You may be considering replacing your roof because it is old, unsightly or too damaged to make repairing it feasible. Whatever your reason for opting for roof replacement, clearly the first thing you need to do is to choose a roofing contractor who will best meet your particular needs.

Here are some helpful suggestions for finding the right roofer for you. First of all, word-of-mouth is one of the best ways to find good service in your area. Ask your friends, neighbors, co-workers and other acquaintances if they’ve had recent experience with a roofing contractor, particularly if they’ve had a roof similar to yours replaced. Check with people at your church and other places where you meet people whose opinions you value.
One great source of information may be your insurance agent, especially if your new roof will be paid for by your homeowner’s insurance.

Once you’ve gotten the names of a few promising roofing contractors, it’s time to do some investigating on your own. Start by checking to see if the roofer has a website. As a rule, any truly professional roofer can be expected to have a website, and it’s a good place to get information about the business and to get a feel for how they operate.

You will want to find out how long the roofer has been in the business, whether it’s an established company or a newly-started one. You’ll want to know what services contractor offers. There are many general building contractors who offer roofing services – are you okay with that, or would you prefer a company that specializes in roofing? Our advice is to stick to specialists, because top-quality roof replacement is a specialist’s job.

You will want to get information about the materials that a roofing contractor provides. Ideally, they should use high-quality materials made by top brands such as GAF or CertainTeed.

It is important to find out if a roofing contractor has the requisite licenses for residential roofing services. For this, you may want to check online about the licensing requirements for roofers in your area.
Naturally cost will be a factor in your choice, and the truth is that good, licensed roofers are never cheap. Some may be more affordable than others, but this is an area where very low prices probably indicate very low quality services. Unlicensed, uninsured roofers may charge bargain rates, but you will pay dearly in the long run for purchasing an inferior-quality, poorly-installed roof.

Speaking of insurance, you should definitely double-check to make sure a company you choose is fully insured. Any reputable roofing contractor should have general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. And they should be perfectly willing to provide you with written proof that they have up-to-date insurance.

After you have looked into all of the above issues, it will be time to meet with your prospective roofing contractor to conduct a personal interview. Ask for an estimate of the cost of your project and also for an estimate of how long the job will take and how soon it can be started. Find out what they expect in the way of access for their equipment and supplies, electric needs, and ask whether it is their policy to clean up at the end of each day or at the end of the job.

Ask to see photos of recent work they have done, and for contact information for two or three recent customers so that you can check their references. (Be sure to follow up and check these references before making a final decision.

As you ask these questions and get answers and information from your prospective roofer, ask yourself if you feel comfortable about them and trust their expertise? Do they come across as genuine? Your instincts count for a lot here.

Once you are fully satisfied, go ahead and sign the roofing contract, confident that you have chosen the right roofing contractor for your needs.

For information about America’s Best Contractors roofing services, please call 503-259-0538 or send an email to shonda@americasbestcontractors.com.