Asking the Right Questions When Hiring a Roofer

A full roof replacement is a big investment that requires careful planning and consideration. Be it asphalt shingle or metal roofing, you’ll experience both excitement and stress as you go through the entire process from start to finish. Given that it’s a huge undertaking, you must seek an expert team of professionals who’ll complete your project with your best interests in mind.

Who Should You Hire?

While many roofers can easily claim that they’re one of the best in the field, they should at least provide proof that they’re trained and qualified to replace your roof. If you’re not sure where to look for a trustworthy roofer, you can start by doing proper research on who’s offering services in your area. You’re better off hiring a local contractor instead of a national one as they can be easier to work with even after your roof’s been installed. For instance, if your new roof sustains damage from a storm, a local roofer can get to your area faster since they’re already within your area!

You can also get referrals from friends and neighbors who recently had their roofs replaced. Many of them might recommend the same contractor, which can indicate they have a good reputation in the area. Putting your entire roofing project at the hands of an unknown roofer just because their rates are cheaper than everyone else is never a good choice, as they simply won’t guarantee a successful project. 

Asking the Right Questions

Consider your choices carefully as you find the right contractor. Whether you want a shingle or metal roofing system installed or schedule your roof inspections for the year, you need to determine the right professional team for your needs. They must be able to manage each step of the roofing process and guide you towards success so that you won’t make last-minute decisions that may otherwise lead to costly mistakes. It all starts with asking the right questions, which we highlight below.

“Does Your Company Carry Insurance?”

Almost every state across the country requires home improvement contractors to carry at least two types of insurance. This means your roofing prospects should be insured to protect both you and the workers in case of damage or injury. This is necessary for any established professional roofer, so if you’re interested in hiring someone who doesn’t carry insurance, entrusting them with your replacement project can become risky. It may also cause problems later on after the roof’s been built, so you’re better off finding a more qualified contractor. 

The two types of insurance a professional roofer must carry are as follows:

• General liability insurance. This provides coverage that safeguards you, your family, and the rest of your property against accidental damage or injury that may happen due to the roofing process. That means you’re covered for property damage even if precautions were taken to protect your property. You won’t need to shoulder the hospital expenses yourself if you sustain an injury from a roofing accident since this insurance also covers that.

• Workers’ compensation. This works almost like general liability insurance, except that it applies to the workers installing your residential roofing system. This means whether they get sick or injured while working on the roof, workers’ comp pays their lost wages. It also protects you from shouldering their medical costs and other benefits in case they sustain an injury while on the job.

“Do You Have a License to Operate Legally?”

As you check out different prospects for your roofing project, you should always ask if they have a business license and a permit to provide services in the area. Although the requirements for a business license and permit will vary for each state, the contractor must provide proof that they’re certified and licensed in the area before hiring them. They should also have a physical business address within the region or state.

“What’s Your Customer Feedback?”

Although you can always check a prospective roofer’s business site online before the physical meet-up to read their customer reviews and comments, you can also ask them directly while discussing details of your roof replacement project. They usually have a good resource for you to check for their reviews. Some contractors can even drive you to locations of their previous shingle or metal roofing job so that you get to see their workmanship first-hand!

Of course, you can still check if the company’s name is listed on the Better Business Bureau®. Even if they have some negative feedback, you can see whether they ignored or resolved those reviews. Remember, people rarely report on their positive reviews, so if the majority of the feedback is positive, then it’s a good sign of quality workmanship.

“Can You Provide a Portfolio of Your Previous Works?”

Most roofing contractors usually have a copy of their credentials that they present to clients during their first meeting. They’ll also bring a physical portfolio to show their clients when needed. Although they may already have posted their previous works on their business website, it won’t hurt to ask them directly. When you do this, you’ll often get a more detailed description of how they did their residential roofing replacements and other renovation projects!

“What’s the Estimated Completion Date?”

The amount of time needed to complete a roof replacement project will depend on several factors. One of these is availability, as they may not start working on your roof immediately if they’re busy with other projects. If this is the case, you can assume that many homeowners trust the contractor’s service and workmanship, so just set the closest date available. Knowing how long they’ll work on your roof will also help you plan your other tasks around the project as you adjust to the workers and equipment within your property.

STARR Roofing & Gutters always gets the job done efficiently when it comes to roof inspections and installation services. As a family-owned company, we are ready to put our extensive expertise to work to help you take your roofing system to the next level. Call us at (512) 736-6539, or fill out our online contact form to request an estimate.