WHY YOU MUST USE A RESIDENTIAL ROOFING
COMPANY FOR YOUR HOME
You can now find many roofing companies in and around your
neighborhood. The increased number of storms and other natural calamities which
are too often disturbing our peace have also initiated the demand for qualified
roofing contractors. This has also made the roofing industry very competitive.
One can however take the responsibility upon himself to install the roof of his
home. But engaging the roofing company can be a life saver. In this article we
have discussed the reasons why one may only hire a qualified roofing company
for the job.
Expertise: The Residential roofing contractor is in
possession of knowledge and expertise that are required for roof installation.
He has the knowledge to identify your roofing requirements based on your budget
and environment, and can suggest the best roofing solution accordingly.
Further, the roofing contractor is in possession of the latest technology and
equipments required to build roofs.
Maintenance: Many of the residential roofing
contractors also offer maintenance services which would help you increase the
lifetime of your roof. Regular maintenance is necessary to ensure safety of the
residents and belongings. Identifying damages in roof requires professional
expertise and experience. The roofing contractor would offer services to
reinstall the roof and change slats as and when required.
Debris removal: You would need professionals help
remove the debris of the changed roof. The residential roofing company would
offer debris removal and disposing services. Further, they would also cause
minimum damage to your home while installing roof.
Licenses and bonds: Your local legislative body would
require both the residential and Commercial roofing contractors to be licensed
and bonded to carry out roof installation assignments. It may also be a legal
requirement to have the roofs installed only by licensed roofing contractors.
Further, the contractor is likely to carry insurance, as per business
requirements, to cover damages caused by them.
Budget option: If you think that carrying out roofing
assignments by yourself is the frugal way, you are wrong. If you are not a
professional there can be many things go wrong during the period to increase
the overall cost. With residential roofing companies you can shop around for
the most budget solution. The roofing contractor would help you find the best
roofing option within your budget.
Questions to Ask a Roofing Company
Working with a
roofing company isn’t the same as hiring an independent contractor. These
questions can help you get a sense for how the company will work on your
project:
- Who will be completing the work?
- If you hire subcontractors, what is their contact information?
- What are the qualifications of the workers coming to my home?
- Can I speak to the roofer in charge before starting the project?
- Who do I contact for questions or updates?
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.
Check for
proper licensing and insurance.
The contractor should have insurance for all employees and
subcontractors and be able to provide a copy of their insurance certificate for
validation. Not having adequate insurance could potentially lead to litigation
between a contractor and homeowner if a roofing employee sustains an injury at
the home. Most states require licensing for contractors, but that does not stop
unlicensed contractors from attempting to do the roofing work. In states where
licenses are required, make sure your contractor provides you with a copy of
their license and confirm their status online.
Pay your deductible.
Any
contractor who claims they can handle the repair without having the homeowner
pay their insurance deductible is committing insurance fraud and endangering
the homeowner. The insurance deductible is the responsibility of the insured,
and the contractor should reflect that in the quote without inflating the
estimate to cover all or part of the deductible.
Don’t give in to pressure.
Watch out
for a contractor who pressures you to sign a contract before the insurance
company has estimated the damage. Some contractors say they can work with
whatever your insurance company settles upon, however the homeowner needs to
ensure it’s not just any amount, but the right amount. The contractor should
thoroughly examine the home and check that their insurance adjuster didn’t miss
any damages.
Know your material choices.
A contractor
who does not offer you different shingle options is not looking out for your
best interest. The style and color of the shingles you install can affect the
resale value of your home. If the insurance company is paying for a new roof,
it may be the perfect time to make a change and upgrade to a more unique style
that suits your taste.
What a roofing
contract should contain:
Once you’ve
compared the bids and are ready to make a hiring decision, make sure you and
the roofer sign a contract, which will offer you protection should problems
arise during the job. The contract should include:
• Specifics
on payment terms, including down payments, progress payments, the final payment
and a provision for you to withhold the final payment until the job is
completed to your satisfaction.
• Specifics
on type of materials to be used.
• Provisions
for change orders or add-ons that could result in extra charges.
• A lien
release, which protects you from liability should the roofer fail to pay his or
her subcontractors or roofing material suppliers who worked on your project.
• A
termination clause, which spells out reasons you or the contractor can end the
agreement without penalty if the contract terms are violated.