HOW TO CHOOSE A GREAT ROOFING COMPANY

The biggest obstacle homeowners face when replacing their roof is choosing the best roofing company to do the job. Your roof is a significant investment and finding a great roofing company may seem overwhelming, but homeowners who ask these questions will save themselves headaches in the future.

WHERE IS YOUR COMPANY LOCATED?

There is less chance of potential problems or scams when you choose a local company that has an established reputation in the community because their reputation is their livelihood. Out of town companies may be difficult or impossible to reach if you begin having problems with your roof later. It is very easy to provide a piece of paper, but the warranty is only as good as the longevity and reputation of the roofing company. In addition, local companies are more familiar with local rules and regulations and have relationships with area crews and suppliers.

MAY I TALK WITH SOME OF YOUR PREVIOUS CUSTOMERS?

Prior performance is one of the best indicators of future performance. Ask the roofing company for at least three past clients to ask if they were satisfied with the work done on their roof. This gives you a chance to see how satisfied their previous customers were with their work. If your pro hesitates or refuses to share references, it may be a sign to keep looking. 

Also look at reviews with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Facebook, Google, or Angie’s List. Don’t be turned off if a company has a negative review but rather look to see how it responded to any criticism it may have received.

MAY I SEE PICTURES OF YOUR PREVIOUS WORK?

Ask to see projects they have completed in your area. Most companies will have pictures of jobs they have completed on their websites or social media pages. If you want to install shingles on your home but the company only has pictures of metal roofs (or vice versa), you may want to talk with other companies that are able to show you more examples of jobs they have completed in the material of installation method of your choice. Some companies may even be willing to give you addresses of jobs they have completed so you can see a finished product first-hand.

WHAT IS THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY ON THE MATERIALS?

Most roofing manufacturers offer material warranties that will cover defects in the product. Ask for the manufacturer warranty in writing, carefully read it, and look for provisions that would void the warranty. The manufacturer only covers defects/failures in the roofing products, and usually doesn’t guarantee a bad installation. If a company installs the roof incorrectly, it may take months or years for the damage to show up and if the company won’t fix it, you may have to pay for costly repairs out of pocket. Using a manufacturer-certified company may allow for enhanced warranty coverages.

IS YOUR COMPANY CERTIFIED BY THE MATERIAL MANUFACTURER?

Manufacturer certifications are considered a badge of honor because the company must pass certain requirements to be certified. Although, some manufacturers have more stringent requirements than others, this generally means that the company has passed written exams on proper installation procedures, they have submitted acceptable insurance and license requirements for their location, and the manufacturer has inspected the company’s previous work and interviewed previous customers. Anyone can install a product on your roof, but by asking the company for manufacturer certification, you can help lower your chances of an improper installation. Most material manufactures will provide more enhanced warranties when their product is installed by one of its certified companies.

WHAT IS THE LABOR WARRANTY ON THE NEW ROOF?

Roofing manufacturers only cover defects and failures in the roofing products, and usually don’t warranty bad installations. Ask your roofing company what labor warranty it offers on covering improper installations. Material warranties are more common than company work guarantees but if the roofing company doesn’t offer a work guarantee, don’t worry — they could still be trustworthy.

DOES YOUR COMPANY HAVE A LICENSE TO PERFORM THIS WORK?

Check to ensure the company has required applicable business licenses for your state or local area. Certain Tennessee counties (Bradley, Davidson, Haywood, Hamilton, Knox, Marion, Robertson, Rutherford, and Shelby) require a Home Improvement license for companies to perform renovations of more than $3,000/job and a General Contractor’s License to perform work more than $25,000/job. Make sure your company provides you with their license number and confirm their status with the state licensing board. In order to have a Tennessee Home Improvement License, companies must provide evidence that they carry at least $100,000 in general liability insurance, have a $10,000 surety bond, and have a worker’s compensation insurance policy or an exclusion.

WHAT INSURANCE LIMITS DOES YOUR COMPANY CARRY?

The company should have insurance for all employees and subcontractors and be able to provide a copy of their insurance certificate for verification. Some companies will pay for an insurance policy long enough to print a certificate but cancel the policy for the rest of the year in order to save money. Not having adequate insurance could potentially lead to litigation between a company and homeowner if the company’s employee sustains an injury at the home. Ensuring proper insurance coverage keeps roofing companies on a level playing field, knowing that part of the cost of the roof and the service being provided to you is protected with the security of coverage. Be sure to also verify with the insurance provider that the insurance policy will span the entire time the roofing project takes place.

WHO WILL BE DOING THE WORK AND HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE?

Ask the roofing company how many people will be doing the work and what is their experience. Complete roof replacements require multiple people to remove and replace a roof in a timely and professional manner. You want enough people working on your roof to complete the work quickly but you also want the right people doing the work to ensure the work is done correctly. Although some roofing companies have been around for more than 50 years, the people who are performing the work now may have only been working with the company for 2 weeks.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

The price is often the first thing homeowners think about, but it’s just one part of the hiring process. Do not hire a roofing company based solely on the lowest price because they may not provide the same value as companies with slightly higher pricing. Cheap estimates drive down the market and anyone with overhead and proper insurance must establish pricing to cover such costs. 

Those that do work on the side or are just working out of a pick-up truck can always do the work cheaper but in the long run, you get what you pay for (Lo barato sale caro.). Customers that are sold on price as their sole criteria ultimately end up spending more to fix problems, and many of these problems would have been covered under a workmanship guarantee by a reputable established roofing company. A quality roofing company will complete your job on time, to code, and will be there to handle any mistakes it may make.

WHAT ARE THE PAYMENT TERMS?

We have all heard horror stories of contractors who receive money for a project only to not complete the work or worse, never start!  Ask the roofing company what payment terms it requires and pay with a check or credit card so that you always have a way to prove payment.  Attempt to avoid paying with cash.  Resist dealing with any company who asks you to pay for an entire job up-front.  A deposit of one-third of the total price is standard procedure and provides some security to companies because there are also homeowners who do not pay for services rendered.  It is a common and accepted practice for professional roofing companies to ask for a payment schedule that parallels the work.

WHICH MATERIALS WILL YOU USE?

Make sure your roofing company gives you a detailed list of the materials it is proposing to install on your list and that the same materials are the same ones that show up the day your project begins.  Ask that the contract include the name brands of the materials that will be used so you can make an even comparison with other estimates you may receive.  All materials are not made the same.  Although two people may sell you a “truck” for the same price, one may be a premium, leather interior, 4 wheel-drive monster with all of the bells and whistles, while the other might be a rust bucket you have to roll down the hill to get started. 

WHO WILL SUPERVISE THE WORK?

Ask the roofing company to explain its project supervision and quality control procedures. Ask if there will be a project manager on site and how the company will protect its workers and your property.

MAY I HAVE THIS IN WRITING?

Get explicit details and cost in a signed contract that you keep a copy of! Putting everything in writing and having all parties sign helps mitigate disputes before, during, and after a project. Read the contract carefully before signing. Professional companies won’t be annoyed if you take the time to understand the terms of your agreement. Most will be happy to sit down with you and explain parts you don’t understand. 

Ask for updated estimates. Sometimes, project needs change and your company has to revise its original estimate. Ask for an explanation but don’t sign amendments if it doesn’t make sense. It is common to encounter unexpected repairs and price increases on roofing materials but you will want to confirm that the changes are reasonable and within your budget before proceeding.

HAS THE COMPANY COMMUNICATED WELL?

Communication is paramount.  Did the company return your phone call or email? Did they send the documentation that you asked them to? Did they follow through? If you answered “no” to these questions, then make sure you communicate your concerns to the company representative immediately.  If they still can’t make good, walk away.  Communication is key to every business. If you aren’t getting what you need on the front end when they are trying to earn your business, what will happen once you have committed the work to them?.

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