A new roof for your home or business is a major expense ranging in the thousands of dollars. This huge investment must be carefully considered as your roof is an important structural component of any building. Proper installation of a new roof requires skill and attention; so the choice of a roofing company should not be taken lightly. Roofing repairs are the most common home repair job in North America and as such there are often a large number of roofing professionals available for the task. Unfortunately, not all roofers bring the same level of skill or reliability, so understanding how to verify a roofing company’s credentials is especially important.
Searching for roofing contractors is the easy part. Especially if you live in a humid climate like Vancouver, the yellow pages or an internet search can generate tens or even hundreds of potential roofers. Finding a reliable and trustworthy roofer is another task altogether. You want to work with an experienced and licensed roofer, as well as a roofer with a history of satisfied customers. Perhaps the best way to narrow your search and ensure you hire a great roofing contractor is to talk to family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors about your experiences with roofers. Still, once you have a short list of roofers, you will need to make sure they are qualified and provide the services you need.
Licenses and insurance
Most roofing companies will be licensed to provide roofing services, but not all are insured for liability. While workers’ compensation is mandatory, you’ll also want to ask potential roofers about insurance coverage.
Permissions
All construction work requires permits, so your roofing contractor must have experience to obtain these permits. In some cases, permits can be quite expensive, and home or business owners are often unfamiliar with what permits are required or how much they will cost. Choose a roofing company that is open and honest about permitting requirements and how they affect the cost of your roof repair or replacement.
Warranty
Roofing materials are generally covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, but your roofer’s workmanship is not. Ideally, you will want to work with a roofer who offers a workmanship warranty for at least 10 years after the roof is installed.
Stability
Finally, a sure sign that your roofing contractor is a trusted and trusted professional is their stability in the industry. A roofing company that is established and has been serving a community for several years (or even decades) is probably a company with a solid reputation. Word of mouth travels fast and disreputable roofers become known to community members; this makes it difficult to continue conducting business in the same location. On the other hand, a trusted roofing professional who has been serving the same community for over 20 years will likely have the experience and qualifications to properly repair or replace your roof.