If you haven’t dealt with professional roofers before, then you are probably unsure what to expect. In fact, you might not even be sure how to find a good roofer, so asking your friends and family for references seems like the logical first step.
Once you find the right entrepreneur or a roofing company, you should have a list of 7 questions you should ask your roofer before they start installing or repairing the roof of your home or business.
Table of Contents
Will they hire subcontractors?
Replacing a couple of damaged tiles is not a complex job but if you’re replacing the entire roof, then expect some roofers to hire subcontractors.
This is not a bad business move in itself but you need to make sure it doesn’t backfire on you through an increased final price.
Furthermore, signing a lien waiver will help you stay clear of any disputes your contractors might have with their subcontractor(s), which are not that uncommon.
Do they have a license?
The most obvious of questions is the one that is rarely asked. Just because the contractor has the manpower, equipment, and experience, it doesn’t mean they are licensed roofers.
Licensing is done either by the state, territory or the local municipality and it is important for several reasons.
Firstly, a license ensures the roofer will adhere to certain building codes that ensure they get the job done safely.
Secondly, a license provides clients with financial security and helps swiftly resolve any legal disputes.
What will happen to my old roof?
Unless you are doing minor roof repairs on your home, the issue of what to do with the old roof lingers.
Whether it’s just a section of the roof or the entire roof that is going down, there are going to be sound leftovers that you should know in advance what happens with them.
If you have no need for extra rafters, beams, and tiles, it is perfectly OK for the roofer to keep them or discard them for you.
However, they should let you know what will happen to the old roof before the work commences.
Who will deal with refuse material?
Speaking of refuse, your conversation with the prospective roofer should include the question of who is responsible for dealing with refuse material, such as old plywood, shingles, drip edges, nails, etc.
Disposing of all this waste on your own will lower the initial expenses but it can turn into a real hassle because you’ll need to hire a skip bin, a flatbed, and find a dumpsite that accepts building materials.
Often enough, it is easier to ask the roofer to take care of this for a symbolic fee.
Is the contractor local?
Apart from the portfolio, you should look up the contractor’s address as well. A phone number and a social media profile aren’t enough to confirm that they are legit.
A physical address where you can find them is an assurance that they are not tricksters and that you are hiring a local roofer who knows the area the best.
The latter is important in terms of climate, as they are familiar with the local weather condition.
This will come in handy if your home is located in a region that receives a lot of snowfall or it is exposed to drought for most of the year.
Is the roofing company insured?
The larger the roof repair or replacement project is, the higher are the chances that something will go wrong.
Accidents are inevitable in the long run, so contractors can only decrease their number and lower their severity but not do away with them entirely.
However, roofing companies should have general liability insurance in case something goes wrong.
Damaging the part of the facade or ruining your driveway with heavy machinery are just some of the damage your home might experience.
Luckily, insurance will help both you and the roofer deal with the incurred cost-efficiently.
Will there be onsite assistance?
Numerous roofers have friendly office workers but once the project starts, a foreman or a different supervisor can never be found on site.
This is bad because as roof replacement gets underway, owners are bound to have a question or two they want to ask roofing experts; not office staff.
Therefore, the roofers you hire should have some sort of project manager onsite, even if he or she is present at the site for no more than 15 minutes, as this is more than enough time to ask them what you want.
We hope that you now have a clearer image of the question you should ask your roofer before the work begins. Once you settle these 7 essential questions, you can be sure there are no nasty surprises.
