9 Essential Questions you should Ask your Roof Contractor

The roof of your home is your primary protection from rain, snow, and hail so it’s important to keep up with maintenance and repair. In some cases, you may need to replace your entire roof altogether. Whether you’re hiring a contractor for a repair or replacement, it’s well worth spending a little extra time making sure they’re reputable and can get the job done. Ask these questions to your prospective contractor before making your decision.

1. What is the Name and Physical Address of the Company?

The roofing company should have a name and physical address that they can provide to customers. If they use a Post Office box for business, ask for the physical location of the company. If they can’t or won’t provide this information, don’t hire them. You may be running the risk of using a company that’s not operating under legitimate circumstances.

2. Are You Licensed?

Not all states require that a roofer is licensed in that state. The code for a roofing contractor Alabama based may be different than one in Tennessee. You can do some research ahead of time to determine what the code requirements are in your area. If your state requires that contractors be licensed, ask the contractor for a copy of their license. Make sure that it’s up-to-date and don’t work with anyone who can’t provide adequate proof of licensure.

3. Do You have Workman’s Comp Insurance?

In previous years, employers who had three employees or less were not required to offer this type of insurance. However, this is now the legal requirement. However, some contractors will try to avoid this requirement. Since insurance isn’t cheap, a roofing contractor may be betting on the odds of no injuries. However, if an employee is injured while on your property, then you may end up being liable for that person’s medical bills. To protect yourself, make sure that the company has current workman’s comp insurance for every employee that will be working on your roof.

4. Do You Use a Matching System for Roof Components?

Although a roof appears to be a fairly simple system of shingles, slats, or other materials, it is actually a complex system of many components. Roofs contain an underlayment, hip and ridge shingles, flashing, starter strips, shingles, an ice and water protector, and vents that all have to work together.

In order to avoid any problems, it’s recommended that the roofing components used are all made by the same manufacturer. However, some contractors will mix and match to keep their prices low. While less expensive, this approach can make the installation complicated. Also, ask the contractor if they are using products according to the building codes in your city or state. These will vary around the country, so make sure your contractor is familiar with the local codes.

5. Will You Remove the Old Roof?

This is a question that you’ll want to ask if the entire roof is being redone. Some roofers will try to save both time and money by inspecting the old roof visually and then shingling over it. However, if they don’t actually take the time to pull up old shingles, the contractor won’t know if there is any rotten wood or soft spots under the current shingles. Neglecting this step will lead to greater costs over time. Make sure that the contractor has a plan to take up the old roof and install a new one.

6. How Do You Handle Bad Weather on the Job?

Although most roofs can be completed in a day or two, there is always a chance of a storm or some other bad weather. Even when you plan ahead, unexpected storms can sometimes occur, and your contractor should be prepared to deal with poor weather on the job. The correct answer to this question is that the roofing contractor should have tarps or plastic covers to protect the roof and ensure it remains dry. You may also want to ask about the plan if the rain lasts for more than a day. Finally, ask what the roofing company does in the case of high winds, which may threaten the plastic covering. In this situation, the company may actually need to have an employee secure the covering.

7. Does My Roof have a Warranty?

Of course, the answer that you want to hear is "yes" and your contractor will probably tell you that there is a warranty. Depending on the style of shingles and roofing you have, the warranty may vary. However, a completely new roof should last at least 25 years. The shingles available today have come a long way since the original versions and are designed to last longer. Make sure that you have at least a 25-year warranty on the roof.

8. What is the Cost of Plywood if You Find Any Rotten Roof Decking?

This is a good question to ask since it will give you an idea of whether you’re working with an honest contractor or not. They should be able to give you a set a dollar amount per plywood sheet. A roofer may want to skip this information, as it can leave the door open to charge you more in the future.

Once the roof has been installed, you can’t dispute the cost of plywood sheeting that was fitted to fix any rotten areas. Make sure that you ask how much it will cost per plywood sheet to avoid any surprises down the road.

9. Do You Provide a Written Estimate?

Although your contractor will probably emphasize that there’s no guarantee the estimate will be exactly the final price, there should be a detailed estimate provided. This will allow you to compare contractors and prices for each area of the installation process. Make sure that the estimate includes the cost to remove the old roof, add the new roof, and anything else that could occur.

Conclusion

These nine questions are probably not the only ones that you should ask a roofing contractor. However, they will give you an idea of whether your contractor is legal and qualified for the job.