Is your roof leaking? Is there any irreparable damage to the roof that requires replacement? Well, there are many situations where a roofing contractor comes in handy. Before you hire one though, make sure that you are choosing the right person for the job by asking these questions.

Is the company licensed?

Whenever you’re doing your research on the best companies to fix your roof, you need to take a closer look at the company and its dynamic. The company needs to be licensed and insured. You don’t want to go for a company that’s not licensed because it screams “sketchy”.

A good roofing company will have all of the proper licenses needed to work and it gives you peace of mind as a customer. So, whenever you’re seeing different companies, make sure to ask the contractor about the history of the company and whether they are even licensed to work or not, because it’s an important thing to check off your mental to-do list during the finalization process.

Are you an independent contractor?

There are different workers you can hire for your roof work. You can either go for an independent contractor that’s experienced or you can go for a roofing company that has a bunch of workers under its umbrella. Now, the choice is ultimately up to you as to which option you want to go for.

Independent contractors are cheaper because they don’t charge a company overhead fee and they can also get the work done quickly, but you need to be careful when you’re looking for an independent contractor because scams are always out there and you can get duped any minute. This is why people tend to go for contracting companies because they’re more responsible and legit and they’re very easy to reach out too.

So, before you hire a roofing contractor, this is also an important question to ask because it’s going to set the tone for how the rest of the work is going to go.

Do you have the experience?

Experience is a really important factor to consider as well when you’re looking for the right person for the job. Experience shows that the company or contractor is legit and that they have dealt with a lot of roof repairs and replacements in their career, so it will be a breeze working with them. Don’t shy away when asking questions. You’re the customer and you’re going to be paying them, so it’s your right to ask about all of the experiences they have had so that you can ensure that the work is going to be spotless.

Ask about the places where the contractor has worked what were the problems and how they dealt with them. You should also ask if they have experience repairing the type of roof you have. Similarly, ask them if they have installed the type of roofing material you want. For instance, a slate roof can’t be installed by every contractor so asking the contractor this question is critical.

Can you provide reviews of previous work?

If the contractor or a roofing company doesn’t have a website where you can see the previous work, then don’t be shy to ask them directly about it. A lot of the time, contractors will make a review log where they have all of their work mentioned in real-time. It’s kind of like a portfolio that they can use to give their potential clients an idea about their work and what they’ve done so far. You can ask for that log and that’s going to give you an insight into the work the contractor does.

This is a great thing to do before hiring a contractor because you can get a glimpse of the work and decide whether you want to go for this specific company/contractor or not. You can also look at the feedback provided by previous clients and that will also highlight the behavior, work ethic, and efficiency of the contractor.

Do you have safety insurance?

As much as you might hate them, accidents can occur out of the blue. What you don’t want is the contractor not being insured to handle the damage. Since they are going to be working with roofs and ceilings, things might fall or break. That’s just everyday contractor life, but it’s stupid to hire a contractor that isn’t insured because major collapses or accidents can happen.

Before even talking about your roof, you want to ensure that the contractor has safety insurance just in case. This will put you in safe waters.

Will you give an estimate?

Many times, and this is especially targeted for those people who have never hired a contractor before in their life, you can set a deal with a contractor, but not get an estimate until the project is done. This is not a smart move. You don’t know whether this contractor and the work is even in your budget or not. You can’t just blindly agree to work with a contractor before you have an estimate.

This is why it’s important to get down to the finances before the project even begins. This is going to ensure that the project is within budget and that you can afford it.

How long will the roof work take?

Since this is your roof and the primary work will be on it, it’s not safe or advisable to live in the space while the work is being done. However, you still need a time frame on how things are going to flow and in how much time will the work wrap up. This is where this question will help you out.

You want to ask the contractor you’re hiring to give you an estimated time frame in which the work will be complete. Usually, it takes a week or so for the roof to be completely replaced, but every roof is different and it might take more or less time. So, having an idea of the schedule is a good thing.

Will the roof be inspected beforehand?

Another crucial thing to ask the contractor before hiring is the fact that whether the roof will be inspected or will it be torn down immediately. A lot of the time, roofs can be salvaged but you can’t be certain until you get them inspected.

Usually, contractors will propose an inspection before they get down to tearing it apart and if they don’t, then you can request one to be done.

What materials will be the best?

You want to ask the contractor about the best roofing material for your house. Contractors usually have a good idea as to which roofing material is better to choose looking at what you want. Some want durability regardless of the price tag associated with the material while others prefer cost-effectiveness.

If you are stumped for options, then asking the contractor is a great thing because they can give you a detailed insight on different materials and which one is best suited for your needs and the weather conditions in your region.

Conclusion

These questions and their answers will give you a good idea about roofing companies Tallmadge you will interview. Once you hire the right contractor, you can rest assured that your roof repair or replacement will be done responsibly and the contractor will stand behind their work.