When the time comes to replace or repair a leaking roof, most homeowners just want to get the work done as quickly and cheaply as possible. But failing to take the necessary time to find the right contractor can cause the project to take longer and cost more in the long run.
There are a lot of roofing contractors out there, and while many will go above and beyond to ensure that the work is done well and the timeline is respect, not every company offers the same level of commitment, transparency, and service.
If you’re looking for someone who can do the job right and charge a fair price, here are the four things to watch out for. You can use a free roofing calculator to compute the roof’s surface area, the pitch of the roof, the number of rafters or trusses and even the number of sheeting boards you’ll likely need for your project
1. An Established Reputation
All it really takes to set up a roofing company is a truck, a nail gun, and a crew of laborers, and while there are small firms out there that do exceptional work, it’s always safer to go with a company that has been in business for a long time and has a proven track record of doing good work.
Family businesses that have an established reputation will have an added incentive to deliver high quality service and maintain good relationships with their customers, so look for a roofing company with years of experience serving your community.
2. Local Expertise
A resilient roof is a roof that can handle the specific weather conditions of the local environment, and the requirements of a roof in South Florida are different from those in a temperate city like Toronto. This means that if you live in Toronto, Toronto roofers will be best suited to installing a roof that will stand up to everything from lake effect snow to frozen rain.
3. Transparency in Pricing
One of the major concerns when hiring a contractor for an expensive job like roofing is pricing. A new roof typically costs between $3.50 and $5.50 per square foot, which includes materials and labor.
Unfortunately, an unscrupulous contractor may inflate the final price tag, so be sure to ask any company you are thinking of doing business with to provide an itemized list of expenses so you know exactly where the money is going.
4. A Comprehensive Warranty
When having a new roof installed, you will typically get two warranties: one for the materials, based on the manufacturer’s guarantee and one for the work itself. A comprehensive warranty for the labor is a good sign that the contractor stands by their craftsmanship and will take care of any problems that may arise after the installation is complete.
Homeowners who don’t have a lot of experience with the trades often find it intimidating to hire contractors for maintenance and repair work. Re-roofing a house is expensive, and if you don’t know anything about how the work is supposed to be done, you need to be able to trust the people you are working with.
Re-roofing your home is a big project, and it’s important to ensure that the work gets done right the first time. Looking for a family-run business with a presence in the community who is forthright about pricing and provides a good warranty for the labor is the best way to ensure your new roof installation doesn’t turn into a renovation nightmare.
