Guide To Home Improvement - Hiring a Roofing Contractor

Finding a qualified roofing company may take some homework, but it will be worth the effort. Not all roofing contractors charge competitive rates, but with a downturn in the housing market, many companies are hungry for customers. The lowest bidding contractor, however, may not provide the best quality work or offer an ongoing commitment to service. A rule of thumb is to get at least five bids before you leap.

The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that you:

Ask roofing contractors for a verifiable tax ID and business address
Call previous customers and ask about the quality of work performed by your prospective contractor
Investigate whether the contractor is bonded and licensed
Call the local Better Business Bureau for a list of complaints against local roofing contractors
Inspect the small print on all bids, estimates, and warrantees with care

Reputation Is Everything in Roofing

No potential, reliable roofing company should be skittish about sharing a list of prior customers, proof of licensing, and written evidence of insurance (liability and worker's comp), bonding, and membership to professional associations. Some may even share financial records. You can also write or call the state contractors' licensing bureau for information about your prospects. Be sure dates on all pertinent documents are current.

Since referrals will be your main source of verifying quality, ask for contact numbers and call (or visit) prior customers. You'll want to know about whether your potential roofing company met all terms, delivering the completed project on time and within the estimated budget. If there were time or materials overruns, ask for a complete explanation. If work was unsatisfactory, how did the company make it right--and how long did it take?

Ask your prospective companies about roofing warranties. How long do the warranties run, and do the companies have a list of clients dating back several years so you can track performance? If a roof failed before the warranty expired, did the company own up to the terms promptly?

Ask how long the company has been in business. If they have pending or outstanding litigation, do they plan on doing the entire work or farming it out to sub-contractors? Do they handle all necessary permit work? Do they accept checks, credit cards, bank drafts?

Last, ask about payment terms. Expect evenly spaced installments according to performance and completion. If you're asked to pay more than 10 percent up-front, keep shopping.

Source:
National Roofing Contractors Association

About the Author
Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.