Autumn Means It’s Time for a Professional Roofer
No part of your home is more important than the roof. It protects you, your possessions, and the house itself from rain and snow. It keeps out insects and larger pests like squirrels. It holds in the warm air the furnace makes to keep your home comfortable and your heating bills low.
There may be some obvious damage or deterioration up on your roof. You may be able to see some cracked or missing shingles or have discovered a leak. But even if you haven’t spotted any trouble, it’s a good idea to contact a roofing company to come out and make an inspection.
The inspection can discover problems that weren’t apparent to you, problems that need attention before they get worse. It might even point up the need for roof replacement although you naturally hope not (Roof replacement is pricey, but weather and time deteriorate every roof over time. Depending on the particular material, local weather conditions, etc., a roof lasts 15 to 25 years.)
Fall is the perfect time for a roof inspection because winter comes after fall, and winter with its snowfall and cold, gusty winds will stress the roof considerably. Roof repair now can eliminate vulnerabilities and keep the roof from failing you in a big way just when you need it most.
Once you decide you need to contact a roofing company, the issue then becomes, how do you make sure you’re doing business with competent, ethical professionals?
How to Choose a Professional Roofer
HomeAdvisor, HomeFlock, and comparable services provide lists of professionals in your area who have been vetted via a screening process.
Angie’s List, sitejabber, and other sites provide customer ratings and reviews.
They’re well worth consulting, but you won’t necessarily have to go online to find information on roofing companies. Do you have family members, friends, or coworkers who had occasional to hire a professional roofer? If so, ask if they’d recommend that roofing company, and why or why not. You’ll get a better sense of whether you’d want that roofing company working on your house if you obtain detailed information.
Similarly, you can talk to former and current customers assuming the professional roofer is willing to make their names and contact information available to you.
There are certain attributes and qualities you should look for as you evaluate whether a particular professional roofer is the right choice for you.
Attributes of a Trustworthy Professional Roofer
The roofing company should be well established in your area. You want one that’s local and, ideally, has been around for a while. If a roofer isn’t local, or if the business is here today and gone tomorrow, you might have a lot of trouble getting defective work corrected or a warranty honored.
Professional roofers should have the training and experience to provide roofing services well. They have the certifications that attest to their abilities.
A good roofing company provides safe working conditions for all its workers and protects them all with worker’s comp.
A professional roofer is knowledgeable about permits and will secure any necessary ones prior to beginning a job.
A reputable roofing company will provide an estimate before you agree to a job and confer with you if they see a need to revise that estimate as the job proceeds. The point of the discussion will be to demonstrate to your satisfaction that any increase is necessary and reasonable and to ensure that the work remains within your budget. You naturally hope the original estimate will stand, but unforeseen circumstances can arise that increase costs.
A reputable professional roofer will not ask for full payment up front although you should anticipate making a down payment of no more than 10 perfect.
A professional roofer should set a completion date for a job and, as with changes to the estimate, talk with you to explain any delays and establish a new date.
A good professional roofer will guarantee the work and provide an industry-standard warranty. For example, if you’re actually getting a new roof, the roofing company should guarantee installation and workmanship for five years. The roofing materials themselves should come with a 20 to 40 year warranty.
At Stay Dry Roofing, we pride ourselves on being a roofing company that meets all the standards above. Call us when you’ve made the wise decision to engage a roofer before winter arrives.