Getting a professional roofer on board may prevent you from running into expensive surprises during your repair or replacement project, but finding the right contractor can be difficult because of the differing levels of expertise among them.
Start by asking friends and neighbors for recommendations. You might also want to find out if the roofer offers free estimates.
License
Roofers must be licensed before they can work on roofs legally. Any reputable contractor should be able to give you their license number and expiration date, which will help ensure that you don’t hire an untrustworthy provider.
Professional roofers are trained and experienced in working safely to meet industry standards for homeowners. When looking for one, make sure they have liability insurance so that if someone is hurt while they’re fixing or replacing your roof, neither of you will have to pay for it.
Be careful with any contractor who refuses to show proof of insurance or workers’ comp; this could mean that they don’t have these things at all! Another warning sign is if a roofer tells you to apply for permits yourself – any good roofing company would do it as part of their usual service and save time as well as money in fines for working without permission.
Insurance
Roofing contractors need different types of business insurance policies including workers’ compensation coverage which is taken to cover employees. Workers’ compensation ensures that the worker’s medical bills are cleared as well as some percentage of their lost wages given back while protecting homeowners from being sued by injured workers.
You should also check whether a roofing contractor has general liability insurance. This policy protects against property damage caused by poor workmanship during repairs or replacements and should cover accidents on site, damages related to faulty workmanship as well as other forms of property loss. Make sure you see copies before signing anything or hiring anyone new.
Beware if they require permits; this could mean they’re not licensed and it’s a scam. Also, if their website doesn’t look fresh or they have an old address listed – these are red flags too.
Experience
Professional roofers go through extensive training on roofing techniques, materials and safety measures. They also have a wide knowledge base about different types of roofs and what each one requires, which enables them to work faster yet still deliver superior quality workmanship.
Be cautious of any roofer who asks you to handle permit applications yourself; this is usually a sign that they aren’t licensed and may be running an illegitimate business.
Roofing professionals are typically down-to-earth people who prefer hands-on, physical and athletic tasks. If this describes you, take our free career test now to find out if roofing could be your calling!