Roofing Questions to Ask

The type of shingles to put on your home or garage is the least of your considerations when having a roofing project done.

Picking the right contractor for your project is a task of monumental importance. You can have two contractors or roofing companies that look comparable, but a little research can uncover a world of difference between them.

Smooth-talking salesmen and contractors make their money by getting you to buy into what they are selling. Don't take all they say as gospel. Make them answer some tough questions before you turn your hard-earned money over to them for a roofing project.

Ask them about their licensing. Are they licensed in your state? What did they have to do to obtain their license? Was it simply paying a licensing fee or did they have to display any certain skills? A quick check of your state regulatory agency for licenses should be able to turn up if the contractor vying for your business has ever had his license suspended for any reason.

Make the roofing company or contractor supply a copy of insurance. What does the insurance cover? Does it cover damage to your house should anything happen while they are doing the roofing work? Have they had to pay out any insurance claims over the past two or three years?

What is their reputation in the area? They should be able to provide several references for work they have done in your area. Check those references and find out if people are still happy with the work they had done. Check your local newspaper's website and put the company or contractor's name into the paper's search engine to see if the company or the contractor have been linked to any local issues or lawsuits. If they have been, that may be a sign to walk away from this deal.

Do their personnel or does the contractor go through continual training to ensure that they are keeping up with the latest installation methods and issues in the industry?

What kind of warranty is provided? Does it only cover materials – or does it include labor too? How many years are covered? What are the exceptions when the warranty would not be honored?

Reputable roofing companies should be happy to discuss all of this and more when they are vying for your business. They should not bristle when you ask for these things. If they do so, it may be a warning sign that they have something to hide. You have a right to have each and every question of yours answered. And you should have time to think about their proposal. Know that even with the best materials, your project may not come out well if you don't have a quality contractor.

Make sure to get at least a handful of quotes. You don't always have to go with the lowest quote. But you want to have enough quotes compiled so you know the contractor or company you feel most comfortable with is still in the ballpark regarding costs.