Your roof is one of the most important and expensive parts of your building. A properly installed roof shields your building from weather elements and keeps the indoor space energy efficient. Two important factors that determine the quality of your roof are the Kirkland roofers you hire and the roofing material used. The quality of original roofing material is standard across the board, however, the installation may compromise your project. This is more reason to pay attention to who you hire for the job.
Hiring a roofer is never a simple task, unlike a food service company where you can ask for a sample menu to taste. This article will help you to identify the red and green flags to watch out for when hiring a roofer. Below are some expert tips to get you started.
Begin By Asking For Recommendations
One of the biggest ways to save yourself from the stress of trial and error is to ask for recommendations. When hiring a roofer, you’re better off using a tried and trusted company. You can do this by asking your friends, colleagues at work, family members, or others for roofer recommendations.
Another good thing about asking for recommendations is that it sorts through the available options. People are more likely to recommend roofers who have impressed them in the past. They are also more likely to warn you of bad roofing companies. On both sides, you get to avoid bad roofers and you also collect a list of credible local roofers whom you can vet for your project. The best part is that recommendations are always FREE!
Read Customer Reviews
Whether you’ve gathered tons of recommendations or you’ve hit a brick wall, reviews are always a great way to begin your search. If you’ve gathered recommendations, check out each company’s reviews to decide your next step. If you hadn’t gathered recommendations, conduct a simple “roofers near me” internet search and sort through their reviews.
Look for companies that have great reviews and respond to their reviews. Watch out for the negative reviews and how the company attempts to resolve such issues. Is the roofer being helpful to the customer after the bad review? Are they offering to look into the problem or have they ignored it? These can help you to form a credible opinion about the business and how they operate.
Check Qualifications and Accreditations
When it comes to qualifications and accreditations, roofers who have them can’t stop talking about them. You do not need to ask them, you can simply check their online profile or website to confirm. In most cases, roofers will also tell you if they are affiliated with any roofing manufacturer and whether they are manufacturer-trained. All of these add to the credibility of the roofer. If, however, you can’t find such information, the chances are high that the roofer isn’t accredited. You can go the extra mile to make contact and ask – just to be sure.
After reading the reviews and checking the qualifications, you should have narrowed down your options to a few qualifying roofers in your area. Here is when the real selection battle begins.
Check for licensing and insurance
A licensed roofer gives you a guarantee that they have passed the minimum requirement or standard required by the state or local authority to class them as a roofer. This means that they are likely to do a better job on your roofing project. However, licensing isn’t enough, go the extra mile to confirm that the company is insured. Insurance coverage is an important consideration to prevent liabilities on the project. Ask about the type of insurance the roofer has and what it covers. Doing this gives you the peace of mind that you’re insulated from liability when accidents happen during the project and on your property.
A roofer without insurance coverage is always a red flag. Avoid hiring unlicensed and uninsured roofers, irrespective of how affordable their services may be.
Years of Experience Matter
At this stage, you may find it hard to eliminate some of the final options in your list. Go for the jugular by screening out based on years of experience. A more experienced roofer with plenty of roofing projects to show is likely to know how to handle unforeseen circumstances better. You should ask your roofer how long they’ve been in your local area and how many projects they have handled. It helps if they have verifiable evidence to back their claim. If you’re looking for an experienced and reliable roofer, you can check out this website: https://dallasftworthroofer.com/dallas-tx/roofing/.
Local Roofers with Transparent Quotes
It goes without saying that you should prioritize a local roofer. They are often less expensive and are easier to hold accountable. Thin your list down to about three local roofers and request estimates or quotes. Choose your roofer based on personal preference, experience, detailed and transparent quote, and any other factor that appeals to you. These steps aren’t exhaustive, however, they’ll help you to weed out the unqualified roofers and give you a better chance of hiring an expert for the job.