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DATE

July 29, 2016

CATEGORY

Choosing a Roofing Contractor

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The Best Questions to Ask Prospect Roofing Companies

When qualifying roofing contractors, the best price should not determine the winning bid. Instead, you must investigate the company’s history to prove they are competent, reliable and professional. While you can conduct much of this research yourself, you should hold an interview with your contractor. During this chat, bring up the following questions.

Are You Both Licensed and Insured?

Always verify your contractor can legally operate in your city. Request to see a license and inquire what type of insurance the company uses. Ideally, the company will have both workman’s compensation and general liability. Combined, these policies protect the employees from accidents and you from property damage.

To complete the background check, ask if the company has changed ownership or names recently. If so, dig deeper in case there are previous incidents you need to know about.

Do You Have Referrals or Work Samples?

Experienced contractors should boast pictures, testimonials and referrals. If they cannot produce such things, they either have no quality work to show or a shallow history. Regardless, this is a warning sign.

Referrals are best because you can follow up and ask customers about their experiences. Since contractors will rarely volunteer negative information, it’s up to you to ask about previous litigations.

What Types of Warranties Come with My Roof?

Roofing companies can offer both manufacturer and contractor warranties. Manufacturer warranties typically come alongside certifications and partnerships. If the contractor demonstrates expertise, the manufacturer can confidently stand behind their products. The workmanship itself falls under a contractor’s warranty. It deals less with defects and more with the installation quality.

How Will You Protect My Property?

During construction, you want to ensure your property does not get damaged—particularly the landscape. Ask what type of preventive measures the workers will take. For example:

  • How are the ladders placed to avoid damage to the eavestroughs?
  • How will the contractors handle scraps and where will they store them?
  • Where will the contractors park their vehicles (i.e. obstructing roads and sidewalks can lead to pedestrians walking along the yard)?