5 Questions to Ask Your Prospective Roofing Contractor

Are you getting ready to sit down with the contractors that gave you quotes for your roof replacement? If so, do you know what questions you need to ask them? It's alright if you don't, you—re not alone. So, what are the key questions to ask a roofing contractor? At Henderson Roofing, we're eager to educate on all things roofing, so here are five critical questions to ask and the answer you should be looking for.

Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?

• Licensed: For a contractor to get a license, all they have to do is register with the state's board of licensing contractors.
• Bonded: Being bonded means that a bonding company knows that a contractor does business correctly and ethically. If a company goes out of business during the middle of a job or if there's a problem with the work and they don't fix it, then the customer can fall back on the bond company.
• Insured: All contractors should be fully insured with general liability, workman's comp, and a company vehicle insurance policy on all the vehicles owned and unowned.

Don't be afraid to ask to see physical copies of each. Be mindful, the requirements may vary based on the state you live in. Research your local codes and make sure the contractor you hire has all the appropriate permits and paperwork. (Know more about hiring an Roofing Contractor)

Is Your Business Local?

Always ask a roofing contractor where their physical office location is and make sure they have a local phone number. A quality local roofing company will know what local installation codes to follow, the paperwork required, and everything else they—ll need to ensure your roof is correctly installed and in compliance with your state's requirements. Be aware that some out-of-state companies come in after a big storm, undercut local roofing company prices, get the money, and move on to the next storm-hit town. These companies don't care about local codes or if they properly install your roof.

How Long Have You Been In Business?

If you choose a newer roofing company that's a couple of years old, chances are their prices will be a lot cheaper. The problem is they don't know how to price jobs correctly to have retained earnings at the end of the year to get them through the winter months. That's when a new company will shut down. That's not to say there aren't good young companies, but you'll want to make sure they will still be around to take care of your roof investment. The longer a roofing company has been in the business doesn't make them any better, it just means that they'll be around if there's a problem.

Can I Talk To The Owner If I Have A Problem?

The ability to speak to the owner about anything roofing is invaluable. If they take time out of their day to listen to any concerns or questions, you can be well assured that your problem is their problem. However, if you—re speaking to people in an office who have no authority, you—ll end up being shuffled around from person to person until you get tired of dealing with the situation. Ultimately, you want to know who you—re dealing with and, more importantly, who to talk to when you have a problem. The ability to speak to an owner shows you that you—re important and that you—ll be taken care of from the very top.

Can You Give Me References?

Getting references from a contractor is crucial to hiring the right one. Ask every contractor that gives you an estimate to provide you with references from jobs completed in the past 3 to 6 months. A reputable roofing contractor will be happy to give you these references when you ask for them. You can even double-check if the contractor gave you honest answers to the questions in this article by talking to past clients.

Ask More Questions

Now you know the first five questions you should ask a roofing contractor like Henderson Roofing Westerly today. That said, your questions shouldn't stop there! Be sure to inquire as to what their warranties are like, how they can protect your home during a project, or even about proof of their workmanship. The more questions you can have answered, the clearer a picture you'll have when choosing a contractor that's right for you!