Homeowner Tips to Finding a Reputable Roofer

19 February, 2023

CONTRACTOR IN HOUSTON

The average residential roof needs replacement about every 30 years. The advantage? Most homeowners spend money on a new roof maybe 2-3 times during their lifetimes. And that’s good news, since roof replacement is one of the most expensive home improvement projects. The disadvantage? We lack experience in finding a reputable roofer we trust to correctly fix or replace our home’s roof.

So how exactly do we homeowners find a reputable roofer for our homes?

Guide to Finding a Reputable Roofer

1. Stay Local

Hire a home roofing contractor with a local presence. Confirm they have an established, brick-and-mortar business nearby. A physical mailing address is good, a Post Office (P.O.) Box is a huge red flag.

Why is a local presence important? If you have a problem with your roof in 5 or 10 years (especially if your roof is still under warranty), you want to be able to track down your roofer. And if they are located in a distant city or state, it may be impossible to get them to come to your home and correct any mistakes or issues.

In addition to being able to more easily contact, there are several other reasons to pick a local roofer, such as:

Less chance of potential issues or scams (roofers are looking to maintain a good reputation within their community)

More familiar with local building codes and regulations

Stronger relationship with local material supply companies

Ability for more face-to-face meetings with you and get all your questions answered

2. Research and Verify Roofing Referrals

Getting referrals from friends and neighbors is a tried-and-true method of finding a reputable roofer. Reach out to them and ask – within the past few years, have you replaced your roof?

Word of mouth isn’t the only way to gain a sense of workmanship and reliability. Places to look online for quality referrals, include:

Community social media/ Facebook pages

Contractor review sites, such as Angie’s List or HomeAdvisor.

3. Verify Proper Licensing and Insurance

Any reputable roofing contractor will have insurance for all its employees and subcontractors. Why is that important to you? If the roofer has insufficient insurance and a roofing employee gets injured on your property, YOU could get dragged into a lawsuit.

Doesn’t sound very fun, so protect yourself by ensuring your roofer is fully insured.

Ask your contractor for certificates for these two types of insurance:

Worker’s Compensation

General Liability

Check the certificate for the limits (i.e. dollar amount insured). Most contractors should have at least $1million limit (or higher) each in both types of insurance.

4. Educate Yourself

As with all components of your house (i.e. heating, cooling, electrical, plumbing, etc…), a responsible homeowner should know the basics of how their homes work. And that includes your roofing system. I know, I know, that might sound boring, but #adulting.

By understanding the basics of a roofing system, you have better odds on separating out the quality, trustworthy roofers from the, well, let’s call them the less ingenuous roofers.

5. Demand Written Proposals

When looking for a contractor to replace or repair your roof, require a written estimate. HUGE red flag if the roofer doesn’t provide a proposal unless in writing. It’s a simple as that.

No written estimate? Then cross that contractor off the list. (FYI – As a rule of thumb, get at least 3 written estimates.)

Note that roofers usually provide a written estimate or quote, but some provide “bids”. What’s the difference? An estimate is the roofer’s best guess on what a job will cost (the final cost could be lower or higher), while a bid is a fixed amount to complete the job.

6. Confirm Roofing Warranties

New roofs are a substantial investment. And they are meant to last. But sometimes they don’t. A new roof should come with a written, comprehensive warranty that spells out exactly who is paying the bill if your roof starts leaking 2 years after being installed.

Reliable, reputable roofers will disclose what type of warranties accompany their written estimate of job cost. And they also should willing to discuss situations where past customers ran into a problem and needed to trigger their warranties. And what the roofer did to fix the situation.

7. Price Isn’t Everything

You get what you pay for. It’s as simple as that. Shop solely on price, and you’ll probably regret it. Be prepared for a leaky roof and a contractor who won’t stand by his warranty. Which forces you to spend more money to fix a leaking or subpar roof.

In the long run, isn’t finding a reputable roofer that may cost a few more dollars now worth peace of mind that you will give you a comprehensive system that will last for decades.

🔨Let us find the solution that works best for you and your roofing needs.

Source: everydayoldhous

Portton Construction Inc: We are a General Contractor in Houston and surrounding areas. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, we provide general contractor needs for all domestic markets. In need of a home makeover? Look no further! We provide services in all areas of home remodeling.

Contractor Service in Houston

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