Nervousness can set in for homeowners who aren’t used to roofing. Your home is your largest investment. You don’t want someone else to ruin your home by doing a poor job. Doing the job yourself can result in injuries, especially if it isn’t something you know how to do. A professional roofing contractor will be your best option.
Here are five questions you should ask your roofing contractor before signing a contract.
1. Are You a Licensed Roofing Contractor
First, you should ask any roofing contractor if they are licensed to practice in their state. While most states require contractors to be licensed, it doesn’t prevent them from performing roofing work. However, the government regulates roofing. A license is a proof that the contractor is competent, knowledgeable, and experienced enough to practice their profession.
Many states offer a website that allows you to check the status of a contractor’s license and input their number. You should not hire a roofing contractor if they fail to provide their license.
2. Are You Covered By The Appropriate Insurance?
In any type of home improvement or repair, there is always a chance that someone could be hurt. This is especially true for roofing projects. In such cases, it is important to ensure that both the contractor and you have the appropriate insurance.
Ask the roofing contractor if they have workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance. General liability insurance covers you for damage to your property, while workers’ compensation insurance covers you for any medical costs incurred by the contractor. General liability insurance is required by most states for contractors. It also protects them from any claims against their work.
3. May I See Your References?
Checking their previous work is a great way to determine the experience and abilities of a roofing contractor. Ask your roofing contractor for a list of previous clients. You can visit these clients or speak to them about their experience. You can be confident in the contractor’s abilities if they are happy with the work.
You can ask your clients the following questions:
Did the job get done on time? Were there mistakes? What were the solutions?
Did you make any modifications to the original plan?
Did you feel satisfied with the job?
Would you recommend this contractor to others?
4. Are Subcontractors Hired To Help With a Portion Of The Work?
Sometimes roofing contractors will hire subcontractors to help with a portion of their roofing projects. If this is the case, you should also ask subcontractors whether they are licensed and insured.
In case of payment disputes between the roofing contractor, subcontractor, or both, it is worth asking if they will use subcontractors. Unpaid subcontractors can work with you to secure their lien rights on the roofing project. If they don’t pay, it could make you liable for payment.
5. How Much?
Uncertain payment terms can cause real problems in the end. Ask the roofing contractor to discuss the preferred payment arrangement before there is an issue with payment. Ask the contractor about the cost of the project and how much they would like to pay upfront. Ask the contractor if they prefer to be paid on a time basis or on milestones. Before the roofing project begins, make sure you clarify all details.
It can be difficult to find a trustworthy roofing contractor. These are the questions you should ask potential contractors. You can be sure that your roof project will go smoothly if they give you a satisfactory answer.
This post was written by a roofing specialist At All-Star Roofing. We offer the best Tampa roof repair in Tampa Bay FL. We are a family-owned and operated roofing business, and we strive to be the best in our industry. Our family has been in the Tampa Bay area for over 60 years, and our objective has always been to provide roofing services at a fast, reliable, and competitive rate. All-Star has a tradition of quality workmanship, servicing residential and commercial properties.