1: Ensure that the contractor is insured
Hiring an insured contractor is extremely important since the insurance takes care of property damage and injury liabilities that could arise during the roofing contract. If the contractor is not insured, it will be your responsibility to cater for such damages or injuries.
As such it is always important to ask your contractors if they are insured before you hire them. Also, you can contact their insurance carrier to confirm if their policy is valid and active.
2. Hire a local contractor
You have probably heard of people complaining of a contractor who failed to commit to their standard five-year warranty or arrived late to attend to a roofing emergency. In most cases, this happens when you hire out- of- town contractors who care less about the community they serve.
For that reason, it would be a wise idea to hire a reputable local contractor since they care about the members of the community they serve, are familiar with the local roofing codes, and they offer quick response than the out of town contractors.
If the need arises, you can drive or walk to their local offices for a one on one interaction. As such processing warranty claims and sorting post- contract issues will be much comfortable than it would be when dealing with national roofing contractors who communicate through agents.
3. Price should not mislead you
In the construction industry, you get what you pay for. Therefore if you choose a service provider who offers too- sweet- to- be- true offers, it is likely that their work will be below standard, and you may end up spending more money to fix the resultant workmanship blemishes.
Most reputable companies charge a high roofing fee since they collaborate with an experienced team of roofers, and they offer a generous artistry guarantee to cater for artistry blemishes that might arise after they put up your roof.
However, you don’t have to spend an unreasonable budget on your roofing project. Therefore, it would be a brilliant idea to get quotes from at least five contractors and hire one with realistic rates.
4. Experience matters
In most cases, the only contractors who survive in the industry are those with an impressive line of services. Such contractors have the experience required to handle even the most complicated roofing projects that their inexperienced contractors can’t manage.
Furthermore, experienced roofing contractors have the necessary local, state and contractor organization’s licenses and permits. Therefore hiring a qualified contractor would be a sure way to avoid trouble with the authorities.
5. Use their previous work to gauge their expertise
It is almost impossible to choose an expert contractor from a poor service provider since every contractor you approach will always boast of being the industry’s most exceptional contractor.
If you face this challenge, ask a contractor to show photos or any form of proof of the roofing projects they have completed. The best contractors will not be afraid to show you several of their past projects.
On the contrary, weak contractors will come up with excuses as to why they lack photos or any proof of their past work. You should avoid such contractors since it is a sign that their projects are not worth showing off to a customer.
6. Request a budget estimate
Before the contractor gets onto your roof, make sure that they inspect the project and then provide you with a detailed and precise budget estimate showing the pricing structure, and the total cost of the project.
A written budget estimate will help you compare the rates across different service provider. As well, it shields you from cunning contractors who might impose unrealistic charges once they start or complete the project.