QUESTIONS TO ASK A ROOFING CONTRACTOR

Choosing an experienced, promising, and trusted roofing contractor is important. This is someone you are entrusting to fix the roof over your family’s heads, protecting you from outside elements. You want to make sure the job is done properly, and the results will endure for as long as possible. Here are some guiding steps and questions to go over when choosing the right San Diego roofing contractor.

Ask for proof of insurance

Checking for proof of worker’s compensation and liability insurance is extremely important when looking to hire a roof contractor in San Diego. When verifying these certificates, don’t hesitate to call the insurance company as well to confirm that they are valid. 

Some states may not require roofing contractors to have insurance, however hiring a contractor that does have insurance, and making sure their insurance lasts throughout the duration of the expected project, is important to protect you from any lawsuits in case the contractor is injured while working on your property. These certificates ensure that the services being provided to you are protected with the security of coverage, and that you are protected as well.

Choose local and verify the warranty

When choosing a contractor, try to make sure they are a local business. By choosing to go local, you can better reach out to the contractor before, during and after the process if you have any questions or concerns. 

This is also an important factor when considering your new roof’s warranty. Hiring a contractor whose businesses is far from your home or property may pose challenges if you find yourself needing to reevaluate the completed project with your warranty. Businesses that are not local may surprisingly be closed down, move away, or just vanish. Local businesses are easier to manage and track, and will have more local references to help you navigate the process.

This is also important when facing storm chasers. These kinds of contractors knock on your door stating that they happened to be in your neighborhood. They may claim you have storm damage and will attempt to pressure you into accepting their services, asking for you to sign a letter of intent. Understand that you are never required to sign a letter of intent, and should always attempt to choose a local, reputable contractor with references. You want to make sure you have the time, and your contractor gives you the time to verify all the necessary information to make an informed and safe decision.

Among these forms to certify, make sure the warranty is one of them. Be sure to read the warranty in its entirety, checking for complete understanding of any exceptions or actions that may alter or void the warranty.

Ask to verify their business legitimacy and licensing

There is a lot of paperwork and certificates you want to be verifying throughout this process. While there are many details, each one is just as important as the next in making sure the contractor you choose is legitimate, reliable, and worth your investment. 

When you hire a San Diego roofing contractor, you want to make sure they and their business have the appropriate business licenses for roofing contractors for your state or local area. Familiarity with these licenses is another advantage to hiring local. However, if you are not familiar with the necessary licenses, there are plenty of resources to help you make sure you know everything you need to in order to verify this part of the process, and know that you are asking the right questions. 

Such resources include being able to contact your state’s licensing board, the Department of Consumer Affairs, or the contractor’s website for more information about the licensing requirements of your given state.

You also want to make sure their business is legitimate. In verifying their licensing, worker’s compensation, liability insurance, and warranty, also be sure to ask for their tax identification number, business address, business website or email address, and phone number. Again, while these are a lot of details to verify and remember, they will help you make an informed decision as well as improve your experience throughout the process as these details will ensure your confidence in your roofing contractor. Taking these steps will also help to establish clear communication between you, the consumer, and the contractor, the provider. 

Ask for references

Hiring a more locally based contractor comes with perks of more local references and past clients. However, whether they are local or not, always request a list of references from the contractor or their company. References from past clients can help you determine the consistency of the work and work ethic of the contractors you are considering hiring.

Ask for the job details in writing 

Ask the roofing contractor for the size of the expected crew that will be working on your roof. This will help you determine the supervision of the work being done. Also discuss the expected completion day or deadline for the roofing project, expected pay, and payment plan. These details should be discussed prior to making your final decision, as well as should be included in the contract created during the official hiring process. 

The contract

Ask your contractor for proof of approval by the roofing manufacturer for the installation or work you plan to complete on your roof. This is important because there may be special training, certification or licensing requirements necessary to complete the work you have planned. You want to make sure you stay informed and up to date throughout the entire process.

This also means obtaining a contract. Once you have decided on a roofing contractor and a plan for your roof, make sure you obtain a verified contract. This should incorporate the job details, and overall detailed proposal of the plan they intend to complete for your roof. Such details in the contract should include the length of the project, daily start and end times, roofing materials that will be used, safety procedures, agreed upon payment amount and schedule, and clean up methods. 

It is suggested to not complete payment until the work on your roof is done and you are satisfied with the outcome. However, also make sure you are following the payment plan agreed upon in your contract after you have made an informed hiring decision.

Compare and contrast

Contact more than one contractor, collect the appropriate information and compare references to make sure you are making the best decision for your roof. Take into consideration the accessibility of all the relevant paperwork and information mentioned above, the location of the business, the expectations communicated between you and the different contractors, and the services offered. 

Be sure that they are legitimate, timely, safe and reliable. While price is extremely important for your personal budget, it is also extremely important that your decision is not based solely on this factor. Do take into consideration the services, fees and warranties of the contractors you are considering, however keep in mind that your roof is worth investing more in to get the most and best out of the services you are hiring. 

Reliable communication is vital 

Ask yourself if they have been timely and responsive to your inquiries, paperwork and verification requests, and general questions and needs. If they have not been, be sure to communicate this on your end to give them a chance to improve their communication.

If this is or remains to be an issue, take this deeply into consideration so as to evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of their  business approach. Effective and efficient communication on both ends of a business project and home investment is important for efficient work and confidence in the doing and completing the project. 

There are a lot of details to take into consideration, and put into action when hiring a roofing contractor. However, taking these questions into consideration during the hiring process will help put your mind at ease throughout the completion of your final roofing needs. Contact us today if you are looking for a roofing contractor and want any help, further information, or a free consultation for your home.