Whether you need to install a new roof or perform seasonal maintenance, hiring a reputable roofing company that provides top-rated products and excellent service is the most critical part of achieving a high-performance and long-lasting roofing system. Knowing what questions to ask during the initial consultation can save you money, time and a whole lot of problems down the road.
Today, we talk about the 10 essential questions to ask your roofer before signing on the dotted line. 1. What is your company name and physical address? A credible roofing company should have a company name and physical address that you can look up on the internet. If the company you are considering is using a P.O. box, ask for its physical location. If the company is not able to provide an address where the business is located and operating, consider it a red flag. As an additional measure, take the name and address of the company, and plug it into the Better Business Bureau website and other online databases. 2. Are you licensed to do roofing work? While all states have different requirements when it comes to licensing, most states require roofing companies to be licensed to operate their business. Roofers should be licensed in the state and city where the work is performed. Check with your local licensing office to confirm your roofer's license and make sure it is up-to-date and free of outstanding violations. Remember, a business license is for tax purposes and identifies the roofing company. It is not the same as a roofing license. 3. Can you tell me about your insurance? Work with a roofing company that carries workers' compensation and liability insurance so that you, the property owner, can be protected in the event of an accident. Workers' compensation is a government-mandated program that provides cash benefits and healthcare coverage to workers who become injured or ill on the job. Meanwhile, liability insurance provides protection from damage caused by roofers during the roofing work. For your peace of mind, ask for proof of insurance from your roofing company before any repair or installation takes place. 4. Do you offer warranties? Ideally, you want to work with roofers who offer strong warranties that back up the quality of their roofing work for a specified period. Most roof warranties last for a year, though some roofers provide longer warranties. Materials used on the roof are usually covered by the manufacturer, and the roofer covers the labor involved. These warranties are two separate things, so make sure to inquire about the coverage and length of each warranty before you proceed with roof repair or replacement job. If you decide to purchase an extended warranty, however, it will likely add to the overall cost of your estimate. 5. Do you use subcontractors? It is not uncommon for roofing contractors to outsource parts of the roofing work to a qualified team of subcontractors. If this is the case, do not forget to ask the subcontractors the same questions, especially regarding their license and insurance coverage. Subcontractors are typically covered by their own insurance that is separate from the contractor's insurance. Finally, a reputable company should be able to explain to you the scope of work that will be delegated to subcontractors and the rationale behind it. 6. How long have you been in business? One way to tell if the roofing company you are considering is able to provide excellent work at a reasonable price is to inquire about their history. A company that has an established reputation within the local community and has stayed in business for decades will have plenty of customer references to send to you and a series of completed roof repair and replacement projects for you to peruse. 7. Will there be someone on-site to oversee the project? Once your roofing project begins, the contractor should have someone on-site to oversee the work and attend to questions and concerns you may have during the repair or replacement. It is definitely easier to keep track of the work being performed on your property when there is a project manager to communicate with. 8. How will you protect my lawn during the project? In addition to safety measures, ask your roofing contractors what protective measures they will take to ensure your lawn and landscaping do not receive a beating while they're working on your roof. Some roofers establish foot traffic patterns, for example, so the crew does not accidentally cause ruts in your backyard. Others make it mandatory to place heavy-duty equipment on the sidewalk and not the grass. You should also ask about how they will ensure that the debris that falls off the roof will not cause workplace accidents. Many roofing contractors utilize magnetic sweepers to pick up stray nails around the property. 9. How will you take care of refuse material? After a successful roofing project, the last thing you want is to deal with piles of old, discarded materials on your lawn. Make sure you ask your roofers about their plan of action regarding roof-related debris. If they have no intention to dispose of refuse material properly, you may move on to the next roofer on your list. Most times, a qualified contractor will bring along a container or rental dumpster for damaged materials, packaging debris and other things that need to be thrown away after the roofing project. 10. How long will the project take? Finally, you want to ask how long the actual repair or replacement will take. Replacing a few buckled shingles here and there is a relatively short project while a full-on replacement is a more extensive ordeal that needs a longer time to complete. Call Us for All Your Roofing Needs! Trusted roofing contractors like A1 Quality Roofing, Inc. install energy-efficient and long-lasting roofing systems for homes and businesses in California. Our team also specializes in re-roofing, repairing storm damage and maintaining roofs. To schedule an appointment or request a no-obligation quote, give us a call at (951) 877-4406, or fill out our convenient online form.