Roofs are an important part of your home. A good roof not only protects the structure of your home, but it also adds value, which makes the investment all the more worthwhile. Untrustworthy or poor roofers can make your dreams a nightmare. They will leave cracks in your walls and foundations that could cost you more in the end. Here are some tips on how to choose a quality roofing contractor.
There are a large number of different roofing companies to chose from, so it’s helpful to follow some basic guidelines to help ensure you get, select and hire the right professional for the task. Talk to many different contractors. Research different credentials. Check the contract and warranties very carefully. Look at the reputation of the contractor as well. You may also want to ask family members and friends for their recommendations.
The first thing to look for in a prospective roofing contractor is their qualifications. This will include the license, certification and insurance for the particular job they are offering to you. Ask for references from previous jobs, and visit the sites where they were hired to complete various projects. It’s also important to know what type of work the contractor was able to do, because this will give you a better idea of how they’ll perform on your property.
You should also ask for the names of previous customers who are happy with the work done by the contractor. You can even ask for contact information for these past customers, so you can get a feel for how the contractor operates in real life. If you aren’t able to find any references or previous clients, it’s a good idea to check out their website. Many contractors now have websites, where they talk extensively about the services they offer. You can read through these carefully and get a feel for how the business is run. Any company that doesn’t provide contact information is likely a scam.
Another way of how to choose a quality roofing contractor is by talking to friends and relatives. If someone you know has had work done recently, ask them about the contractor, and if they are happy with the service provided. Keep in mind, however, that not all contractors are created equal. Some will simply put up a shoddy job and try to take advantage of homeowners. You want a contractor that will be honest and do a good job; one that you can trust.
Asking around your community for recommendations can also be a good method of how to choose a contractor. If you know anyone who has had work done recently in your area, speak to them about the contractor. Find out what their experience was like. They should be able to give you a good idea of whether or not you want to do business with them.
If you don’t want to hire a contractor over the phone, ask for referrals from other roofers. Friends, family and neighbors are likely to have worked with a good contractor already, and will be able to refer you to another who they feel will meet your needs. You can also check online, at various web sites, for reviews and recommendations. See if there are any negative reviews listed. You may even find some great roofing forums where you can get honest reviews and advice from other roofers who have used different contractors.
It’s important that you choose how to choose a quality roofing contractor based on their previous work. See if they have done any work on similar structures in the area that you live. If so, speak to these men or women to find out what they liked and didn’t like about their last job. You can also look up the contractor’s name with your local government agency to see if there have been any complaints filed against him with the Better Business Bureau. This is an easy way to make sure you are hiring a good quality roofer who has been recommended by others.