When you are in the market for a new roof, there are many factors to consider before hiring a contractor to do the job. I have listed a few of the most important factors below. Please take a moment and read the following, and I promise, if you follow these guidelines, you are going to have a better result after making one of the toughest decisions you ever had to make. After all, our roof protects everything we value underneath it.
References
If your contractor cannot provide references to the quality of work they perform, do not hire.
Accreditation's
In today's roofing market, there are way too many people claiming to be professionals. The only way to be sure is to look for manufacturer certified contractors. This proves that through continuing education in the ever changing processes of roofing, and the commitment to quality results, the manufacturer is willing to provide support to these few contractors. Roofing has come a long way from just a hammer and nails, especially in the climate of Western New York. It has become a science to battle the harsh effects of weather, temperature, ventilation, etc., to provide a roof with maximum life expectancy.
Price
In today's economy, many people are tempted and ultimately fooled when receiving proposals for thousands of dollars less than the nearest competitors. There is a reason they are so cheap. The profit will always be the same, but the labor may be cheap and inexperienced. Maybe they are using the lowest quality materials, or even worse, skipping essential portions of the roofing process altogether, to maintain their "bottom line". An excellent rule is to obtain 3 written estimates by reputable businesses in your area. If the prices are all close, make sure you compare the details, apples to apples, as this tends to separate the best of the best. If one estimate is way higher than the other 2, while performing the same work, throw it away. In contrast, if one estimate is way lower than the other 2, while performing the same work, throw it away also. You have to be very smart with your decisions, as very few contractors actually care about little else than the money that goes into their pockets.
Knowledge
This is probably the most critical step. Ask a lot of questions. A reputable sales person will be able to answer them all with little or no hesitation. As I mentioned before, roofing is a science. This will eliminate the companies that are uneducated, or set in their ways and not willing to change with the technology of today. Shingles are made different than they were, and therefore have to be installed differently.
Longevity
I list this last, because it wasn't all that long ago when I first started out in business. While there are many young entrepreneurs out there that will provide good results at fair prices, the fact remains that there is a lot more to a business, than just good work. Studies have shown that more than 50% of the roofing businesses started in a given year, fail within 1 year. Even worse, 75% are gone within 2 years of business. The great price you paid for your new roof 2 years ago, isn't looking all that good 3 years later when it leaks and you can't find the contractor because he isn't in business anymore.
The point of all this is to make sure you are an "educated consumer". You will end up satisfied with your project, and it will last longer if you follow the steps above.
Thanks for reading this article,
Chris Wagner
Built-Right Home Improvements
