You wouldn’t be satisfied with a roofer who cuts corners on the job, so why cut corners when looking for a roofing contractor? Paying attention to the details of a roofing company’s certifications, reputation and method of operation could save you thousands of dollars and will provide peace of mind the next time you need a new roof or any repairs. Here are 10 questions to ask when choosing your next roofing contractor.
1. Is the company properly licensed for the job?
A legitimate roofing contractor will have an occupational license for the city or county in which they do business and be licensed by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation as a roofing contractor. Proper licensure and good standing with FDBPR indicates an acceptable, consistent level of quality on the job.
2. Does the company carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance?
Very few Florida businesses are not required to carry workers’ compensation insurance, which covers medical expenses and lost wages of workers injured on the job. If a roofing company does not carry this type of coverage, they may be in violation of the law and make you, the homeowner, financially liable for any injuries that occur on your property. Avoid legal fees and weeks of needless hassle by hiring a properly insured contractor.
3. Are there more than three testimonials or references that you can check?
With the significant investment of time and money that roof installation and repair requires, make sure that you put your trust where it is due. Look online for reviews posted by customers. If you have friends or neighbors that recommend a certain roofing company, ask hard questions about employee behavior and punctuality, whether workers show up for the job consistently or disappear for long periods of time, the quality of the job done and the condition in which the crew left the job site upon completion.
4. Do their employees wear uniforms?
On its face, this may seem like a silly question. However, home invasions are becoming more commonplace, and knowing that the stranger who arrives at your house will be uniformed and easily identifiable provides peace of mind for you as a homeowner.
5. Does the company have a physical location?
Many self-proclaimed roofers work out of a truck, with no office or central location, making it rather easy for them to disappear. If you should experience any trouble during a job, there would be no office to call or place to go in order to find them.
6. Does the company offer a guarantee, and are they likely to still be in business when the guarantee expires?
When working with any legitimate roofing contractor, you should receive a lifetime warranty on workmanship and a manufacturer’s warranty on the roofing product. The 25- or 50-year manufacturer’s warranty you receive will only cover manufacturing defects, and the roof must be installed according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. If your roofer cuts corners, your warranty becomes void.
When being offered a 20-year warranty by a relatively young company, consider that most new businesses fail within the first 10 years. When possible, it’s best to hire a seasoned, time-tested company to do the job.
7. Does the company undergo regular safety training?
The roofing business comes with unique risks. Before you hire a roofing company, make sure that they hold regular training meetings with all their employees, so your risk of liability is significantly reduced.
8. At what point during the process is the company requesting payment?
If a roofing contractor or handyman is requesting a large sum of money up front, even if they claim it is necessary for materials or labor, this is a red flag. An established business will be able to carry the cost of materials until the work is completed or, for larger projects, until the material is delivered to your property. For larger jobs, expect to create a draw schedule, in which you pay a portion of the total cost when specific milestones are reached.
9. Will the company be doing all of the work or subcontracting the work out?
If the company you hire cannot provide all of the staff needed to complete the job, make sure you find out who will be on your property and working on your home. It is essential that you obtain all of the previously mentioned insurance information from each subcontractor that is used. Also make sure that subcontractors are being paid. If subcontractors are not paid by the company you’ve hired, you may be liable and the subcontractors may be able to place a mechanic’s lien on your property. However, you can avoid the headache entirely by working with a reputable company that can fully staff the project.
10. Does the company offer a written proposal, including the cost of the work?
Unfortunately, there are many unscrupulous roofers out there who give reasonable quotes at first, then proceed to increase the price once the work has begun and your home is exposed to the elements by a partially completed roof, leaving you no choice but to pay the new price in order to have the job finished properly.
When trust counts, make sure you’re counting on the right people. Only work with a company that holds its technicians to a high standard of quality and safety that will prevent voided warranties, unforeseen expenses, injuries and legal skirmishes. To request an estimate or ask questions about having your roof repaired or installed, email us at office@tadlockroofing.com, or call us toll-free today at 855-964-7663.
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Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
My husband and I are in the process of remodeling our home and we have decided to get a new roof while we are at it. I like the tip you give here of hiring a roofing company that carries liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. I imagine that would take away a lot of the risk and give my husband and I peace of mind about the job. We will be sure to keep that, as well as your other tips, in mind!
We’re glad we could help!
I liked your tip about checking to see if they have an actual office location. That sounds like a good way to be sure they are a company you can trust with your business. My sister needs to hire a roofing contractor for her new home, so I will show her this article to help her out.
This is some really useful questions for homeowners to ask if they are having their roof replaced. It’s important to know as much about a roofing company as you can before you make a decision. Especially your point about subcontracting, which is definitely something you would want to know about. Thanks so much for writing!
Hiring a legitimate roofing contractor, seems like a good way to getting your roof installed correctly. Your tip about making sure that you contractor has liability insurance, seems like a great idea. That is awesome that roofing contractors can give you a life time warranty for your roof.
The article makes a great point in making it known that a company asking for payment upfront is a huge red flag to any homeowner. Asking for payment up front could mean that the roofing company is either a scam or isn’t experiences enough and hasn’t had enough work to cover the cost up front. As the article states, a good roofing contractor will ask for the money after the job’s done or, at the most, once the materials have arrived on the site.
Thanks for the post. I think finding out if they have a physical location is a great thing to consider. Like you said, If they just do work out of their truck, it is easy to disappear if something goes wrong. I also think that checking to see if they properly licensed will help to solidify their legitimacy. These are all really great tips to consider.
I really like what you say about if the employees of a company wear uniforms or not, I think it shows a lot about professionalism. If a company wears the right things, and acts hospitable towards you, then you can tell they will do as much for you as they can. When it comes to your roof, you want to make sure they are professional and will do as much for you as possible.
Thanks, we agree. You can’t trust just anyone with your roof. Professionalism is key in selecting the right contractor and making sure they will duly complete every aspect of the job.
I think checking to make sure the company is legit, is really important. It never hurts to ask to see licensing and insurance. I think when you’re doing your research, it’s good to read lots of reviews, so you can get a good idea of the company is good or not.
Checking testimonials is a great way on finding a great company. It is basically like reading online reviews and seeing if the company does good work. The next time I’m looking for a great roofing company, I’ll make sure they have solid reviews from their previous customers like you said. Thanks for this awesome information!
Those are all great tips for educating the roofing customer. We are an established, reputable roofing company in the Fort Worth TX area. We have, unfortunately, had to complete some roof repairs that were not finished by fly-by night roofing contractors who were paid the entire amount up front. It is terrible to see how people are treated by unscrupulous criminals.
Thank you for the help. I am in the process of looking for a roofing contractor to repair my roof. I like the idea of getting a written proposal, as you mentioned. Would that come after they come inspect the roof in person?
We will always assess the condition of your roof first to ensure that our proposal is as accurate as can be. If you’d like to read more about written proposals, check out our newest blog post, Understanding Written Roofing Proposals. We’d love to help your with your roofing needs. Give us a call at 855-964-7663 to make an appointment for a free quote.
My parents are hiring roofing contractors to redo their roof after a big storm hit. I really like the question you presented about whether the workers wear uniforms or not. As well, it is important to know beforehand when the company wants to get paid. It’s best to have a clear understanding of both parties before the roofing starts. Thanks for the great advice.
I think it is a great idea to check testimonials before choosing a contractor. I like to ask around for referrals from family and friends. I think that is a great way to find someone that will do a great job.
These tips for finding the right roofing service were very helpful. I appreciate how you advised that I seek out a company that is properly licensed for the job. My roof is in dire need of attention and I will be sure to find professional roofers in my area to help me out!
My wife and I are having some issues with our roof leaking and we aren’t sure why. It is an older house though, so we both feel that it could be related to the roof just being worn. I’ll have to use these tips to find a good roofing contractor that can come out and help us figure out this leaking problem.
We’d be happy to work with you to find the best solution for your leaking problem. Please give us a call at 855-964-7663 for a free quote.
I hadn’t thought to check with a roofing contractor to see if they would have a guarantee on their work that would last more than a few years but I’ll need to look into that. I think it’s wise to note that a new companies 10-year guarantee may not hold as much value as a company that has been in the business for decades-something I’ll keep in mind. Thanks for the helpful tips for finding a good contractor.
After reading through this, I feel that checking if roofing company goes through regular safety training is a step I need to take when looking for a contractor. Hiring a company that makes sure their employees are licensed, bonded, and insured is very important, but it’s comforting to know that a contractor knows the correct safety precautions to prevent any accidents. You pointed out that regular safety trainings would help reduce my risk of liability, so I’ll make sure to ask about these trainings from now on when I need to have my roof fixed.
I love the idea to look into if the company has more than three testimonials or references. This is a great way to tell how good of a job they do. Personally, this is my first response when looking for a roofer. I love the comments made and it gives me an idea of who these contractors are and if they would work well with my issue.
I like the suggestion to check if the company you are working with will be doing all the work or will ask for outside help. You need to check if them subcontracting the work could cost you extra. Be aware of who you let near your home as well. My husband recently hired a contractor to put new shingles on the roof. We had so many people involved in the process that I thought my home had become a construction site.