Finding a Roofer: It Isn’t As Easy As It Seems

Finding a good roofer isn’t easy, but what’s remarkable is that most people don’t even bother to try. They find the first name in the phone book, give them a call, and make the decision based on the estimate and their available budget. This is no way to go about protecting the biggest investment you have. If you’re like most people, you wouldn’t buy a car just because you saw it on the lot and you wouldn’t even buy a HD television without doing some preliminary research. Hiring a roofer is going to be expensive, and you should definitely take the time to make sure the person or company you’re hiring is going to do a great job.

One of the first things you should research about a roofer you’re thinking of hiring is whether or not they carry insurance and the appropriate liability. Hire someone off the street or out of the phone book without doing some due process and they may very well have neither of these things. What does this mean? It means that if they completely destroy your house in the process of doing the job, you’ll have little recourse. Sure, you can always sue, but who’s to say they have any money to give you? What if one of their workers gets hurt on the job. It occurred on your property and you could be held liable if the proper paperwork is not in place. Research doesn’t mean simply asking if they have insurance and workmen’s compensation. It means getting the name of the company providing these things and getting independent verification.

Get the roofer to tell you about their safety and clean up processes. If all they have to say is, “We’ll clean everything up after we’ve finished the job,” that’s not good enough. That is not the mark of a professional. You’ll want to have them list off a number of specifics they run through to make sure every job is done safely and professionally. Make sure they have access to climbing gear for working on a steep roof. Check to see whether they use roofing jacks or just nailed board to act as footholds on the roof. These little differences are not only important in terms of safety, they can provide a window into their entire mindset of professionalism.

Don’t get caught up talking to a professional salesman. They will be there to promise the world, whether or not the crew can actually deliver. You don’t need to have your time wasted in that manner. You’ll know when you’re talking to someone who knows what they’re doing. They’ll inspect your roof and provide you with specific options and information. If you’ve done your research, you’ll be able to ask questions that will be unusually insightful. The salesman will not know what to do with these questions—a roofing professional will and they will also appreciate your interest and knowledge.