Hiring a Roofing Contractor – Questions to Ask
by Cascade United Roofing
Hiring a Roofing Contractor – Questions to Ask:
You may not be familiar with the process of acquiring a new roof until it’s time to install or repair your own roof. Selecting the best possible products to meet your individual requirements is important But even if you are able to select the right materials, the probability of your roof being long lasting is just 25%. In fact, it depends on hiring a professional company to install the roofing material.
You will be dependent on your roofing contractor to provide you suitable advice about various products and installation procedures. The key to excellent results is choosing a the right roofing contractor. The following questions may help you in making the right selection:
1. Ask your contractor to provide a list of recent references, which should include a brief job description and phone numbers for contacting them. Call these references and ask about their experiences with the contractor, any communication problems, and satisfaction level. Don’t forget to find out how they found this contractor and would they use him again.
2. You can also get feedback over the Internet by visiting the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to find if there have been any complaints in the past. Residential and Commercial owners should check Angie’s list and Google Reviews to find unedited reviews. And sometimes it can be very enlightening when you do a general search of the company on the Internet: revealing current or past lawsuits, court and state actions, and articles mentioning them.
3. Check to see if the company and their installers are certified by the manufacture to install specific products. A certified contractor will be aware of the most current installation and application techniques, which can affect the warranty requirements. Besides having certified installers, see if the company uses their own employees for the installations. A long term employee who is a manufacture’s certified installer will ensure a real Pro is on your project. This should guarantee that a manufactures warranty can be issued, sometimes covering a much longer period of time.
4. Make sure that a Supervisor or Foreman will be assigned specifically to your roofing project. Find out how much time you can expect him to be on your project, part time or full time? Remember, his job is to ensure that the project is successfully completed and to address any questions or concerns you may have during the roofing installation. A knowledgeable and attentive Foreman can be the most important tool in getting a hassle free professional installation.
5. How does the contractor provide for the safety of his workers? All roofing contractors and their employees or subs must follow the obligations set forth by OSHA, which was created in the 1970’s in order to prevent work related injuries. The professionalism of a contractor can often be determined by the way he protects his installers. Hiring a professional roofing company can save you money and headaches over the long term.
