12 Questions To Ask A Roofing Company Before Hiring Them

Hiring a company to perform a service isn’t easy, and that goes double for hiring a roofer. The reason is simple: no matter the size or material of your home’s roof, a project that involves replacing it is a major investment. A job that’s done wrong or without the proper materials won’t be instantly recognizable, but down the road, you — and your wallet — will certainly notice.

That’s why the information you get before you make your decision on a roofer is critically important. Here are 12 of the top questions to ask a roofing company when you need to replace or repair your roof.

1. ARE YOU LICENSED AND INSURED?

Being licensed to build in Wisconsin is non-negotiable for the roofing contractor you choose. Building codes vary in each state, and an up-to-date license is evidence that a roofer can comply with the codes in yours. At the same time, roofing is a dangerous profession and can present risks both to your property and the people working on it. Ensuring that any company you’re considering has the proper coverage in the event of an accident is crucial.

2. ARE YOU LOCAL?

Having a local business residence may not matter to some, but it should. A roof replacement may seem like a one-time job, but it may not be. If the company you choose isn’t based in Wisconsin or wherever you call home, what happens if there’s a problem, and you need additional repairs? Are you comfortable pursuing a warranty with a company thousands of miles away?

3. WILL YOU PROVIDE A WRITTEN ESTIMATE?

For many roofing contractors, it’s still a “handshake” business, but when such a sizable investment is on the line, you’ll need more than that to have faith in the company you choose. If a company won’t give you the specifications of the job — including the project estimate — in writing, you’re opening yourself up to potential headaches. The company you choose should operate completely above board, and a written estimate is step one.

4. DO YOU HAVE REFERENCES?

Don’t just let a prospective roofer speak for themselves. When hiring a roofer, make sure you can learn about the experiences of previous customers. Even if the company themselves don’t provide references, reviews are very easy to find online. Whether it’s Yelp, Angie’s list, Google or any of the dozens of other customer review websites. Scour the reviews — did any past customers have an experience that should raise a red flag? 

Check out ReNew Roofing’s reviews here: https://bit.ly/39gmkwU

5. CAN I SEE YOUR PORTFOLIO?

In the same sense, you should ask to see previous jobs if they don’t have a gallery on their website. The case isn’t that you’ll be able to tell the quality of the job that a given company can do, it’s that a portfolio gives you an idea of the type of jobs they’ve done. Contrary to what you might think, no two roofs are exactly alike — can a certain company handle all the unique aspects of your roof?

6. HOW LONG DO YOU ESTIMATE MY ROOF WILL TAKE?

This is another important aspect. Sure, maybe a roofer with a small crew can do a great job, but how long will you have to have a team on your roof? Finding a roofing contractor that can finish the job at a high level of quality while also being as efficient as possible is important to making that final choice.

7. WHAT’S THE WARRANTY ON MY NEW ROOF?

This is a question that all roofers expect to hear, so don’t worry about coming off as offensive — you’re not saying that you expect something to go wrong, but all the same, you need assurance that you’re protected in the event that something unexpected happens. Make sure you understand all aspects of the warranty before you put pen to paper.

8. DO YOU WORK WITH SUBCONTRACTORS THAT YOU TRUST?

If you’re still considering a company at this point, you trust them. But what about the subcontractors and vendors that they might work with while they’re removing and replacing your old roof and installing a new one? 

9. HOW WILL YOU PROTECT MY PROPERTY WHILE YOU’RE WORKING?

You want to know that your home, first and foremost, is safe during your roofing job. That’s a given. What many people don’t take the time to learn is how a roofing contractor will handle damage to your property during an installation.

You want to hire a roofer that’s responsible for their impact —  that they keep a waste container on the driveway or lay tarps down where they’re putting their ladders or materials. This will ensure to have as little impact as possible on your grass, gardens and other features of your property when they’re finished.

10. HOW WILL YOU HANDLE INCLEMENT WEATHER DURING THE JOB?

Your roof is supposed to protect you from heavy rain, so it’s understandable that most roofers won’t start a job if there’s a lot of rain or other precipitation in the upcoming forecast. But what if an unexpected storm rolls through? When you’re hiring a roofer, you’ll want to make sure that they have a plan in place to cover your unfinished roof temporarily to prevent leaks and damage.

11. WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE QUESTIONS DURING THE INSTALLATION?

Like in construction, a quality roofing job should have a foreman or someone in charge of overseeing the project. Their responsibilities should also include communicating with you during the job — if you have questions, the company you choose should give you easy access to this person as your point of contact throughout.

12. HOW MUCH WILL NEW PLYWOOD COST IF YOUR FIND ISSUES WITH THE DECKING?

This is the number one source of unexpected costs associated with a roof replacement — your roofer peels off the shingles or roofing material to find that the decking underneath isn’t viable anymore. That means additional cost and time gets added to the project, but how much? Understanding this before a job gets started will save you potential stress in the long run.

These are only some of the questions you should ask any roofing company throughout Wisconsin and across the country. If you’d like to speak with someone on our team, call 833-715-ROOF

To learn more, visit https://renewallroofs.com/.