Sunday, August 5, 2012

home improvement | choosing a roofer

We?ve all been there. There? s a problem around the house that needs attention and we need to hire a contractor who can fix it for us. If you?re like me, you don?t really want to flip open the yellow pages and randomly choose the first add that you find. When it comes to roofing repairs, you certainly want to know that the company you?re hiring is experienced, reliable and prompt.

Here are some points to consider when you?re looking to hire a qualified roofing contractor for a home improvement project around your home or when a roofing emergency strikes.

? As with any tradesperson, the best way to find a roofer is to go by reputation. Talk to your neighbors, relatives and friends who have recently had their roofs done and ask them for referrals. If you happen to be friends with a builder, general contractor or real estate agent, ask them for referrals since they often deal with roofing companies.

? In addition to referrals, you?ll also want to make sure that this is a reputable and long-standing company. Since you may be installing shingles with a life-span of upwards of 25 years, you?ll want to know that the contractor will still be around should you need any roof repairs done under warranty.

? Find out about the products the roofer uses, the details of the warranty for those products and if the manufacturer allows other companies to do the repair, should this roofer decide to retire prior to a warranty issue surfacing.

? Each state has different requirements and licenses for roofers. Find out what the requirements are in your state and make sure that the roofer you hire has the right license.

? Roofing can be dangerous work. Ask for proof of insurance to be sure that they have both liability insurance and a workers? compensation policy. You may also want to ask what sort of safety training the employees receive.

? Get written estimates from more than one company. The cheapest bid is not always the best choice. In some cases, companies who are desperate for work will underbid their competitors but then will cut corners or use inferior materials to make up for their low price.

? Find out if the roofing work you?re having done requires permits and whether or not the roofing contractor will pull the permits.

If you live in an area that is prone to extreme weather such a tornadoes, wind storms or hail that commonly damage roofs, you may want to do some research ahead of time so that you aren?t scrambling to find a reputable roofer along with everyone else after the next storm hits.

Source: http://www.my-home-improvement.com/2012/08/05/how-to-choose-a-roofing-contractor-2/

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