Whats The Process For A Re
Ideally, your roofer will explain the whole process for a re-roofing job, clearly and in a way that you can understand it. You may not know exactly what a roofing job should entail, but you will know if you can understand the roofer and if his or her response sounds reasonable. Further, some of the questions below will help you hone in on important parts of the process to make sure youre getting a quality roof.
How Will You Seal Off The Pipe Boot
Another area thats often overlooked is the pipe boot, where vent stacks emerge from the roof. Kreitzer says this is a special area of concern. Most pipe boot manufacturers dont offer a warranty, he said.
Kreitzer says that makes it doubly important to make sure the pipe boot is sealed correctly, with ice and water protectors installed around them, because if theyre not it can lead to significant damage.
Lastly, you can finish with some questions about how your roofer handles weather and payment.
Contact Elevated Roofing Today To Discuss Your Roofing Project
Elevated Roofing provides the assistance you need to repair roofing problems quickly and easily or provide you with a full roof replacement. We are happy to answer any questions you may have about hiring us as your roofing contractor. If you are looking for a local, licensed and insured roofing company in your area, take a look at our website to learn more about the residential and commercial roofing services that we offer. You can also call us at today to schedule a free roof assessment with a photo inspection report.
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Roofing Contractor Question #: Do You Offer Storm Damage Repair
Make sure to ask if your prospective roofer offers storm damage repair. Inclement weather will pop up at the most inconvenient times, so it pays to know if your prospective roofer can offer emergency services.
There are several ways that storms can damage your roof, but the most common are:
- Wind damage. Fast-moving, strong winds can lift up shingles even when theyre nailed down perfectly. Tiles and shingles can actually come right off your roof during bad storms. If that happens, rain and debris can make its way into the underlayment and other materials beneath the parts of your roof you can normally see from the street. That puts your home at risk for further damage, so youll need to have these issues checked and repaired by professionals as soon as possible.
- Debris damage. Flying debris can damage your roof significantly during a storm. Although asphalt shingles can typically stand up to minor impacts from debris, other types of materials can dent or crack, and youll need a professional to fix them.
- Water damage. Water damage from a storm can be catastrophic and the sooner you address a leak, the better. In many cases, an expert roofing contractor can make repairs that prevent post-leak damage quickly, so youll need to ensure the contractor you work with can come back out in an emergency.
Red Flags Of Roofing Companies
Some red flags to be on the lookout for are:
- Asking for all money to be paid upfront
- Asking you to do any work at all, from pulling permits to cleaning up the job site
- Being pushy in any aspect of the interaction
- The crew is only one or two people. This will make the job last about two weeks when it should be done much more quickly
- Constantly pushing the job date back
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What Does My Contract Cover
Once youre satisfied youve got the right roofer, youll need to make sure your contracts got you covered. Read it through thoroughly, and check that there arent any limitations or exclusions.
If you find that some parts of the work arent covered as part of your contract, see if you can negotiate with your roofer to include it if necessary.
Things like the kind of material to be used, timescales and costs should all be in your contract, so make sure they are, and that your roofer sticks to them as per his written agreement with you.
General Roofing Contractor Questions And Appropriate Answers:
Q: How long has the company been in business?
You want a roofer that has seen it all, i.e., repaired and installed hundreds of roofs like yours. The owner of the company should have at least 10 years in the roofing business as an owner, preferably, or at minimum working as a crew leader for someone else.
Q: Are you licensed, and can I have a copy of your license?
Most states require contractors to have a license issued by a state agency. In Michigan, for example, it is called the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs . In California, it is the California State Licensing Board. When applying for the license, the roofer must demonstrate knowledge and adherence to building codes and proof of insurance.
Some states require that the contractor be bonded . Most state licensing agencies allow homeowners to quickly verify online or by phone that the contractors license is current.
Q: What happens if a worker falls off my roof, or you damage my home? In other words, does the company have workers compensation insurance and liability insurance?
Workers compensation insurance covers the employees in case they are injured on the job. Without it, an injured worker is more likely to sue the homeowner to cover medical bills, lost wages and other damages.
Liability insurance covers you if the roofing company damages your home or your property. Some homeowners insurance policies wont pay in such cases.
Q: Does the crew know what its doing? What training is the crew given?
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Can I Visit A Current Worksite
Most roofing companies tackle multiple roofing jobs at once. If you ask to visit a current worksite, the answer should always be yes. Seeing firsthand what the company can achieve is immensely useful. Even if you dont intend to visit a worksite or the roofer doesnt have any jobs going on at the time, asking the question is still a good test. If the roofing company seems hesitant to let you visit a current worksite, its likely a bad sign.
Essential Questions To Ask When Hiring A Roofer
February 24, 2020 by Texas Traditions
Roof replacement projects require homeowners to carefully select the roofers they will work with and its important to ask the right questions when choosing a roofing contractor.
Here are a few questions homeowners like you need to ask roofers before signing a contract. These questions will help you determine the best roofer for your home improvement project.
Are You Licensed and Insured?
Homeowners need to know that the roofer they are talking with is legitimate and has a good record with the BBB. The roofing company also needs to insure its workers so you wont have any problems with mishaps.
How Long Have You Been in Business?
The best roofers are experienced and have been repairing or replacing roofs for some time already. Theyll also have received a lot of good feedback from previous clients. Avoid novice roofers if youre looking for the best.
What Exactly Are You Going to Do on My Roof?
Contractors need to be able to explain, in detail, everything that needs to be done on the roof. They should explain what needs to be done and why.
How Long Will This Roof Repair or Replacement Take?
Homeowners will need to adjust their daily life while the roofing job is ongoing. That said, youll need to know just how long the project will take so you can prepare for it.
Will You Protect My Property? What Will You Do if the Weather Turns Bad?
Wheres My Warranty?
Can I See a Written Estimate?
Filed Under: Roofing
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How Experienced Are You
Ask your contractor how long theyve been working in the industry and how long since theyve established a company, this is a pretty simple question, and contractors should not hesitate before giving you an adequate answer. Typically, contractors with an experience of more than five years are ideal.
Questions About The Roofing Contractors Business
Some of the answers to these questions can be found on the roofing contractors website, which would be a good sign that they are transparent about their business. If youre unable to find the answers to these questions online, you should be able to ask them over the phone before choosing to hire them. Again, if a roofing contractor is unwilling to answer important questions, its a good sign that you shouldnt hire them.
- How long has your company been in business?
- Where is your office located? Are you Local?
- What percentage of your workers are actual employees versus subcontractors?
- What type of experience do you have working on homes like mine?
- How do you handle change orders in the event that other damage is found?
- Do you offer a workmanship warranty? If so, for how long?
- What brand of products and shingles do you use?
- Do you have any certifications or partnerships with shingle manufacturers?
- Do you work with insurance or help with insurance claims?
- Do you have any references from recent jobs?
- Have you worked in our neighborhood before?
- Do you have any before and after pictures you could share?
- Do you offer a free inspection or quote?
- Is financing available? What type of financing options do you have?
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Will You Be Removing The Old Roof
This seems like a given right? But its common in the roofing industry to lay a new layer of shingles right over the old ones. As a result, there are a couple of things to look out for here. Reliable roofing contractors include the old roof removal as part of their quote, but others will try and sneak in extra fees if nothing was recorded in writing.
Another common trick is to claim that a quick look at the old roof will tell whether or not it needs to be removed, and that laying new shingles on top of the old ones is just fine. This isnt always the case, as rotten wood or soft spots cant always be detected unless the old roofing is peeled off.
Are You Licensed Bonded And Insured
The first thing you should ask a roofing contractor is if theyre licensed, bonded, and insured.
- Licensed: For a contractor to get a license, all they have to do is register with the states board of licensing contractors. The price of the job will determine what license theyll need.
- Bonded: Being bonded means that a bonding company knows that a contractor does business correctly and ethically. A bond ensures that if a company goes out of business during the middle of a job or if there’s a problem with the work and they don’t fix it, then the customer can fall back on the bond company.
- Insured: All contractors should be fully insured with general liability, workman’s comp, and a company vehicle insurance policy on all the vehicles owned and unowned.
Dont be afraid to ask to see physical copies of each. Any roofing contractor with all three should be proud and more than happy to show you that paperwork.
Keep in mind, the state you live in will have different requirements for each of them. Some states might not even require the contractor to have one or the other. Research your local codes and make sure the contractor you hire has all appropriate permits and paperwork.
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How Is Payment Handled
When its all said and done, figure out how the roofers will handle payments. Some offer financing options. Companies may also contact your home insurance company to figure out a price that works for you. When should you pay a roofer? Never pay upfront. Most roofing companies will ask for a deposit, but dont pay the full amount until the job is completed and workmanship is examined.
Will Someone Be Onsite If I Have Questions
Inevitably you will have questions during your roofing job. Its important to know who you can speak to and if they will be onsite daily. Find out who the project manager will be and be sure to have their contact information ahead of time. If the company says there will be no one in charge or that they will not be there, thats a red flag. Someone needs to be in charge and you need to know who that someone is.
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Do You Carry General Liability Insurance
Workmans compensation insurance covers the roofing employees while theyre on your property, but you still have to worry about damage to your actual property as a result of work. Ask to see an insurance certificate to verify that the roofer has general liability insurance, so that in the event your roof, house, or property is damaged, you wont be responsible for covering the damage that someone else caused.
How Much Will It Cost
When pricing up your roof repairs or replacement, its best to get quotes from at least 3 different roofers. The costs involved will be dependent on things like the materials used, how easy or difficult it is to access, and how much damage there is.
To negotiate a good price, youll need to have a clear idea of whats involved in the work, and what youre getting for your money. If the roofer you like best isnt the cheapest one, then let them know youve received a lower quote elsewhere, and see if they can match or get close to it.
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Questions To Ask A Roofing Contractor Before You Make A Hiring Decision
You already know how important it is to work with experienced residential roofers on your next roofing project, especially if it involves roof repair or replacement. To find out whether a company is the right choice for you, youll want to ask these seven questions:
Heres a closer look at each and the types of answers you can expect from a good contractor.
How Long Have You Been In Operation
Whether or not your state requires a roofer to have a license, you should ask the professionals youre considering to hire how long theyve been in operation. Usually, experts whove been in the industry for longer are likely to offer quality services.
However, every professional has to start from somewhere. Therefore, you might find professionals who have just started in the field who offer quality services too. Nonetheless, if you decide to work with these experts, make sure to look into them further. For instance, if they have a website, check their customer reviews. If they usually receive positive reviews, it means you can trust them to be good at their job.
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Roof Replacement Checklist Prep Steps
Before your roofing professional shows up on the first day of the project, you have some work to do. Heres some tips to help you have a smooth start:
- watch the weather forecast
- let your neighbors know the schedule
- move vehicles and portable equipment away from the home exterior
- cover the items in your attic
- trim the grass so fallen nails are easier to spot
- secure furniture inside the house
- locate outlets on the outside of the home for the roofers use
- make a plan to remove or reinstall satellite dishes or antennas
Ready to start your Roofing Project?
What Else To Ask A Roofer Before Hiring
Roofing contractors must follow state guidelines to offer services. You want to verify that they follow the law and will work to ensure a satisfactory completion on your project. Ask these questions and follow up on the answers:
* Some contractors dont offer guarantees. They could still be a reasonable choice, but you want to know their limits before hiring them.
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Do You Provide A Written Quote
It is best to receive a written quote of anticipated work and cost. Some states may have laws requiring a written estimate to be given to you before work can be scheduled or started.
A written estimate gives you the work to be done. Make sure the details of the work requested are listed, not just leak repair. The written quote allows you to hold the company to what was offered in exchange for payment.
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