Entrusting your roof-related concerns and work to someone else can be a difficult decision, but the bottom line is that you’d want to hire the best one for the job. After all, your roof, as a part of your home, is an investment that should be taken care of properly.
With so many services now available for homeowners through the internet, it’s even more imperative now that you conduct exhaustive research on the contractors you’re considering. This way, you can separate quality professionals from the rest and make a decent selection based on your scrutiny.
Avoid hiring unscrupulous contractors and have the confidence that your roof is in capable hands by considering these factors you need to know:
- Licensure and Insurance
The roofing professional you choose should absolutely be licensed and insured. This ensures that they are adequately prepared and can get your roofing job done correctly. Before they are authorized, roofing professionals must pass several tests, know the industry well, offer fair contracts, and have undergone formal training to carry out their work according to standards.
Licensed contractors carry insurance at the same time, which protects not only them from workplace injuries, but you as the homeowner as well. An insured roofing professional will be covered by their company if they sustain injuries while working on your roof, alleviating you from shouldering the problem. It also shows that your roofer is well-treated by their company, giving you more peace of mind that the company and roofer you chose is an excellent one.
- Local Availability
Contractors without a physical office may be sketchy — not to mention that it’ll be harder to contact them or investigate more about the quality of their company if you don’t have somewhere you can conveniently visit.
At any given time, you’re likely to contact your contractor over roofing issues. It may be due to weather conditions that damaged your roof, need for replacements, or anything else that you find unsatisfactory about your roof. In cases like these, you’ll want to have your roofer to be local so you can be immediately assisted with your concerns.
- Multiple Quotations
It’s recommended that you get at least three bids when it comes to getting a roofing job. Price and experience often varies and clashes with each other, resulting in different costs across multiple contractors. Cheaper quotations don’t necessarily mean lower quality of work, while higher prices aren’t 100% indicative of high return. Strike a balance between these two aspects to avoid being shortchanged or paying for work that you would’ve gotten at a different price but better output.
- Specialty
Never settle for a general contractor when it comes to any roof-related work — always opt for a roofing contractor. While general contractors may know the basics of repairing roofs, they are not as educated as roofers when it comes to how to handle roof repairs and constructions.
With that said, not all roofing contractors can handle the different aspects of your project competently. Some contractors are more attuned to roof-related works with a particular material or addressing specific damages. Hiring a contractor who isn’t versed with the necessary skills and knowledge about what they’re dealing with may lead to them only solving the symptoms and not the root of the problem. Always ask if they are comfortable with the specifics of your problem or if they know someone who is, and always request to view their portfolio or similar projects and references.
- Reputation or Past Client Feedback
Nothing beats recommendations from peers and previous clients to evaluate the services of the contractor you’re considering. Reviews and client feedback will help you assess if the contractor is the best fit for your needs and will make you aware of how they handle projects, especially when it comes to unexpected circumstances and even negative feedback.
To know more about our professionals here at Fahey Roofing Contractors, check out the Team Fahey page or call us at (304) 736-7663 to learn more.