When you’re finally ready to sit down and have your roof done, whether a replacement or a re-roofing job, you want to be well-informed before any heavy expenses occur. To ensure both you and the roofing contractor are on the same page, it’s wise to ask any questions you might have before any work starts.
A roofing contractor is your go-between when it comes to communicating with the company you’re entrusting your roof maintenance to, so we’ve put together a few helpful questions to ask your roofing contractor.
Your Roofing Contractor’s Company Knowledge
How legal is this roofing company, anyway? Questions under this category test the mettle of your roofing contractor while simultaneously giving you the peace of mind you deserve when probing for proof of their legitimacy.
Are you licensed? Bonded? Insured? Can I see proof?
Proving that their company is licensed through the state, bonded to doing business ethically, and insured against any mishaps is something that should be easy for any roofing contractor. If a company acts shady or refuses to show you proof, move on and don’t call them back again.
How long have you been in business?
While all businesses have to go through a “new” phase in order to become a trusted source for their industry; however you, as the customer, have to weigh the pros and cons of using a young business over an established one.
A newer business might have something to prove, perhaps working harder to show how well they do, backed by experienced owners or contractors. But their lack of history would reasonably make plenty of clients iffy.
A seasoned business will have a long history with repeat or newer clients, showing how well their workers perform and their quality standards.
What are your roof and material warranties?
You should generally have two warranties in place when you have contract work with a roofing company. One warranty for the materials used and one warranty for the quality of the craftsmanship when it’s over.
A knowledgeable contractor will be able to explain the warranties in detail, and you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that those warranties will cover any unexpected or accidental issues. Don’t forget to establish the difference between the material manufacturer’s warranty and the roofing contractor or company’s warranty, as they’ll likely be very different in coverage.
Financial Questions
Repairs, re-roofing, and roof replacement are all very different but still relatively expensive investments for your home. Although necessary, it’s important that you understand where your money is going and for what kinds of materials and labor.
A few good questions to ask regarding your home and what you’ll be charged for:
- Which areas of my home will you be inspecting to provide an estimate?
- Can I have a breakdown of the different charges? Materials? Labor?
- Regarding any weather damage, how much will my insurance cover?
Any roofing company worth its salt won’t charge you for an inspection. While it does take time to come out and check your property and your roof for damage, then explain what kind of roofing job might be necessary, establishing trust with the customer and business is more important than nitpicky charges.
Extras Worth Mentioning
Sometimes asking what expectations the roofing contractor might have is a good way to keep you on the same page; you can then set what expectations you have for the roofing contractor and their company.
If you’d like to inspect the work your roofing contractors are doing on your home, ensure that you don’t put yourself in harm’s way or interfere with the ongoing work at the time. You deserve to know what’s going on with the work you’re paying for, but being respectful of the dangers and effort of your roofing contractors is also essential.
Bringing it Home
Communication is key! Your satisfaction with the work is every roofing company’s ultimate goal within any roofing job you hire them for. Keeping open communication on both ends is the best way to establish the best customer-company relationship.
We hope these questions gave you some insight for the next time you invest in a roofing job, no matter its size. Then, when you need an excellent roofing company or roofing contractors in Arizona, choose Arrow Roofing, and trust that we’ll treat your home as if it were our own.