Geelong Roofing Contractors
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9 Tips For Hiring the Best Roofer for Your Home

Answer...

As a homeowner, every once in a while, you will need to bring in an expert to examine and fix your roof as necessary. But given these days when there are too many bogus contractors, how do you ensure that you find the right one?

 

Here are 9 tips for hiring the best roofer for your home:

 

1. Qualifications, Licensing and their Abilities

 

The first step you should take in looking for the right roofer is to check the candidate’s qualifications, licensing and abilities. Is this person well trained, licensed and able to handle your roofing problems?

 

2. Experience

 

They say experience is the best teacher. No matter the school where a roofing contractor attained his/her qualifications from, one who does not have experience should be your last option. We recommend looking for someone with at least three years of experience.

 

3. Warranty

 

A good roofing contractor will offer a warranty on repairs and work they are completed on your home. Any contractor that does not offer this is a no-no. After all, who will compensate you in the event that they negligently cause further damage to your roof or house in general?

 

4. Communication

 

Another important step in determining the right roofing contractor is checking for communication. Did the company answer your calls or respond to your emails in a timely manner? Did they send the documentation that you asked for promptly? Did they follow through? If the answers are “no”, then you had better move on to another roofing company.

 

5. Price Can Be Misleading

 

Do not be misled by price. Just because a roofing contractor offers lower rates does not mean he/she is the appropriate choice. He/she may offer such rates in exchange for poor services. Just because he/she is expensive does not mean he/she will offer quality services either. The professional may charge higher rates, but still offer substandard services. The key is to look for someone who offers rates according to the market.

 

6. Work Portfolio

 

Never hire a contractor before seeing their past work samples at any one time. Ask the candidate to show you a few verified photos or videos of roofs they have worked on. If they are reluctant to do that, that is another good indication that you should move on to the next one. After all, how will you tell that they are able to handle your project if they cannot provide their past work samples?

 

7. Testimonials

 

Before you give the contractor a job, it pays to take the time to find out about what his/her past clients had to say about him/her. Of course, not everyone will give positive feedback, but if more people gave negative feedback, then you had better not take the risk of hiring them.

 

8. Get Local Referrals

 

Asking for local referrals is another great way to find the right contractor. Therefore, ask your loved ones, neighbors, friends and even colleagues for recommendations. Once you get a few names, choose one that was recommended more times.

 

9. Lookup your Candidate Online

 

If you are still in doubt about the suitability of a contractor, then look him/her up online. Websites such as Research Better Business Bureau (BBB) provide contractor ratings and other vital information on some of these contractors. If you find your contractor's profile on there with good ratings, then you found the best professional to fix your roof. If their profile does not show up on there and even on other similar sites, then am sorry to let you know that you might be looking at a possible fraudster.

 

Conclusion

 

It is not hard to find the right roofing contractor as you may think. As long as you use these tips, you will find one effortlessly. Let your roof be repaired or replaced by a qualified contractor today. We hope that this article helped you avoid the storm chasers and fraudsters5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Roofer

5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Roofer

Answer...

The roof of a house is the most important part of it. It provides safety and comfort to the residents from weather elements and external environment. Hence, the task of repair or replacing the roof should not be taken for granted. It should only be assigned to a professional roofer who will do a quality job. Poor quality of workmanship and unprofessional roofers can cause a lot of expenses later on the roof due to subsequent repairs and damage.

 

Key Considerations

It is important to assess and evaluate the various roofers in the market to arrive at the best possible option. Asking the correct questions to them can disclose a lot about their expertise and professionalism and the quality of work that can be delivered by them. The following basic questions will help in evaluating the roofers and help to shortlist the ideal one for the job.

 

Where is the Office

Roofers should be asked about their office address. Companies having local addresses and local contact details should be considered. Companies which do not have local offices will be usually not available to locate if there is any problem in the roof later. Also, having a local office establishes their credentials as well.

 

Is the Roofer Licensed

One should ask the roofers if they are licensed, bonded and insured. License proves the credentials of the roofer and that they possess the technical know-how on the roofing job. The insurance protects the owners from any damage that may result or the injuries to the workers. In case the company does not take care of their payments to the suppliers, the bond protects the owners from any mechanics lien against the home. It is also suggested to not only ask for the bond number but to verify if it is valid and up to date or not.

 

References

Roofers should be asked to provide references. Once the references are given, they should be verified and their feedback should be taken on the quality of the work done by the roofer for them. Professional roofers should be happy to provide references of their satisfied customers. If they are reluctant to provide references, it means that they do not either have happy and satisfied customers who can vouch for them or the roofer does not have sufficient work experience in this field. Such roofers should be avoided.

 

Warranty Provisions

It is important to ask the roofers on the warranty provisions on the workmanship and the materials used. Roofers providing these two types of warranties should only be considered for further shortlisting. It protects the customers against faulty workmanship and poor quality of materials used by unprofessional roofers.

 

Written Estimates

Companies should be asked if they provide written estimates or not. A professional and qualified roofing company will always provide all estimates in writing. The estimate should contain information on the date of commencement and completion of work along with payment schedules and terms.

 

Conclusion

Asking the above-mentioned questions will help in evaluating the ideal roofer. Once the ideal roofer has been identified, they can be awarded the contract for roofing. These professional roofers will be able to give you quality workmanship and provide a roof that will be durable and provide safety to the house. The roof is the shield and protection for the house against the natural elements and it can not be compromised on quality parameters. It is important to protect the roof that protects you.