Ask an Expert: Things to Ask When Getting Roofing Quotes

Roofing jobs cost a substantial amount of money – we’re talking thousands of dollars. With so much money on the line, you need to make sure the Toronto roofing company you’re working with is both skilled and trustworthy. That’s why we’ve put together these 10 things to ask when getting roofing quotes, so you can ensure you’re getting the best price possible without sacrificing quality. 

For simplicity’s sake, we’ve split this up into general questions to ask a roofer, then more specific things to ask when getting roofing quotes. 

5 General Questions to Ask Your Roofer

These are five questions to ask a roofer before hiring. With these roofings questions and answers, you’ll be much more confident when determining if this is the right roofing company in Toronto for you.

1. How Long Have You Been in Business? 

Nothing speaks to a roofing company’s reliability like longevity. In this business, quality lasts and shoddy workmanship is quickly discovered and replaced. The same goes for shoddy businesses. If the Toronto roofer you’re meeting with has been in the business for a number of years (the more, the better) that simply means that they’ve been delivering quality roofing work long enough to stick around in a highly competitive industry. 

2. Is Your Business Local?

Roofing jobs can take a lot of twists and turns you don’t expect. Your Toronto roofing contractor may be working on one thing, only to discover another issue that wasn’t apparent upon first inspection, for instance. The last thing you want is to work with a roofing contractor in Toronto that isn’t really a roofing contractor in Toronto – actually, their home office is in Peterborough. The farther away they are, the more difficult it can be to bring them back in to fix something, take a second look, or bring in the necessary material needed to complete any additional work. 

3. Can I See Examples of Your Previous Work?

Good roofers have pride in their work; they should be able to readily supply photos and other examples of recent work they’ve completed. While past success isn’t always indicative of future success, it certainly helps to know that the contractors you’re working with are skilled, experienced, and can complete a job. 

4. Can You Ensure Your Workers Will Be Safe? 

Unfortunately, lots of roofing companies in Toronto operate with less-than-adequate safety procedures in place. This can lead to accidents to their workers. In addition to the horror of the injuries inflicted to the workers themselves (roofers have one of the highest fatality rates in construction, making safety precautions critical), this can cause chaos to your project, as well lead to potential litigation. Ensuring your roofers in Toronto take every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of their workers is simply a good idea all around. 

5. Can You Ensure My Family Will Be Safe? 

Roofing jobs involve lots of heavy tools being used several metres above the ground (not to mention people); a single oversight can be devastating. The good news is that if the roofing contractor takes the necessary precautions, there’s nothing to worry about. Building on that all-important experience we mentioned earlier, if they’ve been doing this long enough, your contractors should know how to keep you and your family safe while getting the job done. 

5 Questions to Ask When Getting a Roof Estimate

Now that we’ve got some general roofing questions and answers out of the way, it’s time to talk dollars: how much is this going to cost? These are questions to ask a roofer before hiring but after you’ve received the quote. 

The following 5 are important questions to ask your roofer once they’ve given you a price, in other words, to ensure that they are worth the spend. 

1. Do You Include Warranties? 

As mentioned above, roofing jobs can take unexpected turns. One of the ways to account for these uncertainties is through warranties. Your roofing company should be confident in their work and back up their confidence with contractual warranties. That way, you can guarantee that the job will be completed to your satisfaction. 

2. How Long Will the Job Take (Estimate)? 

No roofer can ever 100% guarantee that a job will be done at this exact date and time. That said, they should be able to give a fairly accurate estimate of the time it will take to complete the job (barring anything totally unforeseen cropping up like a particularly powerful storm, for instance). 

3. Can You Show Proof of Licensing, Certification, Insurance, Workers Comp Coverage? 

All of the above are just simple and easy ways to verify that your contractors are responsible and able to protect you and their workers in the event of an accident. They should be able to also show certification by shingle manufacturers (not necessary but nice to have) as well as proof of licensing so you know everything is on the up and up. 

4. How Much Can the Price Change?

One of the most important questions to ask when hiring a roofing company is how confident they are in their estimate. If they say that the estimates are subject to large changes, that could be a bad sign. ‘Could be’ because some jobs simply do have more moving parts and potential for fluctuations. That said, most jobs should come out to a similar price to the estimate, barring unforeseen circumstances (similar to the time estimate). 

5. Who Can I Talk to If There’s a Problem?

This is important – there’s a lot of money involved and your home or business’s roof; you deserve to have someone you can go to with your questions and concerns. And your roofing company should be able to give you a name, number, email address, and availability – it’s the least they can do to give you peace of mind. 

Roofing Questions to Ask – Answered. Now It’s Time to Find a Trustworthy Roofing Company in Toronto

You know what roofing questions to ask before committing to a contractor. Now it’s time to identify the best roofers in Toronto. That’s easy: it’s Dominion Roofing. 

With over 100 years of experience helping millions of residents of the GTA get roof repairs or install new roofs, as well as helping businesses with flat roofing services, Dominion Roofers is a contractor in Toronto you can trust. 

Get a quote today or give us a call at 416-789-0601. You can also email us at info@dominionroofing.com. We’re here to handle all your roofing service needs.