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The roof is one of the most important parts of your home. You could, perhaps, live in a structure with no walls, but you will find it difficult to survive in one without a roof. This is why any roof installation or repair work requires careful consideration. If done poorly, you will not only endanger the health and safety of your household but may also incur costly corrective work in the future.
Questions to ask when hiring a roof contractor
Experts at Frisco Roofing mentions that when you need some roof work done, you have to be certain that the roofing contractor you choose is the one best suited for the job. Doing that means taking your time and asking the right questions. The following should get you going in the right direction.
Are you licensed?
Do not engage a roofing contractor if they cannot provide proof of licensing and insurance. Professional contractors such as the ones at https://floridaroofing.com/ will have no problem displaying or sharing copies of documents that show they meet all licensing requirements, insurance, and worker’s compensation requirements.
You do not want to have to worry about medical and legal costs because one of the contractor’s employees suffered a severe injury while working on your roof.
Beware of contractors who offer a lower fee due to not having the right licensing and insurance in place. What might look like savings would only be placing you in the risky legal and financial territory.
How much experience do you have?
Length of experience is not automatically a sign of competence, nor is a lack of it indicative of incompetence. Still, an experienced contractor is much more likely to be competent than a novice.
Your roof is not something you want to leave in the hands of someone who is just starting out in their career. The dangers of a poorly installed or repaired roof are too great to leave to chance.
As you check the contractor’s experience, be sure to confirm that they have been in continuous operation. Some roofing contractors cease operations after a couple of years due to lawsuits or poor business, then reopen years later. In this case, the number of years they have as a roofing contractor can be misleading.
Are you subcontracting?
Once you have gone through the work of evaluating a roofing contractor to determine that they are the most suitable, your efforts would be futile if the work is then assigned to a subcontractor.
Before you sign the dotted line, confirm with the roofer that they are not going to hand over the task to someone else. If more than one person will be working on the roof, ask for the details of the contact person you will be dealing with.
How do you handle complaints?
As long as you choose a qualified and experienced contractor, your roofing project is bound to proceed as planned. Nevertheless, even the most competent contractor can make mistakes.
You need to know how the contractor handles complaints in case you are dissatisfied with some element of the job. Find out if the roofer will make it right at no additional cost to you, until the work is done as initially agreed to and to your satisfaction.
Do you have references?
Most contractors will have no qualms about sharing contacts of references who are ready to discuss their experience. Experienced contractors are serious about safeguarding their reputations.
Of course, chances are that the contractor will only share references that only have good things to say. Still, pick up the phone and call. If the contractor is no good, you are going to catch hints of that during that conversation.
Just to be sure that the references are truly representative of the contractor’s work, check out online reviews and talk to a relative, friend or neighbor who has used the contractor before. Don’t settle for a roofing contractor unless they have overwhelmingly positive reviews on all fronts.
Get it right the first time
Roof maintenance, installation, or repair is a large expense. Your choice of contractor is critical if you do not want this expenditure to go to waste. The right contractor will also protect your investment, as well as your health and safety. Use these questions to get your selection right the first time by hiring a contractor that is fit for the job.
