Whether you need residential or commercial roof repair, you need to ensure you're hiring quality and knowledgeable contractors. The roof of any structure is incredibly important, and if your contractors mess up, they can leave your building or home even more vulnerable to potential damage. Here are a few questions to ask before hiring a roofing contractor that'll help you ensure you're making a confident investment.
Are You Licensed, Insured, and Bonded?
The first question to always ask before hiring a roofing contractor is if they're licensed, insured, and bonded. These three items lend a contractor legitimacy and credibility in their field. However, to go into further depth:
- Licenses are relatively simple for contractors to obtain. All they have to do is register with the state board of licensing contractors. The kind of license they need for your job will affect the price.
- The types of insurance all contractors should have include general liability, workers' compensation, and a company vehicle insurance policy for all vehicles they use on the job.
- A contractor being bonded means that a bonding company is aware of and knows the contractor is conducting business correctly and ethically. This is incredibly important for establishing and supporting a contractor's credibility.
How Can I Contact You?
The next question you should ask is if their offices are local and if you can get in contact with the owner if necessary. A local physical office is ideal, as it's the best way to get in touch with the contractors if something goes wrong. Being aware of how to reach the owner is also beneficial for ensuring you get quick results when you have an issue with your roof that needs fixing.
Can You Provide References?
Having an unbiased third party's experience with your potential contractor is invaluable. You can ask contractors for references and testimonies from their past customers to get an idea of their experiences. Other customers will be the most honest feedback you can find. Ideally, you'll want references from jobs completed in the last three to six months, as jobs further back may inaccurately represent their current services and work quality.