Picking a roofing contractor can be a stressful ordeal. You might be dealing with a damaged roof or leaking roof, and then on top of that, you must sort through all the available roofing contractors in your area to find one who will get the job done right while still being affordable. Understandably, you might not be sure about what makes a roofing contractor good or reliable, especially if you are a new homeowner or have never needed one before.

Here are the 8 excellent questions to ask potential roofing professionals before you hire them to protect your home. 

1. Are you a licensed roofing contractor?

Most states require roofing contractors to be licensed in that state to work; but codes and requirements will differ between states, which means it will help you to understand the code requirements for your area. This way you know you are working with a roofing professional who will comply with your state and local area codes. Knowing whether they are licensed and whether that license is up to date, will give you legal recourse if something goes wrong with the work, too. 

2. Do you have workman’s comp insurance?

Although it is now required by law that roofing companies offer workman’s compensation insurance to their employees, regardless of their number, it is wise to ask anyhow. Some contractors might choose to do without and take their chances, but if the injury happens on your property, there is a risk that you could be held liable for the medical expenses which no homeowner wants or needs that stress. Always protect yourself by making sure that the roofing professional you are hiring offer workman’s compensation insurance.

3. Do you carry general liability insurance?

Ask to see an insurance certificate to verify that the roofer has general liability insurance so that in the event your roof, house, or property is damaged, you will not be responsible for covering the damage that your hired roofing company caused. Always protect your interest. 

4. Do you use roofing subcontractors?

Some local roofing company’s hire subcontractors to handle roofing work. Ask if they use subcontractors and then get verification that they have workman’s compensation and general liability insurance. 

5. Will you remove my old roof?

It is not unheard of for roofers to give your old roof a visual inspection and make the call to shingle over it. Visual inspects will always fail to identify problems such as rotten or soft spots; and if those issues continue, they will only create much bigger problems for your roof in the future. The old roof should always be removed before a new one is put down to ensure all roofing issues have been identified and addressed.

6. Will you use ladder stabilizers or standoffs to protect the gutters during roof installation?

It is easy to forget about how the roofers will access your roof when you are shopping for a new roof, but it is critical for the safety of your gutters. Standoffs and stabilizers will keep an excess of a few hundred pounds off your gutters, protecting your guttering system while your roof is replaced. Ask whether they use ladder stabilizers or standoffs, and if they do not, ask how they plan to protect your gutters. 

7. What is your physical address and phone number—and are you local?

Whenever you are preparing to hire a roofing professional, make sure they have a physical location. Operating out of a P.O. box is usually a red flag so always insist on having the physical address of their business, along with their phone number and the company’s full name. You want to verify that they are local.

8. What is the warranty on my new roof?

Shingles carry the same cost as older ones do but they also last a lot longer. You should expect to get at least 25 years out of new shingles, so ask about the length of the new roof’s warranty. 

Call us today at (937) 219-1645 for more information or email us to get to know more about our services. We are happy to help!!!