How to Choose a Local Roofing Company

The roof is one of the most important components of your house and cutting corners when comes the time to work with a contractor could have disastrous repercussions. Your roof might not pass inspections, you could end up with an incomplete or poorly performed roof job, or even end up facing legal action as a result. Not to mention the money you’ll have to pay to hire another contractor if the job wasn’t done right in the first place. However, there are some things that you can do as a business owner to make sure that you work with a reputable company and get your money’s worth. Here are a few tips any business owner can follow to find the perfect roofing company.

Make Sure they have the Proper Coverage

The first thing you should do is making sure that the contractor you’re thinking of working with has the proper coverage. A lot of people may assume that insurance is essential to protect them against damage to their property caused by the contractor, but few actually know that they could be held responsible for some of the contractor’s mistakes.

For instance, if someone is injured on your premises due to some action by the contractor and the contractor isn’t insured, you might end up being the one footing the bill. You could even get prosecuted by one of the contractor’s employees if they end up being injured as well.

This is why it’s essential that you check if they have the proper insurance coverage. Make sure that they have workers compensation insurance and contractors general liability insurance at the very least. Workers compensation insurance will protect you and their employees in case one of them gets hurt and general liability insurance will protect you and your property from any damage. It will also protect you from legal repercussions in case a third-party gets injured.

However, don’t simply take their word at face value. Make sure that you ask to see certificates and contact their insurance carrier directly to see if they’re actually covered.

Make Sure that they’re Local

Some roofing companies will cover a wide area but won’t necessarily be based in your community. It’s always essential that you go with a company that’s local if you want to facilitate the follow-up process. Sure, a warranty is always nice, but if you can’t get in touch with your contractor, it won’t be any good. Going for a roofing company that has been in your community for a while will also make it much easier when looking for referrals.

You should also beware of any company that goes door-to-door. You never know if you’ll ever see these contractors again, so make sure that you work with contractors with an actual office and address and steer clear of storm chasers at all costs.

Don’t Make Price your Main Priority

A new roof is simply not somewhere where you can afford to be stingy. Quality is absolutely essential for a component as important as a roof and going for quality will end up paying you back in spades later on.

It’s not uncommon for roofs to last well over 20 years these days and paying a few more bucks for top of the line materials will allow you to save in the long run. Not only that, but a long-lasting roofing job will significantly increase the value of your home as well. You have no idea how much importance savvy owners put on roof condition and knowing that they won’t have to worry about having the roof done for the next few years might be a huge selling point.

While this doesn’t mean you should accept any price, make sure that you pick your contractor based on reputation and expertise first and foremost. The last thing you want is to need to have the job redone by someone else. Gather a shortlist of reputable roofers in your area and get as many bids as possible. And beware of any offer that might look too good to be true. Contractors will often give you unrealistic quotes, only to add additional hidden charges at the end, so be aware of that.

That’s why it’s essential that all the terms of the contract are laid down on paper before you start anything. Every aspect of the job should be clearly written down to protect both the owner and the contractor. And don’t pay until you have inspected everything and made sure that it was done according to the contract.

Conclusion

Finding a good roofing contractor is essential if you want to make sure you remain compliant and get the roofing job you were looking for. Do everything in your power to find a great roofing company if you want everything to be done right the first time and protect yourself from any legal action.