How To Find a Good Roofing Contractor?
No doubt, the roof is one of the essential parts of a building. Its state can determine the state of your home structure as well as your level of comfortability. Whether perfect or not, homeowners do their best to maintain their roofs to prevent the need to repair or replace. While doing that is indeed a good move, nothing changes the fact that certain foreseen and unforeseen factors will give you a reason to repair or replace your roof. No matter how much you try to stalk, delay in replacement will inevitably lead to leaks, an infestation of pests, and structural damage to the building.
Known causes of roof damage:
Time and Age: Your home is an asset that can either depreciate or appreciate. Depreciation sets in with wear and tear. Just like every other part of the building, your roof can only last for some time due to the influence of time elements like UV rays, ice, wind, and rain. As there are various roof types, and asphalt shingles roof can only last for 20-30years, cedar shake for 30-years, metal for 50-years, and slate for up 100years.
Natural Disasters: Common natural disasters like wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes cause a lot of damage to the roof. Storms, for instance, produce winds of up to 100miles per hour, which in turn knock a tree over a house or rip shingles off.
Moss: Homes built in shady and cool areas get to experience moss growth on the roofs. In a situation where the moss is not easily noticed or not removed, lock-in moisture against the shingles occurs, thus leading to rot.
Seasonal Damage during cold winter months, homeowners experience ice dams. If this ice dam left for long, it penetrates the roof and ends up causing water damage.
Lack of maintenance: Employing certain maintenance strategies is a sure way of ensuring that your roof lasts its lifespan. It is recommended that preventative maintenance be done at least once a year. Overlooking this is a common cause of roof damage.
You can either employ the service of a roofing contractor for roof repair or roof replacements.
You need a roofing contractor for repair if;
there are minor damages
there are few missing shingles
there is a damaged flashing
and a minor gutter damage
You need a roofing contractor for a replacement if;
there are major damages
your shingles are shredding or curling their granules
the roof is approaching or has passed its recommended life span
a natural disaster has caused leaks and structural damages
you always have to make repairs
Getting a good roofing contractor
Every homeowner looking to get a perfect installation is faced with the problem of getting a good roofing contractor. Over time, it has gotten more difficult to get a good and reliable roofing contractor than to get a good roofing material. In actuality, a good roofing material without a good roofing contractor will eventually lead to early roof failure. Asides the fact that a good roof is a protection against elements, it is one of the most expensive home improvement projects for every homeowner. It is a valuable long term investment that determines your safety, comfortability, savings, and peace of mind.
As much as the need for a roofing contractor increases every year, the rate of roofing scams has also increased. There has been an increased in the number of people who are calming to be roofing contractors but have little or no idea of roof installation. These unreliable roofing contractors feed on the ignorance of homeowners, thus causing roof installment to be more challenging.
To ensure that you smoothly replace your roof without having to deal with problems, here is a list of the things to do to find the perfect roof contractor for your roof repair and replacement:
Ensure you get local referrals: There is nothing as perfect as getting a reputable roof contractor within your location. Not only will you experience fewer chances of a potential scam, but you will also get to have access to first-hand reviews about the contractor. Local roof contractors also get themselves familiarize with the weather condition specific to your community, thus making them the best choice for your roof repair or replacement. Since they are also familiar with area suppliers, they will be able to handle emergencies without delay. So, get in touch with locals to get recommendations.
Contact at least three (3) three roofing contractors: From the recommendations given by locals, get in touch with at least three roofing contractors. Just as if you are hiring an employee, know that a wrong decision will provide you with a bad result. So, take your time to interview each of the roof contractors. Check their bids to see if it is too high or too low. Rather than consider the advantage of working with a contractor with a lower bid, consider the effect. Although this doesn’t mean that a higher bid is equivalent to a top-notch job, it is best to be wary of the bids.
Check years of experience: It takes years to master a skill, and it takes the experience to run a company effectively. If a roofing contractor has effectively been in business for over five (5) without a hitch, it means that the roofing contractor is reliable. They must have handled several cases and covered several situations. More so, they would have also been able to form alliances with top manufacturers who supply at wholesales prices, which in a way helps you to save on services required.
Verify the credentials and licenses: Research to see what licenses and credentials are issued from the right sources. You can contact the licensing board for your area to verify the authenticity of the roofing contractor or visit the licensing website to see the state-approved license. You should also ask for their business address, website, contact phone number, and tax identification number to verify how authentic the roofing contractor is.
Request for proof of insurance and liability coverage: Although some states do not make it compulsory for roofing contractors to have insurance, it is advisable to employ the services of one who has to protect yourself from lawsuits that may occur during the contract period. So many roofing contractors are unqualified, but an insurance license is one of the best ways to know the qualified ones. Ensure the insurance covers the whole roofing project period.
Ask for references and past clients: To check to see if the roofing contractor has quality artistry and satisfying work ethics, request for a list of their previous clients. Contact the past clients to know the kind of service the roofing contractor offered. Ask questions like:
Were you satisfied with his service?
Was he professional in handling his responsibilities?
Does he answer calls?
Did he update you on the progress of the job?
What do you think about their price? Is it worth the service provided?
Would you consider requesting their services again?
You can also read reviews on local listing websites to know more
Get a warranty: Hire a contractor that can provide manufacturer warranties that covers roofing materials and defective workmanship. While insurance won’t pay for a roof that gets damaged after months or years of installation, the warranty does. Get an extensive warranty of up to five (5) years and more.
Get a detailed proposal or contract in writing: Get a detailed proposal or contract (in writing) that will reveal the detailed information about the project. Ensure the information given reveals the project period, the date it starts and ends, the chosen roofing materials, the amount to be paid, payment schedule, safety, and cleaning measures. Contact the roofing contractor if you do not agree with any part of the contract. In all, carefully read every document before signing.
Compare information at hand: Before making a final decision, compare fees, services, and warranties. Do not hire based on emotions. Weigh the options and go for a contractor who will most likely provide the best services.
Why you should hire a roofing contractor
While there are many DIY techniques on how to repair and replace damaged roofs, roof repair and replacement requires a high level of expertise. So before you consider the thoughts of working on your roof, think about the loss you may incur if done wrongly, the amount of time you will have to spend, the tools required and risk associated.
Here are reasons to hire a roofer:
You get to save on repair or replacement: Roofers know where to get quality roofing materials for a price below the standard market price. But for you, getting new tools and buying materials at expensive rates isn’t a good idea.
You get to enjoy perfection: Employing DIY techniques is experimenting with your roof. Leave your roof replacement to someone who has spent years perfecting their skills.
You get to be sure of safety: Roofing contractors are trained professionals. They know what to do, how to do them, and when to do them. While roofing repairs can be very dangerous for you, professionals can complete the task without getting injured.
Roofers are thorough with inspections: Before employing any roof repair or replacement techniques, roofers do a thorough roof check. They identify flaws and damages, fix them, and ensure that they do not cause problems in the future.
Roofers have the team they need: Roofing requires manpower. The division of labor will not only give you a fast result but will also give you a perfect result. Adequate workforce allows each member of the team to focus on their responsibilities.
