When it comes to the structure that keeps the elements out of your home or business, a reliable roofer is a necessity. Now finding the best roofing company for your needs can be a challenge and should not be overlooked.
The search for a roofer will go much smoother if you know the work you want done to your roof and if you have a set budget beforehand. Once you have these figured out, here are a few tips for finding the best roofing contractor.
Ask Friends and Family
Getting referrals from friends and family can be a great way to get honest feedback. If anyone close to you has had a roof replaced or repaired, you should ask them for their opinion on the contractor. If the contractor was professional and did a quality job for a reasonable price you should consider getting their contact information.
Choose Local Roofing Contractors
Look for local roofing contractors. It will be a waste of your time contacting contractors that are hours away from you. A quick Google search will give you a good starting point for your area.
The next thing to do is to research the roofing companies found in the area. Websites like Angie’s List and HomeAdvisor are great resources to find reputable contractors and read reviews.
Interview Multiple Roofing Companies
Once your list of possible candidates is dwindled down to around 5 or 6 reputable contractors, it is time to call for estimates. Come ready with questions about insurance, licenses, availability to start, materials used, and tasks that need to be completed.
Contractors will often be in the middle of a job, so their availability might not be immediately, so this is something to consider if your roof repair is an emergency. Also, make sure all materials and tasks to be completed are the same in each bid for an accurate comparison.
Licensed and Insured
While interviewing potential contractors, ask the roofer for proof that they are licensed and insured in your area. A reputable roofer will also have liability and workers compensation insurance that protects the homeowner if an accident happens during the job. This is so that the homeowner or business owner is not responsible for any damage or worker injuries on the job.
Avoid Scams
Scams are found in every profession, but if you do your due diligence by researching roofing contractors you can avoid them. A written contract and scope of work should be agreed upon to avoid any confusion with payments or work that is to be done.
Upfront Payments
Contractors will often ask for upfront payments to assure that the homeowner is ready to go ahead with the project. These upfront payments should not be more than 10% of the final price. If you pay more than 10% there is a possibility that the contractor will take the money and never show back up to complete the job.
Scope of Work
A written scope of work will give both parties a clear understanding of what is expected from the roofing job. This will prevent the client from becoming sticker shocked with added extras that were not in the initial scope of work.
This also holds the roofer accountable for the materials that are used on the job. If a specific roofing material is agreed upon, that is the material that will be used. If the homeowner does make changes for what they want, this will most likely be added to the final bill. We recommend talking with your contractor to see how much the added cost will be before going through with it.
Storm Chasers
Avoid these roofing scammers at all costs. Storm chasers are roofers that will go around neighborhoods after bad storms and knock up offering free inspections for storm damage. These roofers will then convince homeowners they need roofing repairs and proceed to do the bare minimum to fix the roof. Companies like this will often vanish after the job is finished, so past clients cannot contact them about their low-quality roof repair.
Avoid storm chasers and other scammers by doing your research on roofing companies with the tips listed above. Getting references from friends and families and reading online reviews can give you a much better idea of how to find a reputable roofing company. Signing a contract and scope of work for any sized roofing job is a way to assure that you will get what you pay for.
If you are looking for trusted roofing services in the Greater Philadelphia area, contact Philly’s Phinest Roofing for a free estimate.
