Roof Replacement – 4 Steps to Take When Hiring a Roofing Contractor
As a home or business owner, you know that roof replacement is no laughing matter. Replacing your roof is a serious undertaking in terms of time and money– and should be treated as such. Sure you want the job done quickly, but if you make the mistake of hastily hiring an incompetent roofing contractor, it will likely cost you dearly.
If you are considering replacing the roof on your home or business facility, there are a few proven steps you should take before hiring a roofing contractor. Failure to follow these steps could result in lots of future headaches.
Step 1 – Don’t just pick the first guy you find in the phone book. Perform your search carefully. Find local consumer feedback on roof replacement contractors through trusted sources such as Angie’s List or the Better Business Bureau. These resources will inform you as to whether formal complaints have been lodged against a contractor. They will also let you know if they have a spotty service reputation with previous clients. Remember, if previous clients weren’t happy with the contractor’s service, odds are you won’t be either. And if the roof replacement contractor isn’t registered with the Better Business Bureau, don’t even give them another thought. Take your business elsewhere.
Step 2 – Once you have a list of 2 or 3 potential contractors that have passed the first test, it’s time to interview each of them. When interviewing, ask about:
? their area of specialty
? how many years they have been in business
? certifications
? guarantee of quality work
You’ll also want to get a detailed itemized estimate of the work to be done. Carefully analyze each estimate. Look at the prices based on comparable materials, warranty periods and such.
Remember, you always get what you pay for. Don’t get so hung up on price that you just search for the cheapest guy off the side of the road. Anyone can quote the cheapest prices. But few can provide quality work. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean the highest price offers the highest quality either. Be smart and carefully weigh all your options.
Step 3 – Regional weather and climate considerations should always come into play in roof replacement. These issues affect not only the materials used, but also state law regulating roofing contractors. For example, in the Texas Gulf Coast area, roof replacement must pass windstorm inspection in order to obtain a windstorm certificate. If a roof doesn’t pass this inspection, the home can’t be insured. Since Hurricane Ike, many home and business owners have had to obtain re-roofing jobs because they originally hired contractors whose work did not pass windstorm certification. Think of the time and money wasted!
Step 4 – Make sure that you schedule your roof replacement job with the contractor’s main office supervisor. This ensures that an agreed upon timeline is in place, which in turn guarantees that the job will be completed on time and as ordered. Both parties will be on the same page and you’ll be on your way to having a new roof.
Remember, roof replacement is a big deal. Your roof is your home’s first line of defense. When you hire a roofing contractor, be careful to do your homework.
Find Roofing Contractor Houston and Roof Replacement Houston at BayAreaRoofersInc.Com
By Nathan Riley
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Riley
