How to Make Sure You Pick the Right Roofing Contractor

Whether you want to install a new roof, or to repair or replace an existing roof, its always a good idea to go with a roofing contractor, since they are experts in their relative field. It can be quite a large DIY project to handle on your own, especially with the warm weather of Sacramento, CA.

Yet, not all roofers are alike, so it’s important to make sure you’re able to find the right roofer, they are able to answer your questions properly, and you are able to tell if they did a good job or not.

How should I go about finding my contractor?

The best way to start your journey in finding the right roofing contractor is to look for recommendations, either from close loved ones or somewhere locally on the internet. Its best when the roofing contractor is able to show you examples of his or her work so that you can visualize what youre getting.

Don’t be shy about saying no, because a contractor may be ready within your timeline, or because the price they are quoting seems like a steal. These could actually be considered red flags, and it’s more important to be able to confirm successful proof of work over anything else. You need to also finish your research and make sure they have the right experiences licenses, insurances and warranties for the materials they use.

Another major thing you want to review is the cost. A lot of the time a contractor may verbally give a rough estimate of the cost, and it may seem fair, at the time. Then what happens is that the customer gets the actual bill and it is very different from what was discussed. That means you should always focus on getting a written estimate to be later used as the main contract. Then there are no surprises at the end.

So what type of questions should I ask my contractor?

There is a small amount of due diligence you want to make sure of when selecting a contractor. The first question you want to be able to get a yes to is if they are licensed in your state. This is because you want to make sure that they follow everything according to the local laws, ordinances and codes. The next major question is about insurance for their workers and liability. An insured contractor is a proper contractor who is protected in case the job goes wrong.

Another major topic to cover is where they will be throwing the trash and old roof into (when replacing the roof). Are they going to bring their own container? They should. They need to also place it in a way that wont cause damage to that area due to the heavyweight of the container. This is a very standard item to check off on a contractors list so they should easily and clearly be able to explain how this part will work.

This may seem crazy obvious, but when it comes to replacing your roof, the contractor should actually remove the old roof and install the new roof. If they say they will do the job over an existing roof, they may end up hiding potential or existing issues that will come up later.

How can I tell if my roof contractor did a good job?

First, you can do a visual inspection where you actually look at the roof to make sure that it looks uniform and even. It should be easy to spot any faults in your newly made or refurbished roof.

Another way to tell if your roofer is doing a good job, especially when it comes to shingle roofs, is if he or she doesn’t skip setting up the underlayment (think of this as a layer between the roof and the shingles). In addition, there needs to be a drip guard protection installed on the same shingles to prevent leaking and natural buildup. These are two very cost-effective items that your roofer may skip to not have to deal with it.

If you end up with a roofing job that doesn’t fit the bill of a nice roof, you should always see what your options are. Check to see if you can get the contractor to do it right before paying the final invoice, or check to see if there is any discussion on the estimate or contract with the roofer about adjustments to fix any of the issues above. Again, this should be pretty easy to spot, and it isn’t something you will discover a few weeks down the line. You should be able to tell pretty soon if something seems off with the roofing work.

Some final thoughts

Roofing your home should not be a difficult task, especially if you find the right type of roofer. When it comes to how long your roof last, they can last anywhere between 10 to 25 years on average depending on the materials you end up using up there. It’s also important as an insulation point to have yourself a proper roof, especially in the Sacramento, CA area, where that sun shines down bright and hot. Your roof works to make sure the home doesn’t feel those effects so it’s important that you speak for your roof with those contractors.

A good contractor will be willing and open to any and all of your queries. Their job should be to make you feel comfortable working with them and their crew on a very important project for your home. If you ever run into a contractor that doesnt seem to want to take the time to provide references or proof or doesnt feel like answering your questions, then that can be one of the biggest red flags one can see and you should definitely not go with that roofer.

Either way – keep in mind the more questions you ask, the less surprise there will be with the end result of your roof, the materials used, and the final cost of the entire construction project.