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HomeFactsHow Do I Find A Good Roofing Contractor

How Do I Find A Good Roofing Contractor

Make A List Of Local Roofers To Consider

How Do I Find A Good Roofing Company?
  • Get local referrals from friends, family and neighbors. If possible, choose a contractor from your community
  • Research Better Business Bureau ratings. Check out what other homeowners have report to the Better Business Bureau at bbb.org.
  • Check for manufacturer certification. GAF annually verifies contractor licenses , insurance and years in business before granting the factory-certified designation. If you are considering a GAF Factory-Certified Contractor, verify their certification here.

    Get peace of mind with a GAF pro

  • Potential Problems With Subs

    For the most part, I have had good luck with subs over the years with a few notable exceptions. A few examples of problems Ive and others I know have experienced are listed below:

    • Problem: Not showing up on time. Not all subs are the greatest schedulers and when there is a conflict, youre probably not at the top of their list. Also, they may be out of town or out of business by the time you need them.
    • Solution: Give them a heads up a few days to a week before you will need them. Let them know right away if there are any schedule changes. Pay them promptly .
    • Problem: Speed vs. quality. Most subs are highly competent and efficient at their trade. However, in some cases, they user cheaper material than specified or work faster than they should and cut corners, producing substandard work.
    • Solution: Hire reputable subs, who may not be the cheapest. Discuss quality standards with them and write specifications and quality standards into your contract with them.

    Pay Attention To Pricing

    You’re likely to get a wide range of quotes from roofing contractors. If one quote is considerably lower than the rest, it can be a red flag. Find out what you are getting for that price and what you might be missing if you work with the lowest bidder. They may take longer to finish a job, skimp on materials or underpay their crew.

    Ask for a detailed, written proposal from each company when you request a quote. Getting everything in writing will help you compare and contrast contractors’ estimates and choose the one with the best value.

    Read Also: Briarwood Pro Shingles

    Diamond Cut Roofing Ltd

    BEST FOR
    OPERATING HOURS 24/7

    Since 2013, Diamond Cut Roofing has provided quality roofing services to many Calgarian homes. It only uses high-quality products that have impact resistance.

    Should its customers need total roof replacements, Diamond will handle the removal, installation, and even the roof decking.

    Aside from the usual roofing services any roofer can provide, Diamond Cut Roofing can also install ventilation systems in attics, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. This way, customers can take care of their roofing system and make it more durable.

    What makes Diamond Cut Roofing special is that it offers its services anytime. So even homeowners who have roofing emergencies late at night can expect Diamonds staff to be on-site within an hour of the call.

    Pros

    • Limited choices for roofing material

    Customer Reviews

    Read these customer reviews to learn about what to expect should you choose Diamond Cut Roofing as your roofing contractor:

    Very impressed with Stephen. He offered a very competitive price and met me prior to the work being done. His crew came early in the morning and by nightfall, all was complete. I needed some new boards and got some extra vents. Clean up was fantastic. What a difference with DiamondCut over the last company I used. Stephen is very honest and a true gentleman. Thank you for a job well done!

    Prescreen The Companys Work Quality And Ethics With These Four Simple Questions

    How To Install A Window (New Construction)

    Now we start getting a little technical but these are simple questions that any homeowner can ask to screen a contractors approach to the work.

  • How many nails do you recommend using per shingle?To save on costs, some less-than-honourable contractors may use fewer nails than necessary to secure your shingles.As a rule of thumb, no fewer than four nails should be used per shingle. Subtracting one nail can make or break a manufacturers warranty protection.

    The required number of nails needed for each type of shingle is available from the manufacturer and should be clarified before your roof installation.

  • Can you do a layover instead of removing the existing roof and installing the new one?This is kind of a trick question as a credible contractor will say no.A roofing layover is when the roofer nails new shingles directly over your existing shingles instead of first taking them off: effectively placing one layer directly over the other.

    Most likely you’re replacing the roof in the first place because there’s something wrong.

    In this case, covering it up with a layover will do more damage than good and is considered an unscrupulous practice in the industry.

    An ethical roofer will advise you to strip the shingles first so that your roof isn’t at greater risk.

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    Review Bids From At Least Three Roofing Contractors

    Talk to several roofing companies to get an idea of how much your roof replacement or repair should cost. You also want to find a roofer you can trust. Choose a contractor who is patient while you review contracts and warranties. The good ones will be more than happy to answer questions to ensure you feel comfortable working together.

    2-10 HBW offers the most comprehensive Home Warranty coverage for homeowners. Let us help you protect your home.

    Read The Roofing Contractors Reviews From Recent Customers

    There are so many ways to find a reputable roofer, plumber, carpenter, honestly anything you need in todays digital world. The main way customers choose a service or company is by looking at reviews.

    When looking at the reviews of potential roofing contractors, make sure youre looking at the last 2-3 months. This ensures youre getting recent good or bad homeowner experiences.

    You can pull a lot of information from reviews that tell you if a roofing contractor does quality work. That’s not to say all the reviews you read are accurate. Some people go to the extreme one way or the other.

    However, if a roofing company stands behind their work, interacts positively with customers, and does things the right way, then more than likely itll show in their reviews.

    Recommended Reading: Skylight Installation Metal Roof

    Where To Find Metal Roofing Contractors

    So you might be asking yourself: Where do I even start looking for contractors? Many home/building owners just turn to the internet, which is a great place to start. But there are many more options and avenues to check with as well, such as:

    Ask for referrals If you have a friend, family member, or neighbor who recently had a metal roof installed on their home or business building, they are one of the best places to start. Ask them who they hired as their contractor, but also ask who they didnt hire and why.

    Reach out to roofing organizations and associations Any discipline or line of work has its own organizations and associations dedicated to education, training, advocacy, etc. Contacting one of these organizations that work with metal roofing contractors, such as the National Roofing Contractors Association or a local Home Builders Association, can help you find credible businesses available for hire.

    Architects and builders have extensive experience with roofing contractors, as they work with them on a regular basis for their own projects. If you know of any architects or builders present in your area, give them a call and ask about the roofing contractors they use or would recommend.

    How Is Payment Handled

    How To Find Good Subcontractors – Contractor Business Tips

    Before you work with a roofer, its wise to know what kind of payment schedule and payment methods they accept. Most roofers will ask you to pay a deposit up-front. Avoid roofers who ask for much larger deposits than their competition.

    As you pay your contractor, try to do so in a traceable method and ideally through a credit card. Credit cards are a wise option because you may be able to get your money back if the roofer fails to start or complete the work.

    Its a red flag if your roofer will only accept cash. Some roofers will accept credit card payments in person, others will ask you to pay online through their invoicing system. Prior to making payment in full to the roofer, it is prudent to ensure that there are no liens or unexpired lien rights that can be asserted. These rights will vary by jurisdiction.

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    They Ask You To Get Permits

    Reputable contractors take responsibility for getting all necessary permits for a project because theyre the ones who will be talking to the building inspector when they arrive to inspect the work. They file the permit under their contractor license number.

    A scammer will ask you to get your own building permit, which means youll have to lie about whos really doing the work. As a homeowner, you can get your own permit for DIY projects, but if someone else is doing the work, they have to get the permit and, thus, theyre the ones responsible to the inspector. All too often, contractors who request that homeowners get their own permits are unlicensed or have a bad reputation with local inspectors. Either way, run.

    What Type Of Flashing Do You Recommend

    Areas where the roof meets a structure like a chimney or a dormer are especially vulnerable to water intrusion. Thats where flashing comes in. Kreitzer said flashing is extremely important. Its your primary defense against water. Your roof is only as good as the flashing.

    While some contractors will simply do a facemount flashing, Kreitzer says this usually isnt enough. He recommends Z flashing for brick or stone siding and reglet-set flashing for clapboard siding. These flashings feature channels and bends that integrate with the siding and help prevent water intrusion from wind uplift. Ask your roofer which flashing they recommend based on your homes siding material and wind exposure.

    Also Check: Where Do You Put Screws In Metal Roofing

    How To Find A Good Contractor For Home Improvement Repairs

    Youve likely seen the story on your local news: A fly-by-night contractor swoops into town and scams dozens of homeowners out of thousands of dollars each before disappearing without a trace.

    No one wants to go through such an ordeal. And yet it happens all the time, especially during the summer when more homeowners start home improvement projects.

    The vast majority of contractors are honest and trustworthy, but there will always be those who are ready and willing to run a scam and run off with your money. So how can you make sure you find a reliable and reputable contractor who keeps their promises? And how do you make sure youre hiring the right professional for the job? Lets take a look.

    Perform These Four Final Checks Before Hiring

    Watch This Video Before Pouring A Concrete Foundation ...

    If youve got this far with your potential contractor, things are looking positive. However, there are four final questions you need to ask before hiring.

  • Am I making a decision on price alone?The lowest bid isn’t necessarily the best option. In fact, it is seldom that the lowest price proves to be the best value. Be wary of any bid that is substantially lower than the others.It is probably an indicator that the contractor has made a mistake, has included all the required work quoted by the competitors, or is planning to cut corners during the installation.

    The costs associated with running a reputable business are significant and contractors need to factor those into the quote. Bear in mind that the number one reason that roofing contractors go out of business is the failure to factor all the variables into the price.

    This means that they are unable to cover their costs, which can put you at risk of a poor install or an unfinished project.

  • Do I need a second opinion?Most homeowners only hire a roofing contractor every 10 years or more and aren’t familiar with the process of comparing proposals.This has led to some unscrupulous contractors trying to take advantage of homeowner’s lack of knowledge in order to make some extra money.

    It is highly recommended to get at least three estimates from reputable companies so that you are able to compare them. Be sure to ask questions that check the value associated with the cost so that you compare like for like.

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    City Roofing & Exteriors

    OPERATING HOURS Monday Saturday: 8:00 AM 7:00 PM

    City Roofing is yet another one of the best roofing contractors in Calgary for commercial and residential clients. Its staff is 100% in-house so it doesnt have to fight others for scheduling restraints.

    It does the usual roofing repairs and replacements. Additionally, City Roofing also does torched-on and flat roof replacements to provide all customers with more choices for roofing styles and materials.

    For its construction-phase roof installation, City Roofing also provides scheduled daily bin services to avoid clutter from piling up. This contractor is also among the best for roof inspections because it delivers complete and detailed reports.

    But the best thing about City Roofing is that it provides a lifetime warranty for all its services. With this guarantee and its guidance during insurance claims, City Roofing ensures longevity of all types of roofing systems.

    Pros

    • Few additional services for roof replacements
    • Some complaints about communication and transparency

    Customer Reviews

    Customers highly recommend the company because of their good output for a low price. You can read some reviews below:

    Establish Company Credibility With These Three Questions

    Before you even consider the costs involved in hiring a roofer, make sure they’re credible. Most credible contractors will actually appreciate you doing your due diligence and they have nothing to hide.

    Here are 3 questions you should ask any contractor before you consider hiring them.

  • What is your legal business name?This is one of the easiest questions to guard against being scammed. No contractor should hesitate, stumble or be offended by you asking this question.Many contractors operate under a trade name, which differs from their legal name. This is perfectly legal and often encouraged so don’t get worried if you can’t find them by their legal business name.

    You can read about trade names and legal names in Canada here.

  • Who will be the representative on site that I can communicate with?There’s a good chance you won’t be dealing directly with the owner of the company during your roofing install. Don’t panic.Many companies have project managers whose sole focus is to make sure your roof is installed according to both local laws and manufacturer guidelines. Roofing is complex, so if there’s “nobody running the show,” a small problem can easily turn your roofing project into one that you read about in the newspaper.

    Make sure you have a few methods to contact your onsite representative and ensure that you are given a scheduled start date, estimated end date, and a plan to protect your property during the different phases of the project.

  • Also Check: How Many Screws Per Sheet Of Metal Roofing

    Do They Offer Guarantees

    When it comes to reputable roofing companies, they should also provide you with written warranties for the work they do and the products they use as well. Here at Strongguard, we offer a ten-year workmanship warranty on each and every job we do.

    We also use only quality BlueScope Steel products, including those from the COLORBOND® steel and ZINCALUME® steel ranges. Depending on the product you choose and its application, BlueScope Steel offers a warranty against corrosion to perforation by weathering in the natural elements for a period of up to 36 years from the date of installation.

    BlueScope Steel also warrants that the paint system on COLORBOND® steel will not flake or peel due to natural weathering for a period of up to 20 years from the date of installation.

    How To Find A Reputable Roofing Contractor

    How to Hire a Roofing Contractor – Checklist and What to Ask!

    Aside from an HVAC system upgrade, a new roof is one of the largest investments you can expect to make as time goes by when you own a home. Since safety and security are also connected to the roof over your head, it is important to make sure youre choosing a reputable roofing contractor. But how do you know if a company is one you can trust? As part of our ongoing mission to inform homeowners, in this article, well dive into some of the top ways to vet a roofing contractor.

    Word of Mouth

    Its a tried and true method for gaining insight on a roofing contractors reputation, or really, any business for that matter. So, what is it? You guessed it: Word of Mouth. Among the many benefits of living in a community in the Greater Chattanooga area is the sense of connectedness. And in a tight knit community like East Brainerd, Signal Mountain or Ooltewah, people talk! So, go ahead! Ask your family, friends, co-workers and other people you trust about their experience with roofing contractors in the area. Even if they have not directly worked with a roofer in recent years, chances are they know someone who has. Theyll likely have some pretty good insight on potential recommendations, or who to avoid.

    Google Reviews

    Better Business Bureau

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    Other Services Relating Toroofers & Roofing

    At Trust A Trader, we are proud of our professionalism and integrity. We expect all of the traders registered in our directory to uphold these standards, too. To help facilitate this, we encourage our traders to build relevant partnerships, memberships, accreditation’s and affiliations to help them to stay abreast of industry changes, requirements and innovations. This helps our traders to continually deliver the high standards that we expect. If you are unsure what accreditation’s a trader has, just look for the logos on their profile page.

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