Hiring a professional roof contractor should never be treated so lightly because hiring the wrong one might cause more trouble than their services are worth. Being critical about this matter is important for you to choose a trustworthy group of roof professionals to build or repair your home’s overhead protection.
Question #1: Do you have a license? May I have a copy of it?
The first thing a responsible homeowner should ask a roofing contractor is if they are licensed to do the job. While it may be different for every state, most areas in the United States require contractors to have a license in their respective states before accepting jobs.
However, it is important to note that different states have varying codes, so it is best to do some research on this matter to see which one is applicable to your area. Also, make sure that the contractor you would potentially hire is up to date on their license. This way, you will be able to remove unlicensed contractors from your list of candidates and avoid having to sign a contract with them for your own safety.
Question #2: What insurances do you have?
The second most important thing you should know before hiring a roofing contractor is their insurance coverage. This question, while general, covers two things: the general liability insurance and the workman’s compensation insurance.
General liability insurance serves as your protection against spending for possible damages that the contractor and their workers might incur while working on your roof. Meanwhile, the workman’s compensation insurance covers their employees during cases when injury while they are doing their job on your property.
While different, it is important to remember that both insurances are intended to protect the homeowner from additional expenses in case untoward incidents happen. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so make sure your roofing contractor have both before you sign an agreement with them.
Question #3: What are your physical office address and contact number?
Knowing the physical office address and contact number of a potential roofing contractor is important to determine the legitimacy of the company. According to experts in the field, contractors who work out of a P.O. box address is considered a red flag because it might mean that the company might not be local.
Apparently, contractors travel from place to place— especially to areas that were hit by hurricanes and other devastating natural disasters— to scout for more jobs. While this may not be a good thing at first, hiring a roofing contractor that is not from your locality might make it difficult for you to contact them later if there is any problem with the structure they worked on.
Question #4: How long have you been in the industry?
A homeowner determining the experience of a roofing contractor in the industry is almost the same as an employer asking the employee before hiring him. Through this, the employer would be able to know how skilled the person they are hiring for a specific job. Based on specialists in the field, it is important to hire someone who has “seen it all,” so that they would
be able to properly deal with the damages on your roof as well as other circumstances that may come to pass in the duration of your contract.
Question #5: How do you intend to fix my roof?
A good roofing contractor should be able to provide a detailed proposal to the homeowner seeking their services. This way, you would be able to see the things they are planning to do to your roof and your home and contest anything that you do not like. It would also show you how thorough the contractor is with details that can be significant to the success of your home renovation or repair.