Hiring a roofing company is inevitable if you own a home or intend to build or renovate one. You’ll need a home professional who will do a superb job of getting your roof the way you want. Thus, you’ll need to look for specific qualities in a provider that will set them apart from all the rest. The following are the most important attributes to seek before hiring a roofing company for your project. Take your time and go through each one to ensure you hire the most suitable prospect.
1. They Have Years of Experience
The home professional you hire should have years of experience. The first two years of any business are rather shaky. Such a business doesn’t yet have enough credibility and established customers to allow you to forge a solid opinion. Thus, we recommend looking for businesses with at least five or more years of rock-solid history.
The longer the tenure is for the companies you evaluate, the more likely you’ll receive the quality service you desire. You can use several methods to determine how long a prospective provider has been in the business. Company websites usually boast about tenure when an organization has a lengthy one. Therefore, looking at the website, you can typically find out how long the business has been open.
Another option is to visit the Better Business Bureau’s website to see if the provider you’re evaluating has a profile on there. You can access the contact information and the date the company was established.
You’ll also see any complaints people have forged about it and use the information to help you make your decision. You can tell whether someone did a good or shoddy job on roof installation services by sifting through those reviews.
Create a list of potential providers that have been open for the periods mentioned above and disregard all other candidates.
2. They Offer Various Services
Another attribute to look for is versatility. In other words, you’ll want to hire a provider that does other work besides what you need. For instance, you might want to hire a company that does roofing and gutters, roofing inspections, maintenance, insulation, etc. That way, you can go to the same provider for all the services you need in the future. It will simplify your life a little bit. Additionally, it might put a few helpful discounts in front of you.
You can tell whether a provider is versatile when you visit their website and look at the service menu. They’re acceptable if their menu has an array of options. However, it would help if you didn’t end your evaluation on the website. Instead, you should take the time to call the provider and ask additional questions. Sometimes, home professionals have custom services they don’t’ list on their sites, so it’s a good idea to reach a little further and grab a few more facts.
3. They Offer Warranties
Another mark of an amazing home professional is confidence in their work. A provider shows confidence by offering warranties to their customers. If you can find a business that offers such warranties, you can most likely feel secure about the service you’ll receive.
Two types of warranties exist. One is a warranty for the products the company uses to perform the job. The other warranty is for the work they do. It will be great to find a provider that offers both warranties.
Product warranties usually have a specific end date, many of which end one year after a customer purchases the item. These warranties cover mechanical defects and problems that shouldn’t arise before the product ages significantly. For instance, your roofing materials should not leak or rot before its time unless something unexpected happens. A product warranty may allow you to have those materials replaced or repaired.
Make sure you inquire about the warranty situation before you decide to hire a home professional. It would help if you got as much protection for the money you spend on your project.
4. They Are Licensed
Roofing businesses should have the proper licensing to do their jobs safely and proficiently. Knowing they have the proper license should give you confidence about their skills and safety awareness. Any reputable company will probably have that information somewhere on their website for display. If not, you can always inquire about it when you schedule your consultation or call for additional information.
Just ask them what licenses and credentials they have for their work. You’ll know you’re dealing with a reliable company if they offer you such information without hesitation. The site might be questionable if they hesitate or return your inquiry with impatience or anger.
It’s important to note that not all roofers need special licensing to do their jobs. Only some states require these individuals to obtain a license. The license might be a roofer’s or contractor’s, depending on the state that requires it. You can be more lenient if you live in a state that doesn’t require it and use other factors to determine which provider is best for you.
5. They Are Insured
Insurance is something else you should want your metal roof contractor to provide. Insurance can cover the expenses if the contractor makes a mistake that damages your property or home. For example, let’s say that some roofing material falls on your car and causes damage that needs body work or some other repair. The home professional can seek to take care of those issues for you by using their insurance policy.
You’ll need to ask about the insurance if the company doesn’t already have something about it written on its website. Use that information to help you compare the various companies against one another. You’ll be more likely to choose the one that benefits you and your entire family.
6. They Offer Various Materials
Your home professional should also offer a range of roofing materials for you to choose from. Some materials benefit the home more than others, and you’ll need to have some popular items to select from.
There are more than 10 roofing materials to choose from. Asphalt is one of the most popular types. Some customers prefer it because of its inexpensive cost and customization options. It’s also one of the easiest types of materials for roofers to install. Metal is more attractive than other types of roofing, and it’s also durable and can last a long time. Unfortunately, it’s more expensive than its asphalt counterpart and a bit more difficult to install on certain types of roofs.
Cedar shake is an excellent option if you want to go for something eco-friendly. It’s also beautiful and can set your home apart from other dwellings in the neighborhood. The downside is that it’s costly and difficult to repair if something happens to it. It must also be treated if you don’t want it to deteriorate rapidly.
Some people like clay roofing material, too. It’s long-lasting and has low maintenance and care requirements. Another quality of clay material is that it’s fire-resistant. Thus, it can be a perfect fit if you have a chimney and use the fireplace.
Composite is another texture many people use. It’s moisture resistant, and that’s something you might want if you want to combat bug infestation, mold, or mildew. If you prefer something longer lasting than usual, you may want to ask the home professional about slate. Slate roofing materials can last up to 200 years, which is twice most people’s lifetimes.
Fiberglass is another good choice because it’s more fire-resistant than asphalt and more durable and tear-resistant than others. You get the idea. Your providers should have those options and a few more. You won’t want to hire a company with limited options because you’ll want to take advantage of what the best roofing services can offer you.
7. They Offer Emergency Services
Another quality you should want the home professional to have is emergency services. Emergency services will help you if you have an issue that needs care right away. For example, you’ll likely want someone to take care of hailstorm damage immediately. You might need someone to come to your home immediately if you lose some of your roofing materials because of the impact of a tree hitting it as well. A good company will have a huge inventory from which you may choose the best option according to the weather where you now reside and the chances that something else might happen.
You can easily find a prospective roofing company that fits the bill for what you need. A visit to their website will reveal the answer to most questions. You’ll also find some additional clues by doing an internet search. Finally, they’ll answer questions for you themselves.
8. They Offer Professional Advice
The provider you choose should also be willing to offer you some professional advice about the job he or she is getting ready to do at your home. They should be able to explain the project process thoroughly and discuss the various material types and how each can benefit. Furthermore, the providers should be able to let you know how the pricing may vary depending on your selections.
The ability to do the above-mentioned things is a huge part of customer service. You can find out how well a prospective provider measures up in the area of customer service by reading the reviews. Clients will most likely leave reviews when they have an overly excellent experience. Likewise, they’ll inform other potential clients if they have a horrible experience with a specific provider. Use the information you gather in your research to decide which home professional to work with and which one you will be better off leaving alone. Your residential roof repairs will be much better off if you use a process like that.
9. They Make You Feel Comfortable
Another quality a good home professional will have is the ability to make his or her customers feel comfortable. The term comfortable can describe various situations. It can refer to feeling comfortable about the provider’s level of knowledge. It could mean you feel comfortable as a valued customer or someone they want to provide excellent service to. It could also mean you feel comfortable about the pricing and payment options they offer you.
A good salesperson will explain the variety of choices you have and tell you how you can save on them, too. For example, this person will let you know you can get solar roof shingles and receive credits or discounts as well.
You can typically get information about such things by reading consumer reviews. You can also do a little research yourself by calling the company and asking questions. You’ll be able to pick up a certain vibe when you contact them the first time. That vibe will let you know where you stand and how willing they are to offer respectable customer service.
10. They Are Local
The roofing companies you hire should be local. Seeking a local company will make it easier for them to get to you if you need something. It will also allow you to be closer to them if you have to stop by the office for something. It’s easy to tell whether a home professional is close to you or not. Visit the website or contact the office to see where they are and use Google Maps to see how far that is from you.
One more good reason to choose a local company is that you might support a smaller business. That will allow that business to earn more money and grow its consumer base through referrals and positive reviews. Thus, you should go for a local company if you support the underdog and fellow neighborhood people.
The long list of qualities you just read about aren’t the only good qualities you should look for in a home professional or professional roofers. You should start with those qualities and use them to choose wisely, though. Work your way all the way down the list, use the process of elimination to narrow your list down, and choose the provider that seems to be the most amazing in every way.
