Doing a little digging might seem time-consuming but what is a lot more time-consuming not to mention costly would be to fix a botched roof job. So how should you decide on a roofing contractor? Strategies for selecting a roofing contractor fall into three categories: the contractor's qualifications, the contractor's work, as well as the contractor's past. Browse the tips below.
Qualifications
First, do not hire a roofing company who is not licensed. However, must be contractor is licensed does not necessarily mean the contractor can be a committed professional who will do excellent work. It is possible to tell much more about a contractor's commitment by seeing in the event the contractor is part of a trade association and if the contractor has brought any continuing education training. In the event the contractor says yes, call the trade association and ask to see certificates with the continuing education.
Make sure they have a permanent business. When picking a contractor, you need to be confident that the contractor should be able to complete the work they promised to complete. One of the best ways to have this confidence would be to select a contractor who is able to financially commit to finishing assembling your shed. The contractor should have a permanent telephone number and address. Visit their business to see if they have the equipment and employees to accomplish your project successfully.
Find out if they have insurance policy and how much. Because they have insurance, it will not be very much coverage. Possess the contractor explain to you a certificate of insurance. Contractors can get a certificate of their insurance that shows coverage dates and policy limits using their insurance carrier. Also find out if they have workers' compensation coverage. Because property owners can be sued for accidents that occur on their own property, it is crucial that all contractors have workers' compensation insurance.
The Contractor's Workmanship
All contractors must also have a safety plan so ask your potential contractor to provide you with one. Safety plans are important for making sure projects get completed and so are required by the Occupational Protection Administration (OSHA).
Discover how long the contractor's warranty on work performed is. A typical time period is but one year or longer. The length of the warranty doesn't matter so much as if the contractor promises to stand behind the warranty. Good contractors often will work beyond an itemized contract. Keep in mind that the manufacturer provides product warranties and quite often warranties are just valid if a contractor is "certified" to set up the product. Be sure to talk to your contractor about following manufacturer specifications which are necessary for product warranty.
The contractor should thoroughly discuss your house improvement project with you. Areas to speak about with your contractor include the color and type of products you need to use, how to get a permit if necessary, what the daily clean-up procedure is, and just how the work will probably be paid for.
Past Performance and Customer Service
Find out how long the contractor has been around business. Though a contractor in business for any year or two might do excellent work, it would be better to select a contractor who has been in business not less than five years. The longer a contractor has been in business, the more experience they've, which often means more choices and workmanship for the roof.
Ask to determine pictures of the contractor's work and then for references from past customers. Get this information on the contractor's website or by calling past customers and asking what they thought.
Lots of the best contractors experienced to handle complaints. Complaints aren't necessarily bad, but the way a specialist has handled them can be. Ask the contractor that they have dealt with complaints before or call the greater Business Bureau to find out.
In addition to the above advice, another worthwhile tip for choosing a roofer is to have three contractors you are thinking about submit three bids on paper. Having three bids in writing is useful to match prices and products the contractors uses to complete the project. If one bid is really a lot higher or below the others, this could be a warning sign. Again, roofing directory sites will help streamline the process here, by putting you in contact with three roofers by filling in just one estimate request form.
Remember, what it really all comes down to is what your instinct is telling you about the contractor. Set up contractor seems to meet the above tips but something is telling you not to hire the contractor, don't. Using a home improvement job as important as repairing or replacing a roof, you need to work with a roofing contractor that you feel very good concerning the work getting done.