Most people understand how crucial a roof is to the overall state and comfort of your home. Yet many people may rush into contacting roofing companies without properly considering the best company to use for their needs.
Choosing a high quality roofing company is important in order to get the best advice, a roof that is correctly and appropriately installed, and to ensure that you won’t be left with long term issues that are expensive to fix. So what are some of the things you need to think about before contacting a roofing company?
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Carry out ‘background check’ of the business
Yes, you’re totally entitled to do this and it’s a wise move if you’re entrusting a company with providing a new roof for your home or fixing your existing roof. You’ll want to look into any roofing company’s background and you should expect them to have a perfect service record with excellent reviews from previous clients.
It’s important to check that your roofing company is certified to do the job required and you’ll also want a company that has a good amount of experience working with similar homes in your area. You should be suspicious if you can’t find out any background information about a roofing company you’re considering.
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Does the roofing company have insurance?
If it’s not specifically detailed on their website or advertising material, this is a question to ask the roofing company direct. All roofing contractors in particular should hold Public Liability Insurance, appropriate licences and warranties.
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What services to do the company offer?
Generally, it’s a good idea to go for a professional roofing company who offer a wide variety of services. Many people choose a roofing service provider only to find that they need secondary work or an extra service which this provider doesn’t offer.
Instead, find a roofing company who will be able to help you with everything you need related to your roof. This will save you going between companies and contractors who often don’t communicate amongst each other, leaving you to do much more work that you’d bargained for.
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Does the company use subcontractors?
This is really important to know when you’re contacting a roofing company. You have to be clear about whether any part of the job that you’re employing them to do will be carried out by a subcontractor. You should always expect an honest answer from any reputable roofing company regarding this, and if the answer is yes – you’ll want to ask them the same list of questions including whether they’re insured also.
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What designs and styles are on offer?
Roofing companies can vary greatly in what they offer – not only in their quality and workmanship but also in the design and the styles of the work that they do. Some roofing companies will be very specific and only offer a certain type of roof that they have become specialists in, whilst others offer a huge variety of roofing options to the client.
Have a think about what design and style you like, as well as which materials you’re keen to use. This will help you narrow down your search criteria and make the process more efficient for everyone.
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How much will the roofing company charge?
This is obviously a primary concern to any consumer and especially to homeowners who are concerned about expensive bills and home maintenance. It’s hard to give a direct answer about how much each roofing job should cost as it will always be dependent on different factors such as the type of property, the materials being used and the availability of labour in the area.
Generally though, you should watch out for companies who seem to be charging either very high or very low prices. You should also expect a free cost estimation from the company before you agree to any services so be wary if they start charging before any work has even begun. If you’re unsure whether you’re being quoted a fair price, shop around, do your research and ask local friends how much they have paid for their roofing needs.
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Will the roofing company offer a warranty on work carried out?
You don’t want to pay out huge amounts of money for a new roof only to encounter problems with it, and find out that you’ve got nothing to fall back on. Instead, you need to find out in advance how long the roofing company will guarantee their work for.
You should be aware that there are often two separate warranties – the work is covered by the roofer whilst the materials are covered by the manufacturer. Ensure that you have full details of both before going ahead with the contract.
Would you like to learn more? Read our Roofing 101 Guide and see some of our most commonly asked questions.
