Is your roof in need of repair? Maybe you’re looking to replace your roof entirely? In any case, you need the services of a professional roofing company such as roofing of arlington heights.
The only thing left to do now is to find one. How do you ensure that you choose the right roofing contractor? By asking the right questions.
So, without further ado, here are 10 questions to ask a roofing repair company before making a hire.
- What Roofing Materials Do You Work With?
One of the first questions you should ask is what kind of roofing materials the company works with. Not all roofing companies work with all materials. In fact, some only work with a single material, like asphalt shingles, for example.
Note, however, that there are a variety of other roofing materials out there. These run the gamut from cedar shakes to metal panels to slate roofing to clay tiles and more.
If you want any of these materials on your roof, you might have to look a little harder to find a viable candidate. In any case, make sure the company you choose has plenty of experience in installing your material of choice. You might even consider asking for pictures of past work.
- Do You Do Commercial or Residential Roofing?
In general, there are two types of roofing services: commercial services and residential services. Commercial services usually revolve around flat roofing solutions, though there are others available. Residential services generally involve sloped roofs, though, again, there are other services available.
We advise you to choose a roofing company that caters to your specific roofing needs. So, if you need roofing work done on your house, choose a residential company. If you need roofing work done on your business, choose a commercial company.
If you need roofing work done on both, choose a company that does both. Wolcott Roofing fits this bill and excels on both fronts.
- How Much Experience Do You Have?
When it comes to roofing work, experience is fairly important. Sure, anyone can nail shingles to a piece of wood. But roofing entails far more than that.
You also need to lay down sheathing and flashing, while strategically placing the shingles so that they provide adequate protection. It’s not something that just anyone can do well, especially if they haven’t done it many times before.
Experience is important for a roofing company, as it helps is to hone its skills and fine-tune its business processes. An experienced roofing company is not only more likely to provide you with quality services but to provide a better experience as well. This is because an experienced company has typically mastered aspects such as payment processing, customer service, and the like.
We recommend choosing a company with at least 2 years of experience under its proverbial belt. This is generally sufficient time for a company to get its act together.
- Are You Insured?
You should never, under any circumstances, hire an uninsured roofing company. Insurance is important for two major reasons: 1. it protects you from having to pay for damages that the roofing company does to your home, and 2. it protects you from having to pay for injuries that occur to the roofing company’s workers on your property.
If a company doesn’t have insurance, it will be much less likely to cover these things. In this case, you would assume liability and would have to either pay the costs or file a lawsuit against the roofing company. In short, it’s a giant headache either way.
So, before making a hire, ask to see proof of both general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. These two insurances should cover you fully.
- Are You Licensed?
In addition to insurance, roofing companies should also possess a license of some kind. In some states, they require nothing more than a business license. In other states, they require a roofing license in addition to a business license.
Licensing is important for a bevy of reasons. For one, it shows that the business is being regulated. As such, it’s much less likely to try and pull a fast one on you.
In addition, licensing proves a requisite amount of skill and knowledge. In other words, it shows that the company knows what it’s doing.
If a company doesn’t have a license, there’s a good chance that it’s just trying to make a quick buck. Don’t let them turn you into that quick buck. Ask to see proof of licensure and make sure that everything is on the up and up.
- How Much Do You Charge?
Finally, you’re going to want to ask your prospective roofing company what it charges. Roofing rates can vary quite a bit from company to company and you want to make sure that you can cover the bill.
Note, each roofing company has its own way of determining costs. Some take the square footage of the roof and multiply it by a certain figure. Others simply estimate how many days the project will take and then priced it based on the time requirement.
Ask each company how they determine their costs and then ask for an estimate as well. An estimate is a ballpark figure that will give you a decent idea as to what you’re getting yourself into financially.
Once you have the estimates in your hand, compare them against one another and chose one that you feel comfortable with. Note, be skeptical of low-ball offers, as they can often indicate poor service or inexperience.
Time to Hire a Reputable Roofing Company
And there they are, 10 questions to ask a roofing company before making a hire. Now, it’s time to take this knowledge and hire a reputable company. There are many out there that are sure to be able to do the job you need.
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