Before you hire a roofing contractor, ask them what their warranty covers. This way, you will know how much they will charge if something goes wrong. If a warranty isn’t provided, you’ll know whether to move on to another contractor or get a new roof. In addition, you should ask about the amount of labor needed to install a roof. Lastly, ask about the process for filing a complaint, and whether the roofing company has a standardized procedure for addressing customer complaints.
A reputable roofing contractor will have a physical location, a name that can be searched online, and a telephone number. Make sure the phone number you’re provided matches the address on the roofing company’s website. Ask for references. If they don’t have any, that’s a sign that the company might be shady. You should be able to get references from a reputable roofing company.
During the initial walkthrough, make sure you get to talk to the person you’ll be communicating with on the job. You can’t always trust salespeople, but make sure you meet your roofer’s “go-to person.”
Make sure you get a written guarantee. Many reputable roofing contractors have heard all of these questions before, so they should be able to answer them at a moment’s notice. Don’t be afraid to voice your concerns and ask for clarification. Make sure you’re polite and fair while doing so. If you don’t know anything about roofing, don’t be afraid to ask. If you feel that a certain contractor isn’t up to the task, look elsewhere for another contractor.
Whether you’ll be financing the project yourself or getting a loan from a roofing contractor is another important question. Ask for a sample of work. This way, you can see if their work matches your expectations. Also, ask about the payment schedule, as most contractors have a clause in the contract stating that you cannot back out after three days. In addition, make sure to find out what the payment schedule looks like and whether or not late fees are charged.
Lastly, be sure to get a written price quote. It’s easy to get suckered into a roofing project that’s too good to be true. You don’t want to pay for a roof that ends up falling apart or requiring more complicated skills than you originally anticipated. Getting an itemized bid does not guarantee there won’t be any surprises along the way. A roofer may find black mold under the shingles, but there is no reason for him to cover it. A written quote should be clear and include a preview of common price increases and explain what to do if that happens.
You should also look for online reviews. These can tell you how satisfied customers are with a certain roofing contractor and what issues they didn’t get addressed. Check out reviews on social media and the Better Business Bureau website for more information. If the contractor is local, you should be able to deal with problems more quickly. If they take more than seven days to complete a job, this could be a red flag. So don’t hesitate to ask the right questions when interviewing prospective roofing contractors.