A new roof for your home or business is a major expenditure that ranges in the thousands of dollars. This massive investment should be considered carefully as your roof is a major structural component of any building. Proper installation of a new roof requires skill and attentiveness; so choosing a roofing company should not be taken lightly. Roofing repairs constitute the most common home repair job in North America, and as such there are usually a large number of roofing professionals available for the task. Unfortunately, not all roofers bring the same level of skill or reliability, which is why it is especially important to understand how to check the credentials of a roofing company.
Searching for roofing contractors is the easy part. Especially if you live in a wet climate such as Vancouver, the yellow pages or an internet search can yield tens or even hundreds of potential roofers. Finding a reliable and trustworthy roofer is another task all together. You want to work with a roofer who is experienced and licensed, as well as a roofer with a track record of satisfied customers. Perhaps the best way to narrow your search and ensure that you hire an excellent roofing contractor is to speak to family, friends, colleagues, and neighbours about their experiences with roofers. Still, once you have a shortlist of roofers, you’ll need to ensure that they are qualified and provide the services you require.
Licenses and Insurance
Most roofing companies will be licensed to provide roofing services, but not all are insured for liability. While workers’ compensation is mandatory, you’ll also want to ask potential roofers about insurance coverage.
Permits
All construction work requires permits, so your roofing contractor should be experienced in attaining these permits. In some cases, permits can be quite expensive and home or business owners are not usually familiar with which permits are required or how much they’ll cost. Choose a roofing company that will speak openly and honestly about permit requirements and how these factor into the cost of your roofing repair or replacement.
Warranty
Roofing materials are generally covered by a manufacturer’s warranty, but your roofer’s labour is not. Ideally, you will want to work with a roofer who offers a warranty on labour for at least 10 years after installation of the roof.
Stability
Finally, one sure sign that your roofing contractor is a trustworthy and reliable professional is their stability in the industry. A roofing company that is established and has been serving a community for several years (or even decades) is likely a company with a solid reputation. Word of mouth travels fast, and disreputable roofers become known to community members; this makes it difficult to continue to conduct business in the same locale. On the other hand, a trusted roofing professional that has been serving the same community for more than 20 years will most likely have the experience and qualifications necessary to properly repair or replace your roof.