Tips on Hiring Roofing Contractors

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To find a reputable roofing contractor, the BBB urges homeowners to take the following precautions:

• If you don’t already have a trusted contractor, you might obtain bids from several firms, making sure that the specifications of each bid are identical. Ask the contractor to quote you weight per square for composition shingles. This enables homeowners to judge the quality of the materials -- the heavier the weight per square, the higher the quality.
• Ask for a business card and the home headquarters location of the roofing company
• Obtain a reliability report on the firm by calling the Better Business Bureau or look it up on the internet. You can search by company name, phone number or by address. To get an entire list, search by business classification and use “Roofing Contractors”. Find out how long the company has been in business - If the contractor was in business before the hailstorm they likely will be in business after the storm is over
• In addition, make sure the company has a contractor registration and roofing bond on file with the city. Require that they obtain a permit for your roof from the city and that it is part of the written estimate. Remember, a bond may protect you against substandard work that doesn't comply with building codes; however, it may not protect you if the contractor does not complete the job.
• If possible, ask for and check references. Try to talk to previous customers, and if possible, look at a similar job that has been completed recently and one that has been done for several years
• Ask if the contractor would be willing to submit a dispute concerning workmanship or service to a third party arbitration program, and get that commitment in writing.
• Beware of fly by night repair businesses soliciting work in unmarked trucks and requiring advance payment, and do not succumb to high pressure techniques such as the price is "good only for today."