6 Things Homeowners Need to Do to Hire the Ideal Roofer

When you are experiencing a problem with your roof, don’t delay acting on it. After all, your roof is one of the most important parts of your home, and you wouldn’t want it to fall into further disrepair.

If you’re lucky, your roofing problem will only require some repairs. However, in some cases, roof replacement is the most suitable option.

For the best results, leaving the repair or replacement job in the hands of professional roofing contractors is pretty much your only choice.

However, it’s not that easy to find the right roofer for your roof, as there are several things you need to do and consider before deciding who to hire.

How do you find the ideal roofing contractor? Here are some tips to help you out.

1. Make Sure The Roofer Has Insurance

It could never be stated enough how important it is to ask about roofing insurance coverage when hiring a roofer.

Keep in mind that roofing is one of the most dangerous professions in the world. One wrong move and the roof workers could cause third-party personal injury or property damage.

With proper contractors insurance coverage, a roofer can take responsibility for accidents on the worksite, leaving you free of any liability.

Never hire an uninsured roofing contractor because you could end up being liable for anything untoward that may occur while they’re working on your roof.

If the roofing contractor you’re interviewing for the job says their company has insurance coverage, don’t hesitate to ask to see a copy of the Certificate of Insurance. You can also verify that the contractor has insurance by asking for the name of their insurer and checking with them.

2. Choose Local Roofing Contractors

Hiring a local roofing contractor has a lot of things going for it.
For one, local roofers know the climate of the area very well and therefore know which types of roofing materials are the best for it.
For another, familiarity with local building codes makes local roofing contractors less likely to commit violations that could end up inconvenient and costly for you.
It’s also easier to make roofers honor any warranty they offer for their work when they live in the same community.

3. Inquire About Warranties

If you’re going for a roof replacement, make sure that the materials and the installation come with a warranty.
That warranty should be clear and comprehensive, and that you should be familiar with all its terms and conditions to ensure that it will come through when the need arises.

4. Don’t Fall Victim To “Storm Chasers”

There are legitimate roofing companies, and there are so-called “storm chasers.”
Storm chasers are supposed roofing contractors who prey on homeowners recently hit by bad weather. They will knock on your door and offer to inspect your roof, often at no cost to you.
An offer for an affordable repair job will then follow. If you bite, then they will most likely perform a haphazard job on your roof, and you’ll only find out about it when the roof starts presenting problems again soon.
By the time that happens, these storm chasers will be in another city claiming more victims.
The best way to steer clear of a storm chaser is to make sure that the roofing company is licensed to operate as a roofing contractor in your state. You can ask to see a copy of the license, which you can then verify with the appropriate agencies.

5. Seek References

When interviewing potential roofing contractors, asking for references should be high on your list. That way, you’d be able to know if they come highly recommended by past clients or not.

6. Ask Friends and Family For Referrals

Recommendations from random references provided by potential contractors are good, but what could be a better and more reliable source of information roofers than friends and family who had work done on their roof recently?
You can count on loved ones to recommend the roofer they worked with if they’re satisfied with the outcome. If they aren’t, then you can expect an honest opinion from them to dissuade you from ever hiring said roofing contractor.
Hiring roofing contractors can be tricky, but as long as you know what to ask and look for in your candidates, you should be able to choose the ideal roofer for your needs.