3 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor
The roof is one of the most important expenses any homeowner can make. It will also have a direct impact on your home's resale value. It is probably the second most important house component after the foundation. Choosing the wrong contractor could be disastrous not only because you could end up with a mess, but you could also end up with legal troubles. Here are some important question you should ask when hiring a roofing contractor.
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Are You Licensed, Insured, and Bonded?
These are all things that you have to know before you hire a contractor. Making sure they're licensed will make sure that the repairs are done up to code and that the job won’t be interrupted by inspectors. You also want to make sure that they are legally allowed to work in the country.
Them being bonded will ensure that the job will be completed or you'll get compensation. Insurance is important to make sure that any damage to your property or anyone circulating on your property will be covered. You also have to make sure that their staff are covered. If they aren't, you might be the one facing charges if one of them gets injured or if they cause injury to a third party that was present.
You don't only want to take their word for it either. You want to follow up and call their insurance provider to see if everything is valid.
Can I See Examples of Your Work?
You also want to see as much as their work as possible. A roofing contractor like Stones River Roofing is a great example. Not only is this roofing contractor willing to show images of their work on their website, but they also have a virtual showroom that allows you to see more of what they have to offer.
Not only that, but they allow people to post independent reviews and they are registered with the BBB. These are the types of roofers that care about the quality of their work and how they treat clients. If you find a contractor with this level of dedication to service and their paperwork is in order, chances are they’re legit.
Will You Remove the Old Roof?
A quick way to tell if you're working with a true roofer or a black hat one is to ask what they're going to do with the old roof. If they say that they're going to install shingles over it with no other options, then you might be dealing with a charlatan.
Good roofers will remove the old shingles first and without charging an exorbitant amount. You might think you're making a bargain, but if you install over the old roof without a real inspection, you will most likely miss soft spots which could lead to rotting later on and widespread damage.
Conclusion
All of these questions should allow you to find a good roofer and weed out the rest. It’s important to check their credentials first and foremost and talk to them so you can get an idea of whether they know their business or not.
