When your roof needs work, you can’t just hire any roofing company – in fact, that’s how many people get burned. You need to choose a trustworthy roofing company that will put your best interests first, work within your budget, do the job properly and finish it on time. But how do you even begin to choose a trustworthy roofing company, and how can you tell when a contractor you’re interviewing is worth hiring? This guide explains.
Choosing from among a pool of roofing contractors is never easy. Many will claim to be the best out there, and it’s important that you pick the right one to ensure the success of your roofing project. In this post, your local experts at New View Roofing discuss some tips to keep in mind when choosing a roofing contractor.
How to Choose a Roofing Contractor: 11 Basic Tips
Whether you’re a homeowner or you own an industrial or commercial building, you need a roofing company you can trust. That’s because unfortunately, there are unethical roofers out there – and they can end up costing you far more money than you expect.
You can use these eleven tips to help you choose a trustworthy roofing company:
- Choose local
- Look at qualifications
- Get your eyes on reviews
- Check out experience
- Evaluate licenses and insurance
- Look for certifications from roofing manufacturers
- Get a free roof inspection
- Ask about materials
- Look for emergency roofing services
- See how they communicate
- Know that you shouldn’t be pressured
Here’s a closer look at each.
Tip #1 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: Choose Local
Working with a local company helps ensure you’re picking a contractor who’s worthy of your trust. Local companies have a lot more at stake than national companies do; they live and work in the communities they serve, and it takes time to build a sterling reputation. A company that isn’t invested in the local community may not be the right choice for you.
Tip #2 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: Look at Qualifications
Not all roofing companies are created equal – some have more qualifications than others do. If a roofing company doesn’t appear qualified to install the TPO roof you want on your restaurant, or if they don’t commonly work with high-end materials such as slate or copper that your home needs, they’re not the right company for you. You need to work with experienced and skilled professionals; otherwise, you’ll end up paying for it later.
Tip #3 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: Get Your Eyes on Reviews
Always check online reviews for roofing companies you’re interested in working with. You can tell a lot by reading reviews – people tend to be honest (sometimes brutally so) online. If a company has nothing but stellar reviews, it’s okay to put them on your short list; likewise, if they have many glowing reviews and a few that aren’t exceptional, it’s still okay to short-list them. However, if a company has more bad reviews (or even more mediocre reviews) than it has good ones, you should keep looking.
Tip #4 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: Check Out Experience
Working with an experienced roofing contractor is one way to make sure that you’ve chosen a company you can trust. It’s not that newer companies aren’t trustworthy; it’s that older companies are more established and have had time to earn their clients’ trust. Roofing companies that aren’t trustworthy generally don’t last too long.
Tip #5 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: Evaluate Licenses and Insurance
Your roofing company should be licensed, certified and insured. All those things help guarantee that your home or building is in good hands – and they protect you if something goes wrong. You shouldn’t consider a company that isn’t insured, because that means the company (rather than a big-name insurance company) will be responsible for paying you for damages or losses; unfortunately, there’s no way to guarantee that they cover the expenses they caused if they’re not insured.
Tip #6 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: Look for Certifications From Roofing Manufacturers
Roofing manufacturers offer very specific (and often hard-to-get) certifications. To qualify for these certifications, roofing companies often have to meet stringent requirements, and that can give you the peace of mind you need that you’re choosing a trustworthy roofer.
For example, most manufacturers won’t give certifications to a roofing company unless the company has the right insurance coverage, has been in business for a significant amount of time, and has a good credit rating (which means it doesn’t have liens, unpaid suppliers making claims, judgments or other issues). Many of these manufacturers also require roofing companies’ clients to fill out satisfaction surveys; that way, the manufacturers know they’re only giving out certifications to high-quality companies.
Tip #7 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: Get a Free Roof Inspection
When you’re interested in working with a specific company, ask for a free roof inspection. This must be the first step of any roofing project as inspections give you an insight into what the current state of your roof really is.
Good companies have no problem inspecting your roof for free as a way to earn your business – and they’re also happy to report their findings to you, even if there’s nothing wrong with your roof. You can tell a roofing company is trustworthy when they send out an inspector who takes the time to examine your entire roof, provides you with a report and answers your questions.
Tip #8 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: Ask About Materials and Equipment
Good roofing companies don’t cut corners – not with their workmanship or their materials. You should ask about the types of roofing materials a company uses, and they should be able to provide you with a clear, sensible answer. You should also find out what types of equipment (including safety equipment) the company uses; these things can help you tell whether a company prioritizes doing things right.
Your Choice of Shingles Matter
Asphalt shingles remain the top choice when it comes to residential roofing, and almost every roofing company offers these for installation or replacement. To ensure that you’ll be working with the best roofer, however, make sure to ask what kind of asphalt shingles they offer.
New View Roofing is one of the few GAF Master Elite® residential roofers in Dallas. This allows us to offer the best available asphalt shingle roofing, such as GAF’s Timberline® wood-look Designer Shingles and their ever-popular Lifetime Roofing Systems. When you work with us, you’re getting the best asphalt shingles.
Tip #9 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: Look for Emergency Roofing Services
You should also hire a roofer that offers emergency repair services. Storms can happen at any time, and the damage they can potentially do to your home is something for which you’d rather not be unprepared. As such, you should hire a roofer that can offer you these emergency services when you need them.
At New View Roofing, we also offer insurance repair. This means that when you work with our professional team, we’ll also work closely with your insurance company so that you get the compensation you require for your roofing project.
Tip #10 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: See How They Communicate
The best roofing company isn’t any use to you if you can never get ahold of them, so before you make a hiring decision, find out the best ways to communicate with your contact. A trustworthy roofing company doesn’t dodge your calls or ignore your emails; they’ll respond within a reasonable amount of time when you have questions or need to make a change in your plans.
Tip #11 for Choosing a Roofing Contractor: Know That You Shouldn’t Be Pressured
Trustworthy roofing companies don’t use high-pressure sales tactics, like scaring people into believing they need a whole new roof after a storm. A good roofer won’t try to rush you into signing a contract or pre-pay for services. If you encounter high-pressure sales or scare tactics, you should run the other way; that’s not a roofing company you want to work with.
Do You Need to Talk to a Trustworthy Roofing Contractor About Repairs or Roof Replacement?
If you suspect that your roof needs repairs or replacement, or if it’s been a while since your last roof inspection, give us a call. Our team will send out an inspector who will check out your entire roofing system, completely free-of-charge. If your inspector uncovers any issues, they’ll let you know; they’ll also let you know what types of repairs may be necessary, as well as how much they’re likely to cost.
As your local full-service roofing company, New View Roofing adheres to a strict process when it comes to our roofing workmanship. We’ll educate you during each step – from roof inspections to finishing up the projects – to ensure quality workmanship every time.
Call our office now to schedule your free roof inspection. We’ll be happy to send out a professional inspector at a time that’s convenient for you.
