Steps For Choosing The Best Roofing
Contractor
A house is a safe haven which protects your
family from harsh weather and provides security. Compromising your family with
the use of poor quality roofing solutions can be costly and risky too. That’s
why its advisable to use good quality roofing services and ensure you obtain
good workmanship. Getting roofing repairs every now and then is a costly affair
Looking for a roofing contractor.
Word of mouth is always the best method of
acquiring accurate details of a contractor. Friends, family & relatives,
colleagues and neighbors can be a great source of information. Ask them about
the roofing contractor they’ve used in the past. They will be more than willing
to assist you.
License Verification
Check if he has a license and if yes, check
whether its up-to-date. This can be done by contacting the license board. The
contractors’ website is also another great source where you can check the type
of licensing required for roofing contractors.
Ask for his identification documents
He should prove that he is legal by giving
you his business address, tax identification number or his phone number.
Check if he has an Insurance cover
The insurance should include a worker’s
compensation and liability coverage. Its not a good idea to hire an uninsured
contractor.
Things to Look for in Picking a Roofer
A few tips for when you are looking to
repair your roof
This past Sunday, much of Denton County was
bombarded by high winds and hail stones. You may have experienced some roof
damage after the storms. When picking a company to repair the damage to your
house, make sure you pick a reputable company.
Here is a check list of eight questions you
should ask before choosing a roofer:
1) Are they local or in the area? Are they close enough to come back for follow
ups?
2) How long have they been in
business? Do they have the experience to
get the work done? It takes several
years in any business to be considered experienced.
3) Do you know them or have they worked for
someone that you know? Be familiar with
the roofer and their clients.
4) Do their clients refer them? Check their past track record with friends or
acquaintances. Was the work
satisfactory?
5) Can they do the type of work you
need? Not all work is the same, your
style of shingle, type of construction, pitch of the roof. More unusual houses sometimes cost more.
6) Are they insured or bonded? This way,
should something go wrong or the work is never completed, you are protected.
7) Don’t let price be the only determinant;
but instead consider value which is a combination of price and all the other
issues that need to be addressed.
8) Consider several options and check
references. Get a few bids from different contractors. Going with the cheapest
option is not necessarily the best option. Do a little research to check which
bid also has the best references
Having a damaged roof can be stressful.
However, rushing who you pick to do repairs can end up causing even more
headaches. A little due diligence in choosing a contractor, can make a world of
difference.
Mistakes When Choosing a Roofer
Do you need to replace your roof or have it
repaired? Investing in your roof is a major expense. It’s important to make
sure you do your research and choose a reputable, experienced contractor to
complete the work.
For many homeowners, the options can seem
daunting. Many individuals who call themselves professional roofers are
actually “fly-by-night” contractors, swindling homeowners before disappearing.
So how can you be sure you’re making the
right decision?
Location: Beware of door-to-door roofers. A
legitimate, well-established roofing company will have a physical location out
of which they operate. If they give you a PO box, make sure you follow up and
request their actual address.
Read Customer Reviews: There’s no better
barometer than the experiences of previous customers. Many residential roofing
companies will post customer testimonials on their website, though you should
also visit third-party sources like HomeStars.
Check out the Company’s Better Business
Bureau (BBB) Rating: BBB’s database helps people find local, reputable
businesses. A company’s BBB profile will include current and resolved
complaints and customer reviews.
How To Choose The Best Roofer
Choosing the best roofer for a home should
be a concentrated and intense search; after all, the average homeowner replaces
his roof well, he never replaces it.
And his search is therefore not for a competent roofer, but for the best
there is. This is a lifetime investment
hes deciding upon. And surprisingly
enough, the rules that usually apply to getting a good deal in other areas may
not be the best ideas, or yield the best deal, in this case.
The first rule most people have whenever
theyre buying anything is to buy it from whoever gives the cheapest price. Statistically, however, the best roofers are
not cheap. The cheapest roofer isnt
likely to do the best or most permanent job.
His business may be a novice one and just getting off the ground; the
temptation that hits many new companies is to offer the cheapest bids on
contractual jobs such as roofing. How do
they make the bid work? They use the
cheapest materials and cut corners, definitely not what one wants in a lifetime
investment.
Since one doesnt want a new roofer to work
at the homeowners expense, its best to shop around for a middle – of – the –
road price range, and a roofer that has credentials, references and a portfolio
(all of which should be on his website) showing that he does good, competent
and long – lasting work. Obviously the
best roofers still want to stay in business, and that means offering
competitive prices, but they still will do the job in the best and most
competent way after all, their reputation follows them.
The second rule most people have is, local
businesses are not as good as a national chain.
Again, not true. Local roofers
are usually the ones who have the inside information on permits and insurance
for roofing. For example, in a hurricane
– prone area, the licenses, permits and insurance will be far different, and
probably more expensive, than other areas of the country. A local man will know the ins and outs of the
business far more effectively than a national chain will
The third rule: avoid family businesses, since they rip you
off if youre not family. This one is
absolutely untrue; a generational roofing business is ideal to use. It has been around for quite a while, no one
employed there is a novice just learning his trade, and the business has, in
all probability, a sterling reputation with the local community . Theyve been at it long enough that they know
what theyre good at, and so do their customers.
ADVICE ON CHOOSING A CONTRACTOR
When choosing a roofing contractor you
should consider your choice very carefully and you are advised to check them
out before employing them. If you employ a good reputable roofing contractor in
terms of price, reliability and workmanship, the potential for problems will be
greatly reduced.
ALSO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING POINTS:
Select up to three contractors to look at
the job. If possible, obtain recommendations from family, friends, neighbours
or a reputable trade association.
Ask each of them to give advice on which
materials they would suggest using.
Invite quotes from each contractor but do
not automatically take the cheapest option. Base your choice on the quality of
the advice given and your confidence in the contractor. Also, if in doubt,
consult your local NFRC Regional Manager.
Ask for a guarantee on new or refurbishment
work. NFRC offers guarantee schemes which back up, but are independent of, the
contractor’s own guarantee. Remember that even the best contractors can go out
of business whereupon their own guarantees become worthless, so make sure you
will be covered.
Ensure that the quote or estimate selected
is given to you in writing – except possibly for small emergency repairs.
Bear in mind that ‘estimates’ for
refurbishment work can change once the chosen contractor has removed the main
covering (e.g. tiles/ slates) to expose the sub-structure underneath.
Agree payment terms before the work
commences. Be careful on upfront payments ensure you know what you are getting
for any upfront payment. It may be difficult to get monies back. Contractors
offering cash / VAT-free deals are not easily tracked down if things go wrong.
Don’t expect to obtain free advice from
contractors, unless you have a real intention to assign the contract to them.
Remember that a property owner is
responsible for any planning permission that may be required on that property.
Please be aware that when carrying out
refurbishment work to 50% or more of a roof’s area that either a
CompetentRoofer (a Competent Person Scheme for roofing) must be employed or
your Local Authority Building Control must be contacted prior to work starting.
This is in order to confirm that the roof should be upgraded to meet thermal
requirements of Part L of the current Building Regulations.