. If the roofer you are considering does not have these photos, you can ask them to share some with you.
When considering a roofing contractor’s past work, you can contact their past customers and ask them to share photos of their completed projects. If they are near, you can even visit their homes and see first-hand the services offered by the contractor.
Make Sure to Ask a Ton of Questions
Choosing a residential roofing contractor is like interviewing a potential employee – you want to know as much about them as possible. Therefore, when looking for a local roofing company to hire, you should always ask questions and lots of them. The questions will help you learn about the company, its operations, services offered, skills, level of experience, etc.
Asking a roofing contractor questions before you hire them also helps you understand what to expect during the project. For example, say you are looking to hire a roofer for a roof replacement. Then, asking them questions will help you understand the process, the materials to be used, the time the project will take, other possible services you might need, costs, etc. Therefore, you will be more knowledgeable about the process.
Lastly, asking potential roofing contractors questions can help you narrow your choice. By gauging how your contractor answers the question, you can be able to tell if they are honest and reliable or not. For example, if a contractor is cagey about things like licensing, insurance, costs, past projects, etc., they likely have something to hide, and you should avoid them.
There are many factors to keep in mind when you’re looking for a local roofing company to hire. This, and the fact that there are so many contractors to choose from, can easily overwhelm you. However, with the above tips, you can narrow down your options and choose a reliable contractor who you can count on to meet your roofing needs.
