5 Questions to Ask a Roofer Before Starting Your Project
Whether you’re looking for routine roof maintenance, repair, or replacement, you will need to hire a seasoned roofing company with a great reputation. Essentially, you need to know the right questions to ask your prospective contractor in your quest to determine their eligibility.
Below are the top five most relevant questions to ask your potential roofer:
1. What Is Your Company’s Legal Title, and Is It Licensed?
Nowadays, it’s extremely easy for someone to present themselves online deceptively. Luckily, a little detective work will help you tell a genuine roofer from a swindler.
To begin with, get the legal business name of your potential roofing company and establish whether they’re licensed.
Most states have websites through which you can search and verify the license number of your contractor’s business. If the company isn’t on the list of registered roofers, don’t hire them.
In the event that your state doesn’t have a website through which you can verify the supplied details, ask for a physical license. Don’t forget to ask for a roofing license as well.
2. Do You Have Liability and Workers’ Compensation Insurance?
Sometimes, accidents can occur whether or not you adhere to safety measures. Your homeowners’ insurance may not cover installation or repair-related damages on your house or the injuries the roofers may sustain during the project.
To protect yourself from legal responsibility in the event of such damages or worker grievances, you will want to demand both liability and workers’ compensation insurance from your potential contractor. If the roofing company doesn’t have either insurance cover, run in the opposite direction.
3. Do You Offer Any Warranties?
A good roofing company will provide a warranty period for their roofing work. In most cases, the guarantee runs for a year, but some companies provide you with longer warranties to prove their quality workmanship.
4. Who Will Supervise the Project?
If your prospective roofing contractor is reputable, they probably have several ongoing projects. Such companies often hire managers to ensure that the projects adhere to both the local roofing regulations and manufacturer’s guidelines. Therefore, get to know who will be supervising your project; it could be either a site manager or an experienced manager. In some cases, the business owner may personally oversee your project.
5. How Long Will the Project Last?
A roofing project can be accomplished in a single day or week, depending on your building’s size and the roofer’s skillset. However, don’t assume that your project will be done within a certain period. Instead, ask your contractor to give you an estimate on how long your roofing project will last to prevent any inconveniences, especially if you have an upcoming event in your home.
Bottom Line
Roof installation, repair, and replacement are among the most expensive investments for homeowners. The project is less complicated if handled by a reputable roofing contractor, which calls for special care when hiring a roofer. To find a credible roofing company, ensure to ask your prospective contractor the questions above.
