What You Need to Know before Hiring a Roofing Company
The roofing industry is saturated with contractors. Some legit, some not. Some with years of experience, but perhaps a dubious track record. Others with less experience yet clients sing their praises. How to separate the wheat from the chaff is your challenge when you want to hire a roofing company to deliver a quality product and workmanship.
Here are some basic questions you should ask a roofing company you’re considering hiring.
Ask them if they are licensed and obtain a copy of their certificate. If you want to take it a step further you can research license requirements for your locality to confirm they are compliant.
Do they carry liability insurance and workman’s comp? Get a copy of their insurance coverage on both. Ask for references, going as far back as 10 years. You want both recent and longer-term proof they have held to their standards.Inquire about extended warranties and ask for copies. No one-size-fits-all is something you should know concerning warranties, as roofing companies draw up different terms for any particular service.
Request a line item estimate for the work you want done. Payment terms and beginning and ending dates for each stage of work to be done should be included. Make certain you approve contract terms before signing.Find out how many years they’ve been doing business. A few years in business does not mean they have less experience.
They could have been working for another roofing company before they started their own business. Here is where checking references can help you make a judgment call.
Ask if they have a permanent address and a dedicated phone number where you can reach them, for any questions or concerns. This information demonstrates they are solvent, not a fly-by-night operation.Are they bonded? Discover if the bond they have is valid. And if the bond limit will insure the completion of work, or doing the work over.
Get this squared away before work commences.