Need a Roofing Contractor? Here are Some Questions to Ask:

If you stay in a home for any length of time, you eventually find yourself needing a new roof or roof repair. When the time comes, it’s a good idea to seek out a few bids from different contractors . When speaking with the contractors, you may want to ask the following questions:

How Much Experience Do You Have?

A more experienced roofing contractor might be your best bet. Not only will they have more years of roofing experience,but they may also know the regional climate and weather conditions better and what roofing materials are better to use. A company that does shoddy work, cuts corners, or is consistently not delivering on time and within budget is not likely to last long in one area, so a company that has a long-standing history in the same area may be a safe bet.

Are You Licensed?

Look for a company that is licensed. Any company that comes out to give you a bid on a new roof or a roof repair should be able to show you his or her license or provide you with a copy. Be very wary about any contractor who comes out and seems hesitant, unwilling, or is flat out unable to get you this information. There may be a bigger problem in this instance.

Are You Insured?

Make sure that any roofer you have up on your roof is both licensed and insured to do the work. Insurance does not just protect the contractor. Roofing is a dangerous business and if the contractor or one of his or her employees falls off the roof or has an accident and is injured, insurance makes sure that you are not responsible as the homeowner. Make sure that you do your research and hire a contractor with sufficient insurance.

Do You Have References?

Always ask for references. Not only is it important to ask for insurance, but you also need to check references. You should plan to check with at least three references, but contact more than that if you can. With roofing jobs, it is also important to not only talk to the reference, but to also visit the location in person so that you can see with your own eyes the type of work that was done and check out its quality. Also, if a friend has had roofing work done recently and is pleased with the work; ask them for the name of their contractor.