SUMMIT ROOFING'S NEWS YOU CAN USE ISSUE # 2 MAY 2010

How To Pick The Right Roofer/Roofing Company

This month's article deals with the burning question of, “ How do I pick the right roofer/roofing company?” With so many choices out there, it is not any easy task to find the right roofing company to work on your home roof. If you're like me, then your home is going to be the single largest investment in your life, and your home roof is one of the most integral parts of that investment. Within the roofing industry there are two types of groups that would potentially be working on your project. The first group is a licensed business roofing company. These companies have a valid business license, a dedicated crew of employees, most likely a website or storefront. These companies have a fixed address, and have usually been active members in the community for any given amount of time. The second group is what most in the industry call a “truck and ladder guy” or independent/freelance contractor. There is nothing wrong with this group as everyone is entitled to make a living, and this group just has a different means of going about it. The major difference between the two would boil down to, who you, the end consumer, would feel more comfortable with and who you can trust. The single biggest reason people choose a certain roofer/roofing company is price. If you interview enough roofers/roofing companies, you’ll find that their prices vary dramatically, even for the same project. Many of the best roofers/roofing companies routinely turn down work. As a result, they don’t have to compete on price. The flip side of paying a higher price is that the contractor has built enough padding into their bid, that they can profitably work with you if there are problems down the road. If you drive such a hard bargain that your contractor is barely covering their costs, they will have no incentive to help you down the road. Be skeptical about the lowest bids, or those considerably lower than those written for the same work. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many below-cost bids seem attractive, but these contractors are often uninsured and perform substandard work. Remember, although price is an important factor, it is only one of the criteria for selecting a roofer/roofing company. With that being said, try to find a happy medium. One that works for you and your budget, and try to go by the old adage that, you get what you pay for. In the next paragraph, I will discuss some of the common questions you might be asking and some of the not so common questions you may have not thought to ask. Whether going with a licensed company or a “truck and ladder guy,” be sure to pay close attention to the next paragraph and ask the questions I recommend asking. Do this and you will be saving yourself a lot of time, money and potential grief. The following are the obvious and most basic questions to consider when searching for a reputable roofer or roofing company. Is the roofer/roofing company insured and bonded?? Does this roofer/roofing company have any sort of warranty (and I don't mean just the manufacturers warranty, as all shingles come with a 15 to 40 year warranty) I am talking about a labour or craftsmanship warranty? Can this roofer/roofing company provide testimonials & references? Does this roofer have any credentials? (Are they part of any groups or who stands behind them?) Does the roofer/roofing company require a deposit; if yes, how much? Those were just a few of the basic questions that you should be asking. Now lets dig a little deeper and find some very important questions that are often overlooked. What is the full name and address of the company? Having a local company increases the likelihood of better and faster service than say someone who is from out of town. If they have a P.O. Box be sure to ask for the proper mailing address. Where can you view examples of the company's past roofing work, and can I speak to the homeowners of this project? Don't be shy. If you want to see examples of previous work done by that roofer/roofing company, let your voice be heard. If that company is a completely transparent one they would have no problem letting you see their previous work and speaking with the homeowners (with their permission, of course.) How much experience does this roofer/roofing company have? Now don't be fooled by this question. Some roofers/roofing companies have been around for a very long time, but that doesn't mean they have been doing a good job for that length of time. With that being said, there are also some newer companies and that again does not mean much, as those companies may have roofers who have been in the roofing industry for a very long time. What products or materials do they use? You are paying for this roof and there is no point in having a roofer/roofing company using cheap outdated shingles (yes, we have gone to homes in the past to do repair jobs only to find that their recent roof project was shingled in a very old cheap style of shingle). Ask the roofer/roofing company what brand they use, how they apply it, and if there are any other options you the customer may have. An example of this is, asking the roofer/roofing company to give you a detailed description of the difference between what an architectural shingle can do for your roof, as opposed to what a typical 3 tab shingle can do. If they cannot answer the most basic of questions, don't hesitate to send them on their way, even if they are willing to pay you to do your roof. Who is going to be handling your roof project? Whether using a roofer or roofing company there will be someone who you will deal with directly. Naturally, with a independent roofer or “truck and ladder guy,” chances are he will be there from start to finish, as it will be his truck and his ladder being used during the entire process. If you have any questions you know exactly who to go to for answers, and the buck stops there and there is no one else to go hiding behind before, during and after the project, should problems arise. Now with a company this can be a little different. If the project has begun and there is a site manager he, as a representative of the company, should be able to address most, if not all, the issues that may come up during the process. If the questions or issues you need answered cannot be answered by the supervisor during or after the process, and need approval from an owner or team of owners, or even a board of governors, expect a lengthy wait. As every business strives to grow, some of them forget that the personal touch, they gave all those years back when they first started out, is what gave them that success in the first place. No roofer/roofing company should treat their customers as a number. Look into whose going to be on-site to answer any questions you have before, during and after your project. Now the above paragraphs only dealt with some of the questions in detail, and are only meant as a stepping stone for suggestions to add to your arsenal of questions. Have as many questions at your disposal. Write them down if you must. You wouldn't want your Doctor to ask you only the most important questions, only to find out later that it might have been the not so obvious questions that end up complicating the outcome of your surgery. That is why they have pages and pages of questions that sometimes we can't help snicker at when we read them; it covers them and it should cover you. Roofing is no different. Ask a lot of questions and avoid the pitfalls that so many homeowners make when choosing a roofer/roofing company. Demand transparency and you shall receive. If not, find another roofer/roofing company. Remember your roof is an important and necessary component to the biggest investment of your entire life.