What You Need to Know to Hire a Great Roofing Company

All it takes is one good storm to make you realize you need a roofer. Perhaps you’ve lost some shingles or tiles. Maybe you’ve discovered a leak. Or perhaps you’ve realized that your roof is past due for an overhaul. Whatever the reason, calling a roofer is an overwhelming task.

Most people only call a roofing company a handful of times in their lives. So each time they call, it’s like calling for the first time all over again. There are so many questions to ask and plans to make.

However, finding a roofing company is simply an exercise in careful common sense. Here are a few things you should consider before hiring a roofing company.

What to Ask Before You Hire

Roof work can costs thousands of dollars, and the quality of your roof is vital to the health of your home. So it’s important to ask some basic questions before you hire anyone.

Questions that Protect Yourself

In the state of California, your contractor must have a license. It’s easy to check; you just need their name, license number, or company name. Ask for the company’s card to search online later. This protects you if something goes wrong.

Ask about insurance and workers’ compensation. A quality company will provide both. This protects you because you won’t have to shell out money if someone is injured on the job. Your homeowners insurance will not usually cover such costs, so skipping this question could be especially expensive.

Finally, ask each company if they have a brick and mortar location. This protects you because they have a local reputation to maintain, so they aren’t going to cut and run. Likewise, ask if they ever use subcontractors; if so, ask to see their information as well.

Questions that Protect Your Home

A good roofer will offer you many references. You should ask for about ten, but you don’t need to see or talk to all ten. Instead, pick two or three at random.

Call the references and discuss their experiences with the roofer. Was the roofing company punctual? Did they communicate changes such as timelines or materials? You may also want to drive by and see a few roofs the company has worked on.

The best roofers trust their work and the work of their employees. Because they trust their work, they’ll offer warranties. Ask to see the warranty in full, not just a short blurb. Since many issues with roofs occur after about one year, the warranty should cover at least one year, if not longer.

It’s important to note that a roofing company’s warranty will cover only workmanship, not materials. The manufacturer of the tiles, waterproof membranes, flashing, etc., will offer a separate warranty on those items.

Questions to Plan Your Project

Before hiring, you’ll want to hash out some plans with your chosen company. You should know where the waste container will sit and who will provide it, as well as any policies about recycling and fees.

You’ll also want to discuss protecting your gutters and landscaping, and any backup plans should the workers damage anything. Their insurance should cover damages, but make sure to get a plan in writing. Their insurance should cover damages, but make sure to get a plan in writing.

After You Hire

Once you’ve decided on a company, get everything in writing before they begin. Make sure you have a person you can contact if you have any questions during the build. Finally, don’t sign off the job as complete until the workers remove all waste and materials.

Now that you know what to look for, call your All Climate roofing and get started on your new roof.