A roof repair and replacement project isn’t something you should attempt to do on your own. To properly accomplish a roofing project, you need the correct tools, safety equipment and training in order for your roof to perform at optimal levels. After all, a roof is an important investment that protects you and your home from the elements. Working on a roof on your own can be dangerous, and could even lead to your roof being damaged if you mishandle it. In turn, this often leads to more expensive repairs than would be necessary if you had contacted a reliable roofer in the first place.
Whenever undertaking a roofing project, you should enlist the services of a certified roofing specialist to ensure that your roofing project is successful. However, with all of the roofing companies and contractors out there, how can you distinguish a good one from a subpar one? In this post, Hoover Contracting Inc, the leading roofing company in your area, shares the essential questions you need to ask your roofer when vetting them for future roofing projects.
Are you licensed and insured?
This is the first and most important question you should ask a potential roofing contractor. You’ll want to visit a business with a physical address to see if they possess compliant roofing licenses according to your state. Keep in mind that roofing licensing requirements can vary from state to state, so it doesn’t hurt to double=check each state’s stipulations.
Compliance aside, you have to make sure that the license is still valid and that they don’t have any past convictions. Also, don’t forget to verify if the company has general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. This ensures that your property and those working on it are covered and remain safe. It also protects you against injury.
How long have you been in business?
Another important question to ask your local roof inspection and repair contractor is how long they’ve been in business. The longer a roofing company has been in business, the more experience they’re likely to have. While all roofing companies had to start somewhere, a big roofing project isn’t something you should entrust to a neophyte roofer; rather, it should be left in the hands of an experienced contractor.
You can choose to trust budding roofing companies when it comes to light work such as inspections or minor repairs. When vetting a roofing company, you should also try to find out if they have a portfolio of their previous projects. It’s especially helpful if they’re a local roofing company because you’ll get the opportunity to see some of their completed projects firsthand. After all, looking at photos or watching videos on the internet can never beat seeing things in person. This is also a great opportunity to ask the homeowners about their experience with the contractor and if they’re worth hiring.
Will you secure my property?
It goes without saying that doing a good job is the utmost priority on any roofing project. However, it gives the homeowner peace of mind when the roofing contractor takes measures to secure the homeowner’s property whenever a roof repair or replacement project takes place as well. That’s why you have to ask pertinent questions on how the important steps of the process will be secured.
For instance, how will they get on and off the roof? Using stabilizers can put a load of stress on your gutters, ruining them and damaging the roof. Since most roofing contractors will be hauling heavy gear around your lawn to move tools to the project area, your greenery could also get damaged when tools are lost or dropped. You have to ask how they’ll protect your home against these measures, and having a company that has a definite answer to what they would do in these situations is a good sign. This is especially important if you’ve heavily invested in your home’s exterior as well.
If the roofing contractor can’t provide a straight answer to your queries, they might not be experienced enough to tackle the roofing project, or they may just lack the foresight to take care of their customers’ property whenever they’re working on a job. If this seems to be the case, move on and look for another roofer that’s capable of protecting your home while getting the job done right.
What are you going to do to my roof?
If you’ve called up a roofing company and requested a repair job, you obviously know that something is wrong with your roof. When they’re on-site, you have the right to know exactly what they’re going to do to remedy the situation. Even if you have limited knowledge about roofing, a capable roofer will do their best to explain the issue with your roof and the kind of repairs they’re going to do in the simplest way they can. In addition to helping you understand it, knowing what’s going on with your roof will grant you peace of mind.
How dong will the job take?
Understanding how long a roofing repair or replacement usually takes will help you better understand future roofing jobs The amount of time it takes to complete the job will vary depending on the damage, roof size, material and weather. A simple fix won’t take as long as a full-blown replacement job; however, capable roofers are generally very busy. This means that they’re also working on roofing projects other than yours, so keep this in mind when waiting for their response. Just remember that it’s better for the job to be done slowly but surely than for it to be done quickly in a slipshod manner.
If you’re in need of a quality roof inspection and repairs, look no further than Hoover Contracting Inc! We’re a top-class residential and commercial roofing contractor ready to serve you. We’re also a GAF Certified® Roofer that offers the best roofing materials on the market. Call us at (217) 213-5122 or fill out our contact form to get in touch with us today.