Most homeowners don't like the thought of a leaky roof and with that in mind it's amazing the amount of homeowners that do little to maintain their roofs in order to keep them leak free. If you want to postpone hiring roofing contractors to work on your roof for as long as possible, it's essential that you implement some type of routine inspection and maintenance program for your roof. For more tips on how to do just that, check out: Roof Maintenance.
For those homeowners that have already decided they need to find some good roofing contractors in their area this article is for you. Whether you need a roofing contractor to inspect, maintain, repair or replace your roof, HandyAmerican has the tips and advice you need to help you make a good hiring decision.
If you've spent any amount of time looking for roofing contractors in your area you probably already know that a.) There are a lot of roofing contractors out there and b.) How in the world do you decipher the good roofing contractors from the bad ones? With so many roofing contractors offering homeowners their services it can be a difficult challenge to separate the wheat from the chaff so to speak. So what can homeowners do to find the good roofing contractors in their area?
Finding Good Roofing Contractors
When it comes to hiring good roofing contractors the rule of thumb and the advice you'll hear from most professionals and homeowners who have experience in working with contractors is to a.) not hire the roofing contractor with the lowest bid and b.) make sure you look at several bids from qualified roofing contractors before you make a hiring decision. Unfortunately it's that last bit that gets most homeowners and unfortunately it's also the piece of the puzzle that can lead to disaster.
When it comes to hiring a good contractor of any kind, it's absolutely critical that you take the time to vet several roofing contractors before you decide on which roofing contractors you want to bid on your project. When you do this you ensure that the bids you get will be from well-qualified roofing contractors and then you can move on to comparing and contrasting the different bids. When you do a thorough evaluation of the roofing contractors prior to choosing who to have bid on your project, you can usually also get away with choosing the lowest bid and not sacrifice on the quality of work or materials. And that's another great benefit about getting several bids because who doesn't like getting a fantastic deal, being totally satisfied with the work done and saving some money in the process?
To begin your hunt for the best roofing contractors in your area you'll first want to get referrals and recommendations from everybody you know who's had work done to their roof. Along with your friends and family members don't forget to contact your neighbors as well. Remember your neighbors live right by you so you know the referrals you get from them will be local. For more referrals you'll also want to ask around at your local home improvement store, you can also ask a good general contractor in the area if you happen to know one and believe it or not real estate agents often know of some good roofing contractors as well. If you know what type of roof you're going to be installing you can also contact the manufacturer and ask about any reputable installers in your area.
The point is you want to create a list of roofing contractors who have someone vouching for them. You want someone in the crowd raising their hand and saying, “This guy did a good job for me.†And if possible you want a list of at least five of these roofing contractors because as you'll find out in a second that's just a starting point!
One of the keys to finding a good roofing contractor at a good price is qualifying the roofing contractors before you decide on which ones to have bid on your project. Here's how we recommend you do it. Basically you want to find out as much as you can about the roofing contractors without acting like a stalker. We're only half joking of course!
How to Qualify Roofing Contractors
A good place to start is by searching for their business name online. Do a search and look for reviews, feedback and complaints from past clients. At this point what you want to do is look for red flags and look for roofing contractors that you wouldn't want to do business with. You can also check for complaints with you state licensing bureau and the Better Business Bureau.
Checking out the roofing contractor's website is also a good idea. Preferably you'll want to hire a roofing contractor who's been in business for at least five years and you should be able to pick up that information off his website. You'll also want to look for a physical address and a local phone number. Other things you may want to look out for are any memberships to roofing organizations such as the National Roofing Contractors Association and local organizations like the local Chamber of Commerce. All of these things are signs of a committed roofing contractor.
This is also a good time to verify the roofing contractor's license. Most states require that roofing contractors carry a license from the state which allows them to work on roofs. A roofing contractor has to take a test administered by the state and pass before he is given a license. Roofing contractors applying for a license will also have to undergo a fingerprint and background investigation so all in all, checking for a license is just a good idea.
At this point hopefully some of the better roofing contractors are starting to separates themselves and some of the less desirable roofing contractors are starting to stick out like a sore thumb. Now is the time to determine whom you want to bid on your project. If you're still having a tough time determining who you want to bid on your project, you may want to consider calling some of the roofing contractors on the phone and conducting a quick phone interview.
You can find out a lot about all contractors by calling them and communicating with them. How quick do they call you back? Are they rude or polite over the phone? Are they easy to communicate with? You have to remember that right now the roofing contractor is still trying to acquire your business and if he has an abrasive personality now imagine how much worse it'll be when he's already got the job? What if you have to call the roofer back to repair a leak that's under warranty? These are some of the things that should pop into your head when you have a hard time getting a hold of a roofing contractor.
Things to Consider When Hiring a Roofing Contractor
On top of all the information you stand to glean from placing a call to your potential roofing contractors, you should also be armed with a few questions that will further assist you in determining who the best roofing contractors in your area are. Below are some ideas for your consideration:
Availability - Make sure the roofing contractor you want to hire is available to work when you want your roof worked on. There's no point in qualifying a roofing contractor if he's booked solid for several months.
Certification - When replacing your roof you have to take into consideration what kind of roof you will be installing and whether or not it requires any special training for installation. If it does, you'll want to make sure the roofing contractor you're considering is certified and trained for your particular roof installation. It's important to note that some roofing manufacturers will not honor their warranties if the roof is not installed properly and by an approved roofing contractor.
References - Without a doubt you want to work with a roofing contractor who has plenty of references for you to evaluate. Asking for and contacting references is one of the best ways to vet a roofing contractor. If you want to take it a step further you'll look for and ask for references that will allow you to see the roofer's work in person. What better way to evaluate a roofing contractor than to see some of his previous work?
And the great thing about references for roofing contractors is that it doesn't matter if they're a few years old. When it comes to roofing contractors, you definitely want a roofer whose work will stand the test of time.
Insurance - This is another absolute must when it comes to roofing. The roofing industry is routinely in the top ten for being one of the most dangerous industries to work in and consequently insurance is a must. Some form of general liability insurance is a must as is worker's compensation for any employees the roofing contractor has working for him. Make no mistake about it insurance is a must if you want to protect your home and assets.
Contract - A good roofing contractor won't have a problem signing a contract to insure the rights of both parties are protected. No need to fill out a contract right now, at this point you just want to make sure that the roofing contractor you're talking to is ok with signing a contract before he begins work.
After you get at least three bids from your favorite roofing contractors, you should contact the references and ask some questions about their abilities. Below are a few questions you may want to consider asking to get you started and to give you some ideas?
- Would you hire this roofing contractor again?
- Have you had any leaks since your roof was installed/repaired? Did the roofing contractor repair it in a timely manner? Were there any additional charges?
- Was your roof completed on time and on budget?
- Did the roofer cause any damage to your home or property while working on your roof?
When looking at the bids you'll want to take several things into consideration. Obviously price is important but what type of roofing material is the roofing contractor using? What type of warranty are you getting for the roof itself? What about the workmanship; How long will the roofing contractor guarantee against leaks? Will the roofing felt be replaced? Will the flashing be replaced?
Unfortunately replacing a roof is not an easy decision to make and neither is hiring the right roofing contractor for the job. To find well-qualified roofing contractors in your area, check out the TrustedPros roofing contractor's directory.
Posted by: TrustedProsSuggested Reading For You
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