What to Look for Before Hiring Residential Roofers

Have you noticed shingles coming off or disappearing from your home’s roof? Are you considering replacing your roof? Fortunately, there are many roofing contractors in the market today. But some are highly experienced and very professional when dealing with a client, while others only provide subpar roofing services. When comparing residential roofers, there are many things you should consider before hiring one.

Below are essential things you should look for before hiring a residential roofer to handle your roof replacement project:

Check Their License and Insurance

Different states have different requirements for roofers. Some states, such as Illinois and Tennessee, require roofing contractors to have a license if they are in business. However, others such as Texas may not require roofing licenses.

Check with your state’s requirements and ensure that the contractor you hire has the proper licensing requirements.

Additionally, every roofer should always have liability insurance. Home improvement projects don’t always go smoothly. Sometimes accidents, injuries, and damages may occur during the construction. This is why it is recommended for homeowners to hire contractors that are licensed and insured.

For example, if someone was injured in an accident that happened during the roof installation on your property, then you could be liable for their compensation and damages. To avoid this, ensure you don’t just go for the cheapest contractor. Hire one with experience, a good reputation, and knowledge about the roofing industry.

Also, check their certificate of insurance to make sure that the company name and address appear there. This will protect your finances, helping you avoid the financial consequences if something happens at the job again. If you are in doubt, call the insurance company to make sure that the coverage is up-to-date.

Check Their Online Reviews and References

When looking for a reputable residential roofing contractor, you will likely have friends, family members, and neighbors who have replaced their roofs in the past few years.

The first step should be to ask them for recommendations from different roofing contractors. You can list down the name and contact information of the roofing companies and check their websites online.

Remember to also go through their online customer reviews. Check their websites and other third-party sites for additional reviews.

Below are essential sites you should consider looking at when researching more about the roofing contractor:

• Yelp Listing
• Next-door
• Better Business Bureau profile
• Facebook Profile
• Google My Business listing

Online reviews will help you better understand a company’s customer satisfaction rate. After a job is done, customers tend to go online to express their frustrations or satisfaction with the company’s services.

It’s advisable to stay away from companies with more negative reviews than positive ones. This could only mean one thing; they aren’t as good at delivering services to their customers as they claim to be.

Safety

Safety is one of the most important considerations when hiring a roofing contractor. The project shouldn’t affect your daily routine. Safety should be the number one priority of the roofing contractor you hire.

You don’t want the responsibility of safety weighing you down. The roofing company should ensure that its employees safely conduct themselves. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), all employers are responsible for providing their employees with a safe working environment.

If employers fail to provide a safe working environment for their employees, they could face penalties, fines, and a possibility of a business shutdown. Therefore, ensure that the roofing contractor you hire is compliant with OSHA regulations.

Check Their Communication Skills

The style, quality, and frequency of communication between the contractor and client are crucial. Therefore, ensure you consider their communication skills before hiring a roofing contractor.

According to a 2018 Consumer Federation of America report, roofing contractors are the most complained about when it comes to communication in the home improvement and construction industries.

Pay attention to everything that the company does from the moment you initiate communication. How long did the company take to call you back? During the phone call, did the customer service representative explain to you the next steps clearly? Or did they make you feel rushed to attend to another client?

Did the company make you feel like you are a priority to them? How long did the company take to send you an estimate for your project?

While every roofing company has a different sales process, it’s advisable to go with the company that makes you comfortable. Hire a company with a responsive, respectful, and resourceful team.

Warranties

Purchasing and installing a new roof is not a cheap endeavor. It’s essential to hire a company that offers you a fair warranty to ensure that your home and a new roof will be protected in case of anything.

No matter how expensive the roofing material is, there is always a chance of failure. Therefore, ensure that the manufacturer offers you a warranty when purchasing your roofing materials. Better still, let the roofing company get you the best material based on their connections in the industry.

A warranty is proof of how long your roof will serve your household. Ask the manufacturers what type of damages they cover in the warranty. Your roofing contractors should also have a workmanship warranty.

This means that the contractors are responsible for any issues that may arise after they install the roof. The warranty will protect you from improper installation.

The Best Roofers Near Me: How to Hire the Best Residential Roofers

After checking out the above guide, you should be in a better position to know how to hire the right residential roofers in your area. After going online to search for “Roofers in my area,” ensure you check the above five things.

If you require a roofing checkup or replacement, contact us today at His and Hers Roofing, and our highly experienced team will be ready to serve you. We prioritize excellent customer service and high-quality workmanship for all our customers.