Buying a new roof is an important investment. To ensure that you get the kind of results you want, a quality roof at a fair price, carefully evaluate the roofing contractor who may be doing the work.
All roofing contractors are not alike, they may be using the same materials however everything from how the company is being run to who the company employees is very different. Insist on working with a professional who understands the business and products. How can you tell a qualified contractor from an unqualified one? The following guidelines will give you tips and help you to choose a contractor who will get the job done right the first time.
1. A Permanent Place of Business
Confirm that your contractor is well-established local business with a permanent office, telephone number, tax identification number, business license, and carries Idaho State Workman’s Compensation.
2. Proof of Insurance
Insist on seeing copies of the contractor’s liability and worker’s compensation coverage. Make sure the coverages are in effect through the duration of the job, and that the liability coverage limits are adequate for your project. If your contractor is not properly insured, you may be held liable for accidents that occur on your property. Many homeowners and building owners have been dragged into litigation involving uninsured roofing contractors.
3. A Proven Track Record
Look for a roofing contractor with a proven track record that offers client references and a list of completed projects. Call these clients to find out whether they were satisfied. Call the roofing supply houses, they can be a great reference in knowing who the company is that you’re considering hiring. They generally know if the company is staying out of trouble, pays their bills on time, and has good employees or not.
4. Licensed and Bonded
Check to see if the roofing contractor is properly licensed. The State of Idaho requires all roofing contractors to have a contractor’s license. You can verify that a contractor has a current license by going to the Idaho Secretary of State web site. In addition, some contractors are able to obtain bonding from surety companies, while others are not.
5. Financial Stability
Make sure the company is financially stable. A professional roofing contractor can certify the financial strength of the company by providing a “bank letter” from its financial institution. This is important because a roofing contractor may not pay their material bill for the job you hired them to do. The supplier will put a lien on your house, making you responsible to pay the bill all over again.
6. A Written Proposal
Insist on a written proposal and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and specifications, including payment procedures. You want to protect yourself from the company coming back to you asking for additional money for a job that should have already been paid for.
7. Professional Credentials
Ask the contractor if his company is a member of the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). Involvement in a professional organization enables a contractor to be better informed about the latest developments in the roofing industry so that he has the knowledge and resources to meet your needs.
8. Better Business Bureau Rating
Check with the Better Business Bureau to receive their rating of the contractor and to see if complaints have been filed against the company you are considering doing business with.
9. Application Expertise
Ask the roofing contractor for a list of the roofing manufacturers with which they are approved applicators. The installation of most roofing materials requires training and special application expertise to provide a quality roof system that will last. Insist on having experienced, trained, professional craftsman install your new roof.
10. Project Supervision
Have the contractor explain his project supervision and quality control procedures. Request the name and phone number of the person who will be in charge of your project, how many workers will be required and the estimated amount of time needed to complete the job. You don’t want to work with a salesman who will not communicate with the manager who will be in charge of the job, for fear that your request will get lost in transition.
11. Warranties
There are two categories of roofing warranties: the contractor’s warranty, which covers workmanship or labor, and the roofing material manufacturer’s warranty. Be sure the contractor offers a warranty that covers his workmanship, and will be in business in the future to back up his warranty. A manufacturer’s warranty alone will not protect you if the roof is improperly installed. Carefully read and understand any roofing warranty offered and be aware of provisions that would void it. The contractors warranty is only as good as the person who is giving the warranty.
12. Who is going to be at the Job?
Don’t be afraid to ask who is going to be doing the work? Sometimes contractors will simply subcontract out their work which will lower the quality control, and the quality of the workmanship. Ask if the company you are considering hiring does random drug test? Ask how long some of the employees have been working for the company? Are they temps, or real roofers who understand safety and are good at what the job pertains? This is your house and property that you care about, ask who is going to be there and feel just as good with them who are doing the work as you do talking to the company representative.
13. Consider All Factors, Not Just Cheap Price
Carefully consider all factors when selecting a roofing contractor. Keep a healthy skepticism about the lowest bid and those that are considerably lower than the others for the same work. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. A very low bid may seem attractive, however, often a contractor offering such a low bid is uninsured or performs substandard work. Remember, price is only one of the criteria for selecting a roofing contractor. Professionalism, experience and quality workmanship should also weigh heavily in your decision. It is okay to be judgmental, your spending money and should expect it to be spent the best way possible.