It’s different hiring someone to come work on your roof compared to other home services. The stakes are higher, the costs are higher, and one wrong decision can come back to bite property owners for years down the road. Unfortunately, most property owners only hire roofing contractors a handful of times in their life, meaning there’s little practice for getting what truly matters versus what doesn’t.
The good news is that armed with the right knowledge of what’s necessary, the process becomes less daunting and unnecessary corners cutting or fly-by-night contractors can be avoided. Here’s what truly matters when searching for a person or business to handle one of the most critical elements of any structure.
Licensing and Insurance Are a Must – Always
This may seem like common sense, but there are plenty of contractors who operate without proper licensing and insurance. Homeowners skip over this portion because they recommend the company or family and friends said they were good. Unfortunately, working with a contractor who’s unlicensed can void all warranties, make a property owner liable for anything and everything that happens on their property.
Legitimate contractors all have liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage. Liability insurance ensures that if a contractor working on a roof does any damage, it can be covered and fixed without additional concerns. Workers’ compensation protects against employee injuries, if a worker falls on the job without workers comp, the property owner is liable for all expenses.
Don’t take their word for it either, ask for proof of insurance and take a moment to check it’s legitimate. Most reputable insurance companies will confirm over the phone that the insurance coverage is current.
State and local licensing regulations differ but exist for a reason. They ensure that there’s a baseline capability established among contractors that meet requirements, pass tests, and anyone who behaves poorly or subpar can be reported to a regulatory board. The recourse for poor performance from an unlicensed contractor exists solely in small claims court, if anything at all.
Roofing Systems Require Experience with Certain Types
No roofing systems or projects are created equal and therefore not all contractors have experience across the board. For example, if someone is an expert in residential asphalt shingles, they might not be the best choice for someone with a commercial flat roof or someone looking for tile installation. Each type performs differently, is installed differently, and has different problems along the way.
Homeowners should inquire about their experience working with a specific project type. How many similar jobs have they completed? Can they provide references? A top-rated roofing company in Tampa, or any area, should be able to show credibility across the board with similar system installations.
It’s also worth asking about their experience with permits and inspections. Roofs must abide by local building codes even when homeowners think it’s as easy as applying shingles or laying down tar. Those who work in certain areas frequently will understand specific regulations and the need or lack thereof for permitting inspections that could delay progress.
Vague Estimates Aren’t Detailed Enough
Good estimates are broken down into costs that make sense. For example, there should be materials broken down by type and amount needed, labor costs should be specified with scope of work, what’s included and what’s not should be explicit.
The more vague an estimate is, like throwing everything into one lump sum, the more questionable it is.
Ultimately, detailed estimates protect both parties from added costs on top of unnecessary performance or misunderstandings about how much work is included. If an estimate details X amount of work and the job gets completed but only Y amount is completed because there were “surprises,” clear expectations were not established. If a contractor gets offended by wanting to know further information and questions along the way, that’s also something to note.
It’s important to note that if everyone else is charging $1,200 for materials but one company charges $800 with labor all around comparable rates, odds are the work won’t get done with quality for that price. Materials cost what they cost, labor costs what it costs, cutting corners or rushing through to get the payment isn’t in anyone’s interest aside from possibly the contractor lacking funds.
References Differ From Reviews
Any contractor can give a reference or two for their best jobs or happy customers who they know will say something nice about them. No problem, but that’s not the whole picture. Realistically, reviews from people who had no reason to leave a review aside from giving their honest experience usually paint a clearer picture over time through patterns than what references say.
Look for references who provide reviews that include specific details about projects completed, how contractors handled setbacks – and all roofs have their setbacks, and whether or not timeframes and budgets remained valid.
A contractor with most five-star reviews and a handful of negative reviews about communication or scheduling can be normal; a contractor with multiple reviews lamenting about shoddy quality work or disappeared crews is another story.
While it’s great to call up references, too, they’re important to ask specific questions – did crews show up at 8:00 am every day? How did they respond to obstacles? Did they clean up after finishing? Would they hire again? Generic answers like “yeah they were great” aren’t as useful.
The Communication Style Says More Than You’d Think
The way a contractor communicates during the estimate process is usually how they’ll communicate after the fact. For example, are they prompt on returning calls, answering questions clearly without fluff? Is it easy to get in touch with them? Or does it seem like they’re too busy?
Projects won’t always go according to plan. There might be weather delays, unforeseen issues arise, shipments might fall behind schedule. When these complications come up, because they will – solid communication can be the difference between something manageable versus frustrating mess.
A contractor who’s hard to get a hold of or vague about details will be even harder when things come up.
It’s also important to note whether or not clients get pushed into decisions that aren’t in their best interest. A good contractor will ask questions about importance, budget limitations and long-term ideas for the property; someone’s pitching just to get a sale isn’t someone who has any interest in doing what’s right for the homeowner.
Warranties Need to Be Read
Most roofing systems will offer manufactured warranties but those only cover defects, not installation problems, or other concerns that may arise. The contractor’s workmanship warranty protects against installation issues and this is where things get tricky.
Some contractors offer one-year warranties while others offer ten, some cover labor with extensive repairs, while others offer limited coverage or no coverage for labor, and it’s just not worth it since some people do not care.
Warranty terms matter and need to be read closely, as well as provided in writing – since verbal agreements mean nothing three years down the line when things go south.
What’s the recourse if something goes awry during the duration? Larger contractors might feel confident in transferring warranties; smaller operations may not, but it’s not wrong either way. Each circumstance merits consideration when moving forward.
Everything Should Be Covered by Contract
Get everything in writing before any work gets done! This includes outlining scope of work, materials used (with brand name/grain specifics), timeframe, payment schedule (down payment vs final payment upon completion), contractual expectations including accountability should something come up, or no accountability at all
For example, never pay upfront. Paying 25% or 50% up front makes sense if it secures materials and purchase, paying more than necessary upfront raises red flags regarding financial strife or scams.
Also be clear about who is responsible for permits and inspections, some contractors cover them as standard practice, others cover them at added costs and some expect homeowners to get their own permissions. Nipping this at the bud saves finger pointing later down the road.
Trust Your Gut!
Finally, after confirming credentials and lining everything up from estimates to contract signings comes the gut feeling. Does this feel right? Should this person take over one of the biggest challenges of homeownership?
It’s one thing to work with someone you trust; it’s another to let strangers invade your personal space for days or weeks at a time. If anything feels suspicious – even if corners are cut for recommendations along the way, that’s enough reason not to move forward.
There’s nothing like feeling like you made a bad decision once you’ve hired someone since even if they’re successful with credentials doesn’t mean they’re someone who can be trusted to do what was promised.
Holding a Master’s in Construction Management from Purdue University, William Ray has dedicated more than two decades to studying and applying construction principles. His professional journey includes a tenure with a prominent construction firm, where he specialized in project management and building technologies. William brought his knowledge to our team, providing in-depth insights into practical construction techniques. As the leader of our beginner’s guide to building since 2019, he has a knack for breaking down intricate processes into easily digestible content. When not involved in writing or onsite consultations, William enjoys woodworking and volunteering in community building projects, which aligns with his passion for hands-on construction and community service.
