In reality, most decisions regarding roofing are made under duress. A storm damages a roof, and in a matter of days, a homeowner is forced into making a decision that may seem right at the time but in hindsight is an expensive mistake.
In searching for the best roofer for the job, do not try to get the lowest price for a roofing job. Instead, try to get the best contractor for the job. And to find the best contractor for the job, you need to ask the right questions. The questions above are designed to find out how a company of roofers can staff their roofer crews, how a roofing contractor can stand behind the work of a roofer, and how a roofer can handle the parts of a roofing job that are never in the estimate for the work that is to be done.
Which credentials are worth verifying, and how
Note, Licensing requirements to perform roofing work vary by state and even by municipality. Find out what the requirements are in your state and then verify the contractor’s license number on the state licensing authority’s database (e.g. California Department of Consumer Affairs, CAL database) rather than accepting a photo of the contractor’s license card.
The other crucial part of hiring a roofer is their insurance. Inquiring about a contractor’s licensing is a good start, but you must also inquire about their insurance. Ask the contractor for a certificate of insurance that has been sent directly from the carrier or the agent. Make sure that you are listed as the certificate holder. Make sure that there is General Liability coverage as well as Workers Compensation coverage listed. If a contractor does not have Workers Compensation insurance, then you could be held liable for any injuries that occur on your property while the contractor is working on your roof.
Manufacturer certifications and what they signal
Roofing manufacturers, such as GAF, Owens Corning, and Unishippers, create tiered programs for roofing contractors to become certified installers for extended system warranties on their roofing systems. These warranties can last up to 25 years or more. Find out what manufacturer programs your roofer is a part of and what tier they are in. Find out how long they have been certified installers for these roofing systems.
How to probe workmanship before any work begins
Who will be doing the work on your roof repair? Will they have employees, or will they be hiring subcontractors to complete the work? There are many quality roofing contractors that complete work with employees, but there are also many who work with subcontractors. It is best to ask these questions to understand the risks of work completed by subcontractors. For example, who will be supervising the work on your roof? Who will be responsible for ensuring the work is completed in a workmanlike manner? And who will be carrying insurance while completing work on your roof?
Next Set of Questions, How You Will Be Treated as a Homeowner to Protect Your Greatest Investment. (Roofing Warranties)
- What is the protocol when rotted or delaminated decking is found, and what is the per-sheet price agreed in advance
- Will ice and water shield be installed at eaves, valleys, and penetrations, and to what width
- How will intake and exhaust ventilation be balanced, and will existing ventilation be recalculated or simply replaced in kind
- Are pipe boots, step flashing, and counterflashing replaced or reused
- Who is on site each day as the point of contact, and how do you reach that person directly
Ask about the tear-off decision
A second layer of roofing on top of existing shingles can qualify for a permit and cost less to install. But in the long run, it can hide serious problems with the deck of your house under the existing shingles. And it can reduce the life of new shingles that you put on by a great deal. A smart roofer will recommend to you the best solution for your needs and will check your deck before recommending to you the installation of a second layer of roofing.
Reading warranty terms accurately
When looking for roofing warranty coverage, it is easy to get confused between the different terms and products that are referred to by the same name. In fact, there are 3 different products that are referred to by the name of a single product. It is very important to know what type of coverage each roofing contractor is going to offer up before you start to compare them to each other.
| Warranty type | What it covers | Typical term | Question to ask |
| Manufacturer material | Defective shingles only, often prorated after an initial period | 25 to 50 years, limited | When does proration begin, and does it cover tear-off and disposal |
| Manufacturer system | Materials plus installation error, provided the full component system is used | 25 to 50 years, often non-prorated | Which accessory components are required, and who registers the warranty |
| Contractor workmanship | Installation defects attributable to the crew | 2 to 25 years | Is it transferable, and what conditions void it |
What will void the coverage of the warranty? In many cases, such items as satellite dishes, additional penetrations, pressure washing, etc. Can be excluded from a roof warranty. In many cases, homeowners have no idea that such items can void their roof warranty and, in some cases, can actually disqualify their roof from being covered under a warranty.
Using reviews and references without being misled
Recent reviews will not give you any information about a contractor’s performance recently. However, you can get some good information by finding out how a contractor fixed any problems that may have occurred in their work and how quickly they did it.
References with a specific ask
Find out the contact information of the two oldest completed jobs (over 3 years ago) for the best roofing companies in the US. Then call the homeowners and ask the following questions. First, did the roofing company contact them for any repairs? If yes, then how long did it take for the roofing company to fix the problem? Pair what those homeowners tell you with a well-researched roundup of the best roofing companies in the US, which is a helpful starting point when you are building your shortlist. However, these directory rankings for the top roofing companies are rarely relevant to regional weather conditions and local roofing crew stability. Therefore, they should only be one of the many factors you consider when searching for a roofing company.
Contract and project transparency
The roofing proposal should clearly outline the specific materials to be used (e.g. Manufacturer and product line of roofing shingle, color, etc.). The proposal should also clearly outline who will obtain the necessary building permits for the project and who will be responsible for scheduling all required inspections for the project.
- Confirm the payment schedule, with no deposit exceeding what state law allows and final payment withheld until inspection passes
- Require written change orders with pricing before additional work proceeds
- Clarify property protection, including landscaping coverage, magnetic nail sweeps, and dumpster placement
- Establish a rain contingency and how partially opened sections are secured overnight
Any contractor who is unwilling to put the terms of your agreement in writing has revealed to you how your project will be run. See more on https://decoratoradvice.ca/
