The Top 10 for Hiring a Roofing Contractor
There are tons of roofing contractors in the Chicago area, and chances are, they all want to work on your roof. Well, how do separate the great ones, from the satisfactory, and just down right bad ones? Here is a list of things you should keep in mind when searching for the perfect guys for the job.
1. Make sure they are insured and licensed. It is illegal in most states for a roofing contractor to work without a license. A license protects consumers from contractors that inexperienced in the industry. Ask about the insurance they have, specifically liability and worker’s compensation. It’s vital that your roofer has quality insurance coverage, or else you will be taking on a great deal of risk, like personal injury, as well as property damage.
2. Ask for references. A solid roofing company should be more than willing to provide you with a list of satisfied customers. Many roofers’ websites will have a section dedicated to previous customers praising them for a job well done. Despite these satisfied customers, keep in mind that there still might be plenty of people that were not satisfied. The roofer is not definitely not likely to quote them on their site.
3. Get a written contract. A written contract is necessary, so that all the details of the work are clearly stated, and so that both parties are legally protected. While an old fashioned handshake might be nice, it’s far from what you should expect from a quality contractor.
4. Does the roofing company crew clean up the job site? Is the removal of your old roof scraps included in the clean up costs? Some contractors clean up as they work, while others wait until the end of the job to pick up after themselves – which is unsightly as well as hazardous. Make sure you ask them how they go about the clean up process.
5. How long has the roofing contractor been in business? A company with an established business is likely to be around when you need them. If you have a warranty, you want to make certain someone is around to honor it, should there ever be a problem.
6. A roofing company is only as good as the workers they employ. It’s important to ask about the type of training the roofing company’s employees receive, and the skill level they demand of them. Have their workers had any safety training? It has been proven that workers that follow safety training procedures, have less accidents on the job.
7. If you’re taking bids, don’t automatically accept the lowest bid. A low bid might be a sign of low grade materials, and poor quality workmanship. Nevertheless, a roofing contractor may be able to provide a lower bid because he has low overhead or a source for quality materials at lower prices. If you’re confused about this ask the contractor how he decides what his bid is going to be.
8. Check with the Better Business Bureau. This is exactly where you’ll find any unhappy customers, if there are any. Remember that any company that deals with a large volume of customers is likely to get a few unhappy customers, due to pure odds.
9. Good communication skills are important. Being able to discuss your roofing project in detail with the contractor is vital to getting the job done the way you want it. They should be able to clearly answer any questions you have, and keep you informed throughout the process. If the contractor can’t properly communicate what it is that they are doing to your roof, you will likely be very dissatisfied with the final result.
10. Make certain you hire a roofing contractor that offers a guarantee. The roofing materials manufacturer will usually include a product warranty, however, this does not cover the installation. If there is a problem with the installation or materials, you will want to have a written guarantee from the roofing contractor, that he will be there to take care of the problem.
If you’d like to have some roofing maintenance done, or you’re looking for affordable roofing, don’t hesitate to contact Champion Roofing. We’re the roofing company in Chicago!
