Choosing a roofing contractor is a big decision. Roofs protect your home, everything inside including your family, plus it’s a big investment, so you should feel 100% confident about your choice.
According to Norm Newsom, a professional roofing contractor in Arlington, TX with Proway Exteriors, here are the top 20 considerations you should read before deciding what roofing contractor to hire for your home.
- Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, website and in some states, a business license. Unfortunately, Texas does not license roofing companies. Head to any area after a hurricane, tornado or storm and you’ll see truck after truck roaming the streets, with contractors looking for work. Some of these contractors are on the up and up. However, some are not. After the job is finished and you have an issue or a repair is needed, will you be able to contact the company, and will they fix the issue or make the repair before the warranty expires? Should you choose a company that is not local to your area? You may have a very difficult time getting the company back to fix or repair any issues in the future.
- Ask the roofing contractor for proof of insurance, if they will not provide you a copy, move on to another company. Make sure the coverage is in effect through the duration of the job. Many homeowners have been dragged into litigation involving uninsured roofing contractors, because of this little, but necessary proof.
- Make sure the contractor is financially stable. Ask for a Letter of Credit from the contractors’ suppliers or call the suppliers yourself. Make sure the funds you pay the contractor are used specifically for the cost of the materials and labor to install your new roof.
- Insist on a list of the materials to be used; this should be listed in the written estimate. Examine the estimate for detailed description of the scope of work and material specifications, these should include both start and completing dates (weather permitting) and payment amounts and dates. Any changes after the contract signing should be in writing with an addendum to the contract.
- Get local referrals. There will be less of a chance of having issues or scams when you choose a contractor from your area. The contractors are more familiar with local rules and code regulations and have a relationship with the suppliers and crews.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings. As stated above, some contractors migrate to an area as soon as a storm hits looking for work. It is important to look them up on the BBB website and make sure they have a good rating score, reviews and business location in your area.
- Don’t give in to pressure. Some contractors state they can perform the work with whatever amount your insurance company pays. Ask yourself, how do they know there will be enough money? How can they offer upgrades before they know how much funds are available for the work? As a homeowner, ensure the funds from the insurance company are the right amount for the repairs. The contractor should be present with the insurance adjuster to inspect the property thoroughly to ensure the adjuster does not miss any damages. Once the insurance company sends you the paperwork for the damages covered, meet with the contractor and review the paperwork. Should there be items missing from the paperwork, the contractor should supplement the insurance company for the additional items.
- Know the material choices. A contractor who only offers you the same shingle options you currently have is not looking out for your best interest. The type, style and color of the shingles you install can affect the curb appeal and value of your home. With the insurance company paying for a new roof, it would be a great time to make a change and upgrade to a more appealing style or color that suits your home.
- Ask where and when the materials and debris trailer will be delivered and staged. They should deliver the morning of the install date as a convenience to your daily activities.
- In case of inclement weather during the job, what is the plan to protect my home? Let’s face it we live in Texas; the weather guy is not 100% accurate. When your roof is being replaced it would be an enormous issue if the sunny day turns into a rainy day. The crew should make sure your home is “dried in” meaning should it rain you will not have water penetrating inside your home.
- What is the material warranty and labor warranty on my new roof? These are two separate warranties. Minimum of 25 years to 50 years depending on the material. A labor warranty for leaks/installation typically ranges from five years to lifetime (for as long as you own the home). Some contractors offer only a two to three-year warranty. Keep in mind that any warranty will be voided when a new hailstorm hits your roof. The best warranty is one you do not have to use.
- How will you protect my landscaping during the roof replacement? If you spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on your landscaping, you don’t want to come home to a beautiful roof only to see your landscaping torn up. Before you hire a company, ask how they will protect your landscaping. If an accident does occur, what will the company do to mitigate the damage?
- Is there going to be someone on my property who I can communicate should I have any questions or issues? You want to know there is a project manager on site to address your concerns. A reputable roofing company will have someone on site throughout the project to answer questions and address your concerns.
- To prevent being scammed out of your money, do not pay a large deposit. Reputable, financially sound contractors should wait for a partial payment until the material has been delivered and the work started. The balance should only be paid once the job is finished and you perform a walk through with the contractor. Paying a small deposit of a hundred dollars is acceptable for the contractor to schedule your roof and lock your install date.
- A roof is comprised of many components making it a complete system. Proper attic ventilation is a necessity. Without it, your shingles may wear out sooner or void the manufactures warranty. Your decking may deteriorate at an accelerated rate causing future issues that could have been avoided. Please note that you cannot mix active and passive ventilation. Ridge vents are passive, Power Vents are active.
- Will the contractor make sure that natural gas appliances, water heater and furnace vents are connected correctly after the work has been finished? This is extremely important for the safety of you and your family due to the possibility of carbon monoxide accumulating in the home.
- In most municipalities, a permit is required to install a new roof. Unfortunately, the homeowner will be the one held liable for failure to obtain a permit. Some ramifications may include fines, forced removal of the new roof, or an issue for a new potential buyer.
- Will you email me the estimate? If a roofer agrees to emailing or dropping off the estimate, you would be wise to run in a different direction. Many homeowners use this method to collect several estimates in order to compare and choose the best “deal”. In theory, makes senses to a point. Just getting a price on a piece of paper is a huge disadvantage to you. You lose your opportunity to ask your questions about the company, installation, and products. This information is vital to make an educated decision about a contractor. Experienced, competent roofers know better than to email or drop off an estimate. They understand the importance of the conversation that should happen between you and the contractor. Make sure to note if they make eye contact with you and maintain eye contact throughout any face to face meeting. If not, this is usually a sign they may not be forth coming.
- While price is important, you should have a healthy amount of skepticism about the lowest bid. As the old saying goes; If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Unscrupulous contractors’ low-cost estimates may seem like a great deal, but these contractors often are uninsured, use cheap quality of materials and perform subpar work. Please keep in mind, price is only one of the criteria for selecting a roofing contractor. Quality of workmanship, professionalism, experience and materials also should carry most of the weight in your decision. However, since you are reading this article, you are probably not looking for the cheapest price – good for you in … doing your homework! If you have more questions, you may contact Norm Newsom at 214-854-0059.
- Tidbits:
- Have your lawn cut the day before so nails are easier to see and collect.
- There will be vibrations from the work, wall décor inside the house that may fall. Take down any décor that you may be concerned may fall.
- The crew will need access to the outside electrical outlets.
- Move vehicles and lawn decor away from the exterior of the home.
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