Roof Replacement – 4 Steps to Take When Hiring a Roofing Contractor

Roof Repair - Oct 05,2012 - No Comment

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

http://EzineArticles.com/?Roof-Replacement—4-Steps-to-Take-When-Hiring-a-Roofing-Contractor&id=4612238

Hiring a Roof Repairs Contractor

Roof Repair - Jun 04,2012 - No Comment

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!

For the other tips on hiring a roof replacement contractor, be sure to read the full article here.

By Nathan Riley

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathan_Riley

http://EzineArticles.com/?Roof-Replacement—4-Steps-to-Take-When-Hiring-a-Roofing-Contractor&id=4612238

Matching Your Roofing Shingles Needs To Your Roofing Contractor

Roof Shingles - Apr 27,2012 - No Comment

Ok, so you’ve decided about your roofing solution, and you know how to find a good and reliable roofing contractor. What’s next?

Handing over the project, of course!

So here’s what you do.

Get a roofing estimate. Have it in writing. Detail everything including the material to be used, the company or manufacturer or brand that you will use, any guarantees about labor and details of the work involved.

Is the old roof to be removed? Note it. Does your contractor agree to dispose the old material? Record it. Are guttering and decking included in the job? Mention it.

Be sure to verify references from previous clients, and take special care to see how satisfactory the job completion was. If your contractor has complaints or even law suits against him from previous clients, now is the time you want to know – not after he has wasted your time and money!

Take care to evaluate all your research material. Get many more opinions if you still need guidance. Be sure to sweat the small stuff – it could save you big bucks down the road.

Finally, have a roofing contract written and signed, covering all the information on this list. That may serve not only as a memory jogger of what was agreed upon, but also the primary resource you have to seek compensation in a legal manner if ever things go wrong.

Finding and hiring a roofing contractor to get your roof repair or roof replacement project done can seem complex, confusing and chaotic. But in reality, it isn’t that bad – or tough. Just take reasonable care, do your due diligence, and be wise before you get scammed or cheated.

By following the simple and common-sense guidelines in this report, you can ensure that your roofing job goes on smoothly and effectively, while saving you stress, effort and a lot of money!

How To Pick a Roof Contractor

Roof Repair - Dec 17,2011 - No Comment

Choosing a roof contractor who knows his or her job, will be professional and deliver quality and value is not easy when you go by an advertisement in the local newspaper or a free ad listing in the yellow pages. After all, who in their senses would believe all that’s in a paid ad? What we would love to have is proof that the roof contractor is good, and references from people we know or trust to vouch for the contractor’s credentials. There are many roof contractors to choose from in any area, and that’s hardly surprising considering how many buildings need roof repairs and replacement.

What should you look for in a roof contractor? First, verify and don’t blindly trust. Check claims made by any roof contractor using all means available to you. Get references of work done for prior clients, and then contact them for feedback. Don’t just accept the company’s general reference, but enquire about the specific roof contractor who was involved in the project. A larger company might employ many different contractors and the one who works on your home is the one whose track record matters to you.

Check that the roof contractor has an office that’s permanent, with a phone number, fax and other fixed assets indicating they are not a fly-by-night outfit. This will become important in case you have to contact them later on about problems with the installation. A startup roof contractor might close shop after fitting a few roofs and making a quick profit, and if there’s a problem with the job, you’ll be left holding the bag.

Your roof contractor must have insurance. Check the insurance papers for workers who will be involved in your project as well as the contractor’s own papers. The insurance should be comprehensive and cover all liabilities and compensations involving all workers. It could get expensive if you were liable in case of accidents at your work site.

Worker safety is an important industry norm. If your roof contractor does not have the necessary safety training, you’d be taking a big risk. Check to see if the other workers have been trained as well. Some States have regulations that mandate this by law and instruct licencing boards to check their members are bonded. You can ask your state board for these details or even check their website for the information. This is intended to protect you, so even if you’re in a hurry, be sure to check this out.

For more information about hiring a roof contractor, be sure to read this full report.

Tag Archives: roofing contractor

Roof Replacement – 4 Steps to Take When Hiring a Roofing Contractor

Hiring a Roof Repairs Contractor

Matching Your Roofing Shingles Needs To Your Roofing Contractor

How To Pick a Roof Contractor