How do you find and hire the best commercial roofing contractors? Truth be told, hiring good contractors is the key to having good experience delivered. Many people think they can save time by hiring the cheapest roofing contractor, but this is often a big mistake.
The process of finding and hiring a new commercial roofer can be arduous. You just don’t pick up the phone, dial a few numbers, and hire the first person you talk to. It’s not that quick or easy. Here are a few factors you need to consider before hiring:
Insurance
It’s good to ensure that the contractor has all the required insurance. Only allow them to start your project after checking if the insurance is active. You can also make sure if the documents are valid by calling the insurance company and confirming that the contractor is indeed a client. Some companies may just claim that they are insured, so verification is required.
You should also ask the contractor for their insurance certificates and check if they are valid or not by calling customer service to make sure that they are under contract with the insurer.
Hiring a contractor with proper insurance will ensure that all your property is covered in case of any damages. You will not have to bear the costs yourself, even if they are caused by accidents. Accidents are inevitable — there will always be a risk factor when undertaking a project. You can, however, minimize it by hiring experts for the job. The last thing you’d want to happen is to lose your property due to an act of negligence.
Choose a Local Roofing Contractor
When choosing a contractor to handle your roofing project, it’s good you ensure that they are from your area due to various reasons. One of the reasons is that local contractors already have their reputation in the area. You will have a clear picture of what you expect once the project is completed. Besides, there is the issue of trust, since when something goes wrong, and you need the contractor to fix it even after they have completed the job, you know where and how to find them.
Working with someone within the area ensures that you can easily reach them during emergencies. You can also check their work records and see if there are any complaints against the contractor or not.
Additionally, every state has its own licensing requirements, so it is advisable to ensure that your contractor holds all the relevant licenses required by any law in your area. Some contractors may have licenses but are not allowed to undertake certain types of projects or construction details. They may also lack expertise for some jobs, leading to poor execution of the contract.
Does The Contractor Have References?
Before you commit your funds to hire a contractor, find out if they truly have the skills to deliver the project on time and within budget. You can start by asking them what kind of projects they handled in the past and how successful they were. Find out if any references are available, and inspect job sites where they worked for you to get an idea of their work quality. Since most roofing jobs take place over several days or weeks, seeing examples of previous works will help you plan better for your current project.
You should not only check the online reviews but also speak with contractors’ clients personally and request recommendations from professionals who may know contractors who handle similar projects. Request written estimates and quotes and ask for the rationale behind their pricing.
Once you have a list of contractors, it is vital that you check if they are members of local associations such as those who deal with roofing contractors in your area. They can give you unbiased information about contractors to help you hire one with good capabilities and experience. Be sure to ask them if any complaints were filed against the contractor before; this way, you will know if the contractor has been known to be negligent or not.
Cheap Can be Expensive
Cheap is not always the best choice. Hiring a cheap contractor who will mismanage your project will cause lots of problems. You don’t want to end up with issues as soon as the contractor is through working on your roof. When it comes to roofing, cheap is often expensive. The last thing you want is to deal with faulty workmanship and materials.
When researching for a contractor, ask how much they charge per square foot. When compared over the entire project’s cost, you may end up spending less by hiring someone who charges more but offers excellent service. The key here is to get value for your money; don’t go for low prices if quality services are out of the question.
There are lots of contractors who offer low rates because their employees lack expertise or offer poor workmanship in order to keep costs down. In the end, you’ll have spent more cash when compared to hiring a reputable contractor who would have provided you with a warranty period if any problem arises.
Don’t Give in to Pressure
If you haven’t heard of the word storm chasers before, you might need to be more cautious of these “professionals” who come to you with the aim of getting you to sign a contract. Most of them try to convince you that they were in your area and that they handled various other roofing projects there. You never have to sign an intent letter by being told that you have storm damage to your home.
Unless your contractor was present during the disaster, there is no way for them to know what kind of damage you had. One of their tactics is to offer a time-based contract and convince you that insurance companies have appointed them to handle all roofing reconstruction. This way, they get money from both sides, leaving you with no other option but to sign a contract quickly or miss out on receiving funds from your insurance company.
Remember that even though storm chasers may seem enticing because of the low rates that they suggest, it doesn’t mean that they will do an excellent job for long-term results. In the end, you might have lost money if repairs are done ineffectively, so be very careful when dealing with these people.
If you need to have your roof inspected or repaired, it’s better to call renowned professional roofers in your area, as they have the necessary experience to provide the best results.
Write Down all Agreements
There will be several agreements between you and your contractor, dictating how the job is to be carried out. Such arrangements may involve things like how much you will be charged for the entire project, how long the job will take, and when you should pay. You should only pay your total after the job is completed. The best thing about paying afterward is that the contractor will be careful to do everything you wrote down in the agreement so that they are sure that you will pay them. Everyone should adhere to the agreements discussed by both parties.
Everything that you decide on should be written down and signed because it will stand as a record that everyone can refer to if trouble occurs later. Having this written proof ensures that your rights are protected, and the other party cannot turn around and renege on their part of the agreement after they have received payment from you. Always make sure that you keep a copy of any signed contract because it could potentially be used as evidence in court, especially if there’s a dispute over workmanship or the quality of materials used.
Communication is Vital
Lack of communication leads to the failure of many projects, which is why you need to ensure that there is enough communication between you and your contractor. If your contractor is the kind of person who will not follow up unless you force them to, you might need to reconsider and get someone who cares about being responsible. The best contractor is the one who will follow up on the project and keep you updated about it while clarifying any queries you have.
Reputable and reliable roofers will make sure that you’re aware of their progress every day and let you know of any potential obstacles they might face along the way. Such information enables you to ask relevant questions about the project, which helps your contractor achieve great results even faster than expected.
Additionally, if communication is good, it will help you be able to respond quickly if something goes wrong after the work has been completed. Your contractor should remain accessible for any further communication that might be required.
Get a Roofing Contractor who Offers a Warranty
Do you know one thing about good contractors? They are always confident in what they do, and they want you to know that they do. That is why the best roofing contractors will offer a warranty for a considerable amount of time. Should any errors arise during the warranty period, the contractor will return to your place, inspect the roof, and decide the best way to deal with the existing errors.
You should look for a contractor who has no issues about offering you a warranty. It’s a sign of confidence and professionalism that will show you how determined they are to do the best job possible and ensure that you don’t need to call them for further assistance.
Choose an Experienced Roofing Contractor
Experience and reliability is the key to success in the roofing industry. You need to look for a contractor who has been working in this field for at least 5 years and is confident of providing you with excellent results. If you’re not sure whether someone is experienced enough, ask them for references and names of people they have already worked with.
Spend time to do your research, check their website, and do some digging around the web before you finally decide on someone to work with. Experience is not the only thing that can contribute to their reliability. Customer service, the quality of materials, and the speed of work are equally important.
Additional Characteristics from a Roofing Contractor to Watch out for
There is no such thing as a standard roofing job. There are always differences between one project and another. This means that your project may require a different timeline and materials from previous ones. A good contractor will ensure that your project is done according to agreed specifications without any delays or extra expenses.
Be wary of contractors who are not open to questions. You should discuss all details before you agree on a contract with anyone, and it’s not necessary for them to know every detail about the job. The key thing is that your contractor takes care of business in an ethical way while staying within budget and ensuring that the project is completed as planned.
A Good Roofing Contractor Will Take Care of Their Workers
You might be tempted to choose someone’s quote because they seem like they do excellent work and charge less than everyone else, but if you take a look at their staff and how they’re treated, you might want to reconsider. A reputable and reliable contractor will make sure that their workers are not only well-paid but also treated with dignity and respect.
A roofing company that cares about its employees will be flexible when it comes to working hours, provide them with good equipment for the job, and maintain a safe work environment at all times. If such signs aren’t present in the company you choose, then perhaps they don’t care so much about providing good roofs for your home either.
Be careful of contractors who treat people poorly or abuse their power by trying to intimidate you into signing a contract immediately without properly explaining details and terms. Don’t let anyone rush you or pressure you into making a decision.
A Good Roofing Contractor Will Listen to You
One of the most important things that a good contractor will do is listen. This doesn’t mean that they will agree with you on everything – it means that they will carefully study your roof, note all problems and concerns, and come back with a solution that works for you rather than them.
They should be happy to answer any questions or discuss their plans regarding your roof repair or replacement in detail before starting work. A contractor who is open to questions and feedback will always give you the best results because they take into account what you think as well as their own expertise.
