What You Should Look for in a Roofer

Are you in need of a professional contractor that specializes in roofing or roof repair? If you are, and you don’t have access to a trusted contractor, then you probably have no idea where to start. This is particularly true if you are not as home improvement savvy as you would like to be. Not to worry, just think of the process of selecting a roofing contractor as the same as choosing any other specialist who is coming to your home; knowledge is power. It is the intention of this article to discuss what you, as a prospective customer, should look for in a roofer in an effort to not only aid you in the selection process but also diminish your chances of a repair mishap. 

The selection process of a roofer should begin as any other contractor selection process would, with research, i.e. online or your local yellow pages, for prospective specialists. Take notice of the contractors that claim to be specialists, as denoted by type of training and years of experience in a variety of circumstances, as opposed to seasonal contractors that may not have current and accurate knowledge of roofing techniques and concerns. Additional aspects to focus on during your research are the financial stability of the company as well as how long the contractor has been at his/her business location. Obviously longevity is optimal in this situation as it suggests stability and reliability. For instance, a company with an unstable financial past, such as a bankruptcy filing, can quite possibly impact your services being rendered should their financial woes persist. 

Another thing you should look for in a potential roofer is proof of insurance. Specifically, and depending on the state in which you live, you should look for liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. With respect to liability insurance, this is necessary to cover the contractor in the event that someone other than him/herself is injured while they are working or if your property is damaged in the process, while workers’ compensation strictly covers the contractor in the event that they are hurt while performing their job. In addition, you should inquire about their licensing and bonding by calling your state licensing board to determine the exact standing of the prospective contractor. Once you have selected at least three to five prospective roofing contractors, you should then set up appointments to have them individually assess your situation, detail the work needed and provide you with an estimate of costs. Beware of contractors that are forceful and intimidating in order to get your business as the quality of their work and good customer service should speak for itself. 

While selecting a roofer requires a considerable amount of research on the part of the customer, doing so will better aid you in the selection process. This is particularly true with respect to years of experience and/or training, proof of insurance and licensing as well as financial stability of the company. The results of which will aid you in the selection process of a roofing contractor as well as in maximizing the quality of the service received.