If you’re in the market for a new roof, you’re probably asking yourself, “what can I do to find the best contractor?”
That’s a question that we hear all the time. At Roof Troopers, we’re not afraid of assisting you with any inquiries that you might have to help you feel confident and comfortable before your roofing project.
Today, we will be sharing a “hiring a roofing contractor checklist” with a few tips and guidelines on how you can find a reliable and trustworthy contractor for your home renovation project.
Hiring a Roofing Contractor Checklist
1. HAS THE COMPANY BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS?
It’s important to get to know your roofers’ experience level as those with a good few years under their belts know the ins and outs of most roof types, roofing issues, and can offer great insight into every aspect of your roofing needs.
2. DOES THE COMPANY CARRY GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE?
This is important because liability insurance can offer a great fallback for any issues that come up with roof damage and the resulting roofing work. Check with your contractors to see what their coverage policies are.
3. DO THEY USE SUBCONTRACTORS?
Some contractors will bid on a job and then pay subcontractors to complete the work. By going through this process, homeowners and often unable to keep track of the team working on their project.
Find a contractor that works with their employees. You’ll be surprised by how much more reliable a slightly larger company can be. If you were to employ a larger company that often uses its own team of workers, you might achieve better results for your home renovation.
4. IS THE COMPANY LOCAL?
If your home is damaged due to a storm, you might come across “storm chasers” knocking on your door. These “storm chasers” are looking to make a quick buck, often at the homeowner’s expense. Make sure to check out our list of ways to spot a storm chaser.
Local companies are often involved in the community and have a reputation to uphold. Ask the roofing contractor what their service area is, and double-check their location with their zip code or area code.
5. WILL THEY PROTECT THE HOUSE DURING THE ROOFING PROJECT?
There is plenty that can happen during a roofing project, from tearing off the old roof to using heavy equipment or climbing up and down ladders near windows.
Don’t be afraid to ask your contractor about the safety measures that they will take to protect your home from the construction process.
6. IS THERE A WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY?
Some contractors don’t offer workmanship warranties, and they only rely on the manufacturer’s warranty for the physical roofing materials. You want someone to confidently back up their work when you make such a significant investment.
At WISA, we offer you the WISA Pledge whenever we take on a job. It’s our priority to put you first and make sure that the work we do will last. Our 10-year workmanship covers everything. We’ll be there to make it right if something goes wrong.
7. IS THERE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE?
Signing a written estimate allows you to be sure that there won’t be any last-minute changes added to the cost of your project.
By finding a roofing contractor that will provide you with a roofing estimate, you can be sure that they’re not out to pull any fast ones on you.
8. WILL THEY PROTECT THE ROOF DURING THE PROJECT?
Earlier, we talked about the importance of making sure your home is protected during a roofing project, but what about protecting your roof during the roofing project?
In some cases, the entire roof does not need to be replaced. Instead, your contractor might suggest patching the roof or just replacing a section that is damaged. Be sure that your contractor has a plan to protect the rest of the roof from damage during the project.
9. DO THEY OFFER FREE INSPECTIONS?
Most roofing contractors offer free inspections and estimates so you don’t have to pay just to get told what’s wrong with your roof. If a company doesn’t offer free inspections, you can definitely find a different contractor that does.
10. WHAT MATERIALS DO THEY WORK WITH?
It’s important to ask a roofing contractor what materials they work with so that you don’t spend time communicating with a company that doesn’t even work with your preferred material. If you really want a clay tile roof but the company you’re communicating with only works with shingles and metal roofing, you’d want to know that up front.
Alternatively, asphalt shingle roofs are pretty standard, so if you have a shingle roof, you might ask which shingle supplier the contractor works with.
11. WILL THEY CLEAN UP WHEN THE PROJECT IS DONE?
No one wants to find roofing nails, shingles, or other debris in their yard when a roofing project is done. Ask the contractor what their protocol is for cleaning up the worksite when they’re done with the project.
12. WHAT WILL THEY DO IF INCLEMENT WEATHER OCCURS DURING THE JOB?
Unfortunately, the weather doesn’t always cooperate during roofing projects. Rain can be a serious problem during roof work, so ask what the company would do to protect the interior of your home.
You want to hear that the roofing crew would secure a tarp over your roof and return to complete the work as soon as the weather is dry again.
13. DO THEY PUT THEIR CUSTOMERS FIRST?
Putting customers first can seem like a thing of the past for some people. But we genuinely believe that putting customers first separates good companies from great companies.
If you’ve been reading this hiring a roofing contractor checklist and still aren’t sure where to start looking for a contractor that fits these criteria, look no further. We’d love you to consider working with WISA for your next roofing project. Our team not only provides excellent roofing workmanship but also outstanding customer service.
We Want You to Feel as Confident as We Do
If you’re considering hiring WISA for your upcoming roofing project in Northern Virginia, we’ll happily answer any questions you may have. We feel confident in the work we do, and we want you to feel just as confident and assured. We offer a 10-year workmanship and product warranty, and we always stand behind the work that we accomplish.
We’d love to hear from you— reach out to us today to schedule a free consultation.
