Choosing a roofer should be a breeze when you know what to look for. However, with the many professionals promoting their services as the “best in the area,” you may fall for cowboy roofers. The problem with cowboy roofers isn’t just the wrong decision you’ve made; it’s the quality of roofing services they deliver.
Triple R Roofing, a leading roofing company, notes that a solid roof depends on two important factors; the roofing materials and the roofer’s expertise. Follow the tips below to get the best roofer for your property’s roofing needs.
Know your roofing problem
Before hiring a roofing contractor, the first step is to have an idea of what you need a roofer for. Roofing contractors perform three major services, installations, repairs, and maintenance. Determine where your roofing problem falls to fine-tune your search.
Unsure where the problem falls? A roofing repair service is recommended when common problems like missing shingles, leaks, or minor damage have compromised your roof. You need a replacement job if your roof is already old and tattered or if it requires recurrent repairs that cost a lot of money.
Roof maintenance is a good way to protect your roof from damage and improve its overall durability. Maintenance can be done annually to ensure common roofing problems are identified early and addressed before they further compromise your roof.
Seek Recommendations
Friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues are all good sources of professional recommendations. They are more likely to recommend professionals with whom they’ve had first-hand experiences. In the case of a roofer, you can be sure that these people will recommend roofing contractors that have done an excellent job on their properties.
While word-of-mouth recommendation is a great way to get started, it shouldn’t be the end. Add to the list by using the internet. A simple search for roofing contractors near me will give you some great results to choose from.
While collating your list, ensure that each roofer has great reviews from past customers and good ratings. Remove roofers with lots of bad reviews from your list, as chances are high that you may suffer the same fate.
Check their credentials
Having a list of potential roofing contractors to hire streamlines your focus and helps you tailor your search to fit your specific needs. Go through your list of potential hires and investigate each to ensure you aren’t making a mistake.
While investigating, pay attention to the important indices, including their years of experience, affiliation with professional associations and manufacturers, insurance, financing, and more.
Years of experience are important as you want to hire an experienced roofer that understands how best to manage situations while on the job. As a rule of thumb, look for roofers with at least five years of experience. You should also look for professional membership and licenses, as this increases the confidence that the roofer can deliver excellently on the job.
Checking for financing is important, especially if you’re planning a new build roof installation or a roof replacement project. These two projects are often expensive and may require the right financing plan to pull off.
Another important consideration is the roofer’s insurance coverage. This may not be readily available on their website or the internet. However, make a note to ask the roofer during the final vetting and hiring stages.
Contact the roofers
You must have deleted a few options from your potential hire list based on merit. You should initiate contact with each roofer now that you’re left with a few others to choose from. Pay attention to everything from this point onward, as it will determine who you hire and who gets the job.
Focus on the roofer’s accessibility and customer service. Also, ask about roofing inspection and whether they offer a free and upfront estimate. Now is the time to ask about their insurance coverage to limit your liability and ensure protection in the event of work accidents.
Most roofers offer free estimates, so you can request an inspection and estimate to get started. When the roofers show up, watch out for their professionalism and attention to detail. You can also ask whether the company works with employees or subcontractors. Most homeowners are more comfortable working with roofing companies that have their own employees.
Consider estimates and Fees
The roofer’s estimates and fees will play a major role in your final decision. Compare roofing estimates from the roofers you’ve called onto your property and look for the most favorable and detailed option. You should also ask about the labor costs in comparison to the average labor cost in your local area.
Please note that cost should not be the most important factor behind your final decision. It is better to consider the cost-to-value ratio as this gives you a better idea of what you’d be getting for the fees paid.
