The key to your dream roof is finding the right roofing contractor for your job. It’s vital to know that you can rely on the roofing contractor to give you good advice about products and procedures that may be new to you.

A top-notch, professional roofing contractor will be happy to answer the questions within. And just as it makes sense to receive several bids on your roofing job, it also makes sense to ask each contractor these questions. We’ve also outlined some important points to consider as you evaluate the terms of your proposed contract.

Being certain you’ve selected the right roofing contractor will ensure that you have a quality roof overhead and that your money has been wisely spent.

How To Choose Your Roofing Contractor

Allow yourself an hour, more or less, to sit down with each contractor.

You might be speaking with a salesperson or even the owner. Good contractors take pride in their work, and so should the salesperson representing the company.

The salesperson should show pride and enthusiasm in discussing other jobs, and should be knowledgeable about other jobs (which shows his amount of involvement in the work).

7 Questions To Ask Your Roofing Contractor

How can you tell if a contractor is a true professional who will stand behind his work? While there is not a single, clear-cut answer, there are a number of indicators that you can look for when going through the evaluation process.

1. What is the full name and address of the company?

Getting the complete address of the company can be an important factor in determining a company’s time in business. If a post office box is given, ask for a full street address as well. Try to hire a contractor that has an office nearby. The likelihood of better service and quicker response time is greater if the company is based near your home.

2. Does the company carry insurance?

A contractor should carry comprehensive liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance to protect you in the event of a roofing accident. This can be verified by asking to see the contractor’s certificates of insurance (workers’ compensation and general liability). Let the contractor know you want current certificates sent to you by the insurer before the job is started. Contractors may also carry other kinds of insurance, including health, life and auto. Deceptive assurances of insurance coverage may refer to these. Don’t be confused. Ask for proof of general liability and workers’ compensation* coverage for roofing projects.

3. Is the company a licensed or credentialed contractor?

Not all states require contractors to be licensed. If your state does license contractors, then they might have to pass a written examination in their specialty, although few licenses make this a requirement.

A number of cities also require professional licensing. Check with your local licensing authority for details.
A contractor may also answer this question by telling you he has a business license. However, a business license is a tax requirement and is not directly relevant to the contractor’s competence.

4. How long has the company been in business?

Needless to say, longer is usually better. Under three years may signal an unstable business or one low on the learning curve. On the other hand, everybody has to start somewhere. References will be helpful to double check any business, and are especially important when dealing with a new business.

A newer business may have a great future but it is only reasonable to be more careful when considering its referrals. The failure rate of small businesses in the first three years is high.

5. Will the company provide referrals or references from previous jobs?

Ask for photos of completed work, if available. Keep in mind, however, that many roofers will not have photos. Request a list of 10 names and phone numbers of recent customers (from the last 12 months). It is not necessary to check all 10, but you will be able to pick randomly from the list those you do call.

6. What is the company’s workmanship warranty?

Typically, contractor workmanship warranties are for one year or more. Longer warranties are not necessarily more valuable than shorter warranties. The length of the warranty is less important than the intent and ability of the roofer to stand behind their warranty. That is best evaluated using customer referrals.

Ask customers specifically for information about these four things:

• Did they perform their work on a timely basis?
• Were they responsive when asked for information and changes?
• Did they act as if they cared about the customer’s interests?
• And finally, would you call the company trustworthy?

Usually, problems of either workmanship or material show up very quickly. Therefore, the near-term warranty given by the contractor or manufacturer is more important than the warranty coverage during the later years of the warranty.

7. What is the company’s track record for solving customer complaints?

Try to find out how your contractor handles problems when they do arise. Request a referral from a job that involved a complaint.

Ask the contractor if they ever lost a job related court case, or if their contractor’s license has ever been suspended and why. Also, in talking to the appropriate authorities, such as the Better Business Bureau and licensing departments, find out if any complaints have been filed against the contractors whom you have interviewed.

Many contractors in business for any length of time have been involved in a dispute. Ask how the dispute was resolved, to test your contractor’s reputation.

Finding A Good Roofer Can Be A Difficult Task

As Chattanooga homeowners ourselves, we truly understand how difficult finding a trustworthy roofing company can be. This is why we are committed to always offers FREE, No High Pressure Sales, In Home Consultations on every single quote we provide. Along with this, we provide each and every customer with as much information as possible to provide them with confidence and assurance that they are receiving the best possible product with the best possible customer service.

So if you’re interesting in learning more about Armor Roofing & Xteriors, Click Here to request a free in home consultation or browse our site for more information about credentials, reviews, and what Armor can do for your home.