What questions you should ask your roofing contractor?
As with all important services for your home or other property, not all roofing companies are equal. A building’s roofing is very important in the Denver area, and so it is imperative that you interview every roofing contractor you are considering before making the decision to hire him or her.
Here are 15 questions you should always be sure to ask a roofing contractor before hiring them:
1. How many years of experience do you have?
This is the first question you should always ask. Price may certainly be one of your top concerns, but those who charge the least likely don’t have many years of experience in the business.
2. What kind of experience do you have with my specific project?
Roofing contractors have different levels of experience with different types of roofs (tile roofs, asphalt roofs, metal roofs, slate roofs, etc.) and types of repairs. Additionally, some may be better at large-scale projects than others. For example, one roofer may not be able to do a full roof replacement, but they could do an excellent job at patching up leaks.
3. What is your projected time frame for this project?
Always ask the roofing contractor about their work schedule before hiring them. Ask how soon they would be able to start, as well as when they expect to finish. You should also ask what will happen if any delays are experienced, particularly due to inclement weather.
4. Who will be the project supervisor for this job?
Keep in mind that when you contact a roofing company, the contractor you talk to may not be the one on site and in charge of your roof repair project. Get the contact information for the project supervisor, as well as anyone else who may be working on it.
5. What are my options with this problem?
There isn’t always one sole solution to a roof problem. And, sometimes it may be better to go for a full roof replacement than continuing to do repairs. Always ask the roofer what the different options are, as well as what are the pros and cons of each. Even if the roofing contractor is leaning strongly towards one approach, the final decision should be yours (after all, it’s your roof).
6. Do you have any design capabilities?
If you’re interested in roof replacement, or if you’re constructing a new home or building, it is helpful to know whether or not the roofer will be able to help you with the actual design of the roof. If they do not do design, ask them if they have any connections with architects.
7. Are you or any of your employees certified?
Be sure to ask the contractor if they (and any of the employees who may work with them on roofing projects) are fully certified to do roofing work in the Denver area. Be aware that just because a contractor was certified in another state or city doesn’t necessarily mean that their certification carries over to Denver.
8. Are you insured in case there are any accidents?
Accidents do happen sometimes, and when they happen on your property, you can only hope that the injured person has their own insurance. Most reliable contractors do have insurance for these purposes, but you should still ask.
9. Do you do inspections for insurance claims?
Whenever you are planning on submitting an insurance claim for roof repair after snow, hail damage or other destructive incident, your roof will need to be inspected first. Ask the roofing contractor if they are able to inspect your roof for you in order to help you get the insurance pay out you need.
10. Will you help me get the proper permits?
All major construction done on your home needs to have the right permits, and this includes roofing projects. Ask the contractor if they will help pull any permits that may be needed.
11. Will a contract be signed?
Not all roofing contractors require that contracts or any form of written agreement is signed before each project. Nevertheless, having the planned work in writing can put you both at ease, and it can come in handy should any problems arise during the project.
12. What suppliers do you use?
Like contractors, not all roofing supplies are equal. Ask the roofer is they have a list of their suppliers or repair products that they use. Additionally, knowing who the suppliers are ahead of time can help keep you legally protected should the roofing contractor fail to pay them (law suits will sometimes go after the clients who used their materials in addition to the contractors who purchased them).
13. How many of your clients are repeat clients?
Returning clientele is a good sign of a reliable roofing contractor. If the roofer is proud of their repeat numbers, they will be more than happy to share with you the percentage of clients who have come back to them for other repairs.
14. Do you have any references I can see?
Now, you should always look up references for a roofing contractor on outside sources (i.e. websites they do not own, like Yelp and Angie’s List), but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t ask the contractor for any references that they can provide themselves. A reliable, experienced roofer will have them readily available.
15. Have you done work for anybody nearby?
References and return client percentages are great, but it is always helpful if you can talk to someone you know or who lives in the same area. Additionally, roofs in the same neighborhoods are often made of similar materials, so that can indicate that the contractor has more experience on your type of project.