Let me give you a scenario. Your roof is in dire need of repair. There’s even a chance that it needs to be totally replaced. However, you now have another problem. You have no idea which roofing company to contract to do the job. There is quite a number listed in the yellow pages, but how would you know which ones are reliable?
Roof repairs don’t come cheap. Even small repairs can cost hundreds of dollars. If the roof needs to be replaced, you’re faced with a bigger investment. With this amount of money on the table, you do not want to be stuck with an unreliable roofer. To avoid selecting the wrong roofing company, here are the qualities of a reliable roofer for which you’ll need to look.
The Importance of Hiring the Right Roofer
So, why do you need to hire a roofer when you can find a handyman that charges less? The answer’s simple: roofing only looks easy because highly skilled roofers make it look that way. However, most people aren’t aware that roofing work must meet industry standards. Knowing what those standards are is one thing; making sure that your work meets those standards is even more difficult. Roofers who are at the top of their game make it seem simple to follow those standards.
High-quality roofers also take into consideration that you’re making a significant investment, especially if you’re having them replace an entire roof. For them, making sure that you receive your money’s worth is of utmost importance.
Unfortunately, words are cheap, and any company can claim that they provide excellent roofing services. In fact, scams are so common that there’s a list of companies you should avoid on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. Finding a quality roofer may be a bit of a challenge, but the key is to know what qualities to look for.
The Qualities of an Ideal Roofing Company
When it comes to roofing companies, you should never judge a book by its cover. But in this case, this means that you shouldn’t take ads at face value. If you’re reading, “We’re the best” on an ad, take it with a grain of salt. To find a reliable roofer, you’ll need to do your homework and look for certain qualities.
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They are insured.
In the world of home improvement, insurance is everything, especially in roofing work. Before you decide to hire a roofer, make sure that they have liability insurance that will cover any undue costs related to their work.
The roofer should also be able to show you proof that they have workers’ compensation insurance. This insurance covers the workers employed on your property. It means that should anything happen to them, you won’t be held liable in any way.
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They have a local, permanent office.
Have you ever heard of door-to-door roofers? A lot of them appear right after a severe weather disturbance where a lot of homes around yours may have been affected. They’ll knock on your door and ask if they can repair your roof. Unfortunately, many of these door-to-door roofers are actually what is known in the industry as “storm chasers.”
Beware of storm chasers because they may not offer quality workmanship. They may not even be around in a month if you have a problem with the installation. You’ll be risking a good amount of money if you make the mistake of hiring one.
Make sure that any roofer you deal with has a local office and can present proof that they are licensed to operate in your area.
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They guarantee their work.
As someone who doesn’t know much about the roofing industry, you’ll be relying on the roofer to do quality work that will last for many years. The only way you can make sure that this happens is to ask for a guarantee.
If you’re dealing with a reliable roofing company, you won’t need to ask for a guarantee because they’ll proudly offer one right at the very start.
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They are licensed and certified and have permits.
When it comes to licenses and permits for roofing companies, every state may have different requirements. These generally include a contractor’s license, a business permit, and certifications from different manufacturers that they are qualified to install a certain product.
If you want to check what your local government requires, ask your municipal office for a list of licenses and certifications.
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They can provide references.
Most important of all, a roofing company should be able to provide you with references. If they do good work, they’ll have a list of past and present clients that you can call. Their clients should be more than willing to give you a thumb’s up and recommend them for the job at hand.
Hiring the right roofer can save you from headaches that stem from incorrect repairs and installations. By taking note of the qualifications mentioned above, you’ll know what to look for from a roofer that you are looking to hire.
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Author Bio:
Jesse Curry is the owner of Roofing by Curry. A professional roofing contractor himself, his greatest strengths are his creativity, drive and leadership. He thrives on challenges, particularly those that expand the company’s reach. He is very passionate about what he does and loves to share his experiences with other people through his blog site: http://www.roofingbycurry.com/our-blog/.
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