How To Hire A Roofing Contractor in Mequon, WI
Hire A Roofing Contractor In Mequon, WI
Do you want to know how to hire a roofing contractor in Mequon, WI for your project to ensure that everything goes smoothly?
Deciding to take on a roofing project is a big task and a major investment, especially since most homeowners will replace a roof once in a lifetime so you want to make sure you choose the best roofing company.
Having a professional repair, restore, rebuild, or install a new roof takes time, skill, and the right team to execute the project. If you’re in the market for a new roof, getting to know your options before making a decision can mean better results and a higher quality roof. Hiring the right roofing company for your project is the key to having a good experience delivered and it requires requires due diligence research.
Hiring A Roofing Contractor Checklist
Here is the hiring a roofing contractor checklist with a few tips and guidelines to help you find a reliable and trustworthy contractor. We hope that you find it useful when hiring a roofing contractor for your project.
1. How long has the company been in business?
You want to hire a roofing contractor with many years of experience and a solid reputation. A search on local business sites like Yelp and Service Magic is one of the best ways to find respectable service providers in your area. These platforms allow you to compare service providers side-by-side based on unbiased reviews and testimonials of past customer experiences. This information can help you make more informed decisions based on facts.
Reputation is everything for service businesses. Referrals of a preferred contractor from your family or friends is another way to find a qualified roofer which you can research online to find important information about the provider for further comparison. Their websites will usually show industry accreditation and trade association badges.
Some homeowners allow price to determine the roofing company they choose to hire but you always get what you pay for. A cheap roofing contractor can cause you expensive problems in the long term while a reputable roofing company will get the job done correctly.
2. Does they have references?
A well-qualified roofing company can backup its claims of high quality work by providing homeowners will references they can check in person and over the phone. Online reviews are good but nothing beats speaking to past customers and visiting past roofing projects.
3. Does they have General Liability Insurance?
As a homeowner, you want to be sure that the contractor has all the insurance required for working on your home. Roofing is dangerous work that requires the right tools, safety equipment and materials by licensed professionals.
You can verify that the documents are valid by calling the insurance company and asserting whether the contractor is an active client before allowing them to start work on your project. Don’t sign anything until they prove they are insured.
4. Do they use subcontractors?
Ask who is performing the work on your roof. Sometimes, contractors will bid on a project and outsource it to independent contractors. Subcontractors may not be qualified to perform the work, do not have proper insurance, and can lead the manufacturer to void warranty on materials. Avoid bait-and-switch contractors altogether.
Hire a roofing contractor that works with its own employees for reliability and better results on your project.
5. Is the company local?
You want to work with a local company for several reasons, including:
a. A local contractor is involved in the community and has a reputation to maintain.
b. If something goes wrong during or after the project is completed, you know where and how to find the contractor so they can fix it.
6. Will they protect the house during the project?
Ask the roofing contractor about the safety precautions because the construction process will be using heavy equipment and ladders. You don’t want nails left in your shrubs, broken windows, damaged furniture, etc caused by workmen on the project.
7. Is there a warranty?
A good contractor will always guarantee their work. Why? They are confident that they will deliver high quality work on every project. This is why they will offer a workmanship warranty for a considerable time period, say a 10-year warranty. In other words, if a problem arises during the warranty period, the contractor will return to your place, inspect the roof, and decide the best way to fix the problem.
8. Is there a written agreement?
The contractor will present a proposal and answer any questions you have. Then a written agreement that you both sign dictating how the job is to be carried out. Details of the project include water shield, site cleanup, warranty terms, how much you will be charged for the entire project, how long the job will take, and when you should pay.
Signing off on a roofing estimate ensures that no last-minute changes will be added to your total project cost. The homeowner should only pay upon job completion. This ensures that the contractor will do everything in the contract so that they are sure you will pay them. Your satisfaction is guaranteed when you pay afterwards.
9. Will the contractor tear off your old roof?
It’s incredible but some roofing contractors will install new shingles over an old roof. This bad practice increasing the weight of the roof and hiding damage concealed by old shingles. This will only lead to major expenses for the homeowner in a few years.
10. Is the roofer an Authorized Installer?
Every homeowner wants the peace of mind knowing that their new roof has a manufacturer’s warranty. Hence, it’s important to find out whether the roof installer is an authorized dealer for the product they are installing on your roof. If the roofer isn’t authorized and there’s roof damage in the future, it’ll cost you even more money to fix the problem.
Planning your roofing project with your chosen roofing contractor takes time and money to understand the scope of the project. Educating yourself about the entire roofing process can be quite beneficial. Knowing your options beforehand and asking questions enables you to communicate to the contractors effectively.
A lack of open and clear communication leads to the failure of many projects. This is why you need to ensure good communication between you and your contractor. If your contractor is the type who doesn’t follow up unless you force them to, you might need to reconsider hiring them and find a responsible person. The best contractor is the one who will follow up on the project and keep you updated about it while clarifying any queries you have.
After all, the more you know, the quicker the project can be completed.
We put customers first. If you liked this hiring a contractor checklist and are looking for a roofer for your next roofing project, contact us for a free consultation today.