Roofing Contractors
There are many things to take into consideration when looking for a roofing contractor. Price, experience, and referrals are some of the things you will likely be concerned about. Read on for even more ideas.
Before looking for a roofing contractor, make sure you have a general idea of the work that you need to have done. By no means do you have to be an expert. If you have a Roof Certificate, read it thoroughly to find the details about your existing roof. If you do not have a Roof Certificate, refer to documents signed during closing to locate your Roof Inspection sheet. These documents should supply you with everything you need to know about your roof. Before contacting a roofing contractor, you should have a list of requirements and specifications to help you decide exactly who is suitable for your roofing project. Be sure to write down each potential roofing contractor's answers and check them against each other. If there are any discrepancies, be sure to note this and take this into consideration when making a final decision. There are no surefire ways to choose a roofing contractor, but if you take heed to the information provided, your chances of a successful roofing project are greatly enhanced.
One of the best ways of finding a roofing contractor is by word of mouth. Try asking a friend or relative who has had roofing work done, and was satisfied with the work. Get the name of the business and their contact information. If you have no word of mouth referrals, try first looking in the telephone book and online. A large ad or fancy website is not necessarily an indication of the quality of work, but can be a good tool for measuring the amount of time and dedication they have placed in their respective profession. Also, try finding current worksites and look at the roofing work that is done or in the process of being finished. If you are visually impressed, ask the property manager for the name of the roofing contractor and their contact information.
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When looking for a roofing contractor, it is imperative to first do your background research. While looking in the phone book or on the Internet is a suitable place to find a contractor, finding pertinent information on these types of businesses will be found in several other areas. First, check with places like the Better Business Bureau, city, state, and county public records, and local licensing agencies. Ask your roofing contractor if they are a member of any roofing contractor associations. These precautions will mitigate your risks. Also ask them what types of roofing they specialize in. Also ask your roofing contractor about any warranties they offer on their installed roofs. Find out what precautions they take to avoid damage done to other parts of the home by workers. Items such as gutters, siding, and chimneys are close in proximity and therefore susceptible to accidental damages.
Make sure all of this information is included in your written contract. Find out if you need a roofing permit and/or permission from your homeowners association ahead of time. These entities will let you know who is responsible for getting these permits and permissions. If it is the responsibility of the roofing contractor, also have it included within your contract. If it is your responsibility, get said permits and permissions collated with the estimated roofing project and have it clearly posted or readily available.
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Roofing Contractors are not required to be licensed in all states. Contact local licensing agencies that govern general construction contractors for a list of requirements. Once you have obtained the requirements, build a list of detailed questions to ask your potential roofing contractor. This simple list should immediately help you to weed out the qualified from the unqualified roofing contractors. Qualified contractors should be able to easily answer questions or tell you that they need to do further research before giving a definitive answer.
Even if a roofing contractor has all required licensing, you should ask to see pictures of completed roofing jobs and speak to satisfied clients. Have a list of questions handy to ask recent clients, such as the nature of the job, timeliness, and overall satisfaction. Make sure these are recent clients and cross reference if possible. In the case of commercial roofing, make sure that the roofing contractor is bonded. Checking these references is another added measure of security to narrow down the list of potential roofing contractors.
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It is important to receive several bids before selecting a contractor. Having several detailed bids will help you see what the median cost for your selected job is. After selecting a contractor, compare their estimate with other roofing contractors. Ask your roofing contractor to supply you with a detailed estimate as well as a materials list. Your estimate should include a breakdown of labor and your materials list should have the amount of each item needed for the job. Have your roofing contractor go over your contract with you as many times as is needed for you to fully comprehend the nature of the work to be completed.
If you find more than one qualified contractor, inform all roofing contractors of the bids received. A `bidding war' can be beneficial for the consumer as it drives down the final cost. Bidding wars consist of multiple qualified contractors competing for the lowest roofing estimate. Have each roofing contractor submit sealed bids. Compare these bids and look carefully at the costs listed for materials as well as labor. You may need to go back and forth for a period of time until you come to find the best overall roofing contractor for the job.
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The actual contract written between the consumer and contractor is the single most important step in selecting a roofing contractor. Promises will be made verbally, but could possibly be omitted when it comes time to sign the contract. Read your contract carefully and have it amended if anything that has been agreed to is missing. Before signing any contract, you should again contact local government agencies and homeowners' associations to see what hours construction can occur during. Make sure that worksite cleanliness is discussed and covered within your contract. A dumpster may need to be rented to properly dispose of debris.
Within the actual contract, set up a payment schedule that equally divides the payments into halves or thirds. A payment should be made before work is begun and another payment upon completion of the project. Optionally another payment can be scheduled during the roofing project. It is also a good idea to have an inspection scheduled before final payment. If you give full payment at the beginning or before the roofing is done, the contractor could possibly never complete the job. It would then be your responsibility to find the contractor and take legal action to receive a refund.
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Before selecting a roofing contractor, inquire about their insurance coverage. In case of accidents or willful neglect, it is very important that they have an insurance policy that will protect the consumer. It is imperative to see a current copy of their insurance policy and not just take their word on it. Also, ask your roofing contractor to supply you with a copy of their insurance along with the contract. This is because many insurance policies can be cancelled mid-way through their coverage period and an existing paper copy would not indicate the cancellation. Now you can have absolute piece of mind as to the validity of your contractor's business practices.
Also, make sure that their insurance policy covers their employees in case of accidents. Your homeowners' insurance should not be expected to cover any potential employee accidents. This is also a noteworthy detail to be included within your contract. If the potential roofing contractor has an issue with any of your insurance requirements, be sure to go back and check on the complete history of their business.
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Another good indicator of the quality of a roofing contractor is by taking a close look at their employees. The amount of employees, their areas of expertise and how long they have been employed will let you know if the selected roofing contractor is a true professional. Check with your contractor to see if they have an appointed foreman and make sure you speak to that person. Make sure you are comfortable with this person as well as their level of professionalism. Try to meet with the roofing contractor and foreman at the same time to discuss your concerns.
Ask your roofing contractor and foreman about how the employees will be transported to the job site. Depending on the neighborhood, parking conditions should be discussed to ensure that no complaints arise regarding this issue. Provide the workers with a trash can and set clear boundaries on property lines. Overall etiquette and professionalism expectations should be set during this meeting. Also inform neighbors directly surrounding your property of the roofing project and the estimated dates and times of construction. Give them your contact information and direct them to the foreman should any concerns arise.
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Discuss what kind of materials are to be used and who will supply them. The type of materials to be used as well as the supplier can greatly impact your expenses. Money could possibly be saved by purchasing some of these supplies yourself. Call around to local home improvement stores and do price comparisons. Also ask your roofing contractor if they purchase their supplies from a wholesaler or locally. This will give you an idea of the material prices quoted in your detailed estimate. If you have the means and time to order and transport these materials yourself, that too can cut down on the price of your roofing project. You might also want to check with neighbors and see if they plan on having roofing work done in the near future. This could be mutually beneficial for yourself as well as your roofing contractor.
Domestic versus foreign roofing supplies can be another issue that greatly affects roofing installation quality as well as the time needed for completion. If these supplies are not normally stocked locally, the time for shipping would impact the start time and overall time needed for your project. Ask your roofing contractor if they are familiar with the process needed to install said shingles, weatherproofing, ventilation, and insulation materials. Asking plenty of questions beforehand will save both yourself and your roofing contractor from foreseeable problems. Keeping the lines of communication open between yourself and your roofing contractor is essential for a successful project.
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A deadline for when the project is to be completed should be clearly stated within your contract. Also, set a firm start date. Provisions should be made for inclement weather conditions by including a clause extending the final date by an extra week or so if weather is a factor. It is also a good idea to include a clause penalizing the contractor should the project start or finish after these said dates. The nature of roofing in general is frequently affected by weather of which the contractor has no control. It is a good idea to look at your local weather forecast before setting these dates and make sure that there are no foreseeable inclement weather conditions in the near future.
Ask your roofing contractor if they will need access to the inside of your home for any reason. Make sure that you exchange cell phone numbers and emergency contacts with your roofing contractor and project foreman. If you do not feel comfortable giving them unrestricted access to the inside of your home, make sure that someone will be home for the duration of the project. Try to have a selected friend or neighbor meet with the roofing contractor and foreman as a courtesy to all parties involved. Ask a friend or neighbor to occasionally stop by the worksite to make sure that the roofing is going smoothly. You may also want to give said friend or neighbor the contact information of the owner as well as the foreman. This will give you assurance that all provisions have been made.
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