Replacing a roof doesn’t have to be stressful. Perhaps you have recently discovered a leak. Maybe you’ve owned your home for quite some time and have observed the roof showing its age. Regardless of the reason, it’s important that you hire the right company to replace or repair your roof. But as you start to consider this project, make sure you avoid the following six mistakes when hiring roof specialists.
1. Not Having Your Roof Professionally Inspected First
You might think that your roof is at the end of its effective life. It may look visibly worn or in poor condition. Maybe you even have a leak coming through some portion of your home, which can be alarming and stressful. Roof specialists can and will help you decide between replacement or repair.
Even if you see water intrusion coming into your home, don’t automatically assume the roof needs to be replaced. Having a professional roofer inspect and tell you whether or not a replacement is the right move can save you thousands of dollars.
If there’s only one small area where water is coming through, it may mean that a repair rather than a replacement is the optimal way to go. A reputable company will advise the customer to do a repair versus a replacement. This is why it’s important to choose a reputable roofing company.
2. Do Not Just Choose the First Company You Find Online
So many people head straight to the internet when looking for a company to use. If they can’t easily find someone with a personal reference, they’ll search online and often choose the first company they find that seems legitimate.
Do your homework. Look at numerous companies. Check their ratings and feedback and factor in how long they’ve been in business. Checking the Better Business Bureau to make sure the roof specialists have a solid rating is also a good idea.
Ask any roofing company you’re potentially interested in using for personal references from recent clients. Talk to those people and ask a few questions about their experience. This will help ensure that you don’t choose a roofing company that does poor work or uses shoddy materials.
3. Hiring Someone That Uses Poor-Quality Roofing Materials
Do your research into roofing materials. Find out about the cost and durability of different kinds of shingles or tiles. According to Roof Advisor, a composition shingle roof should have a life span of 12 to 20 years. An asphalt shingle roof should last between 15-20 years, and a metal roof can last up to 50 to 75 years. Look into what specifically is used in your geographical area and what would be the most durable roofing material if you’re planning to stay in your home for a long time.
Watch out for the companies that only purchase and use the cheapest materials in their roof replacements and repairs. These roofing companies would ideally like to be able to save a little money on materials and then earn a little more profit on their roof replacement or repair projects, but common sense needs to be used. Only using cheaper materials can lead to big problems for the homeowner later down the road should something fail with these lower-quality materials.
Budget for cost when saving or spending on a roof replacement. Generally speaking, you won’t want to have the cheapest roof in town installed on your biggest investment, your home. Be sure you can afford to spend a reasonable amount on a roof before hiring someone using suspect, cheap materials.
4. Hiring a Roofing Company with the Lowest Price Estimate
It’s important to factor in a number of things when deciding who to hire to replace or repair your roof. Getting a handful of estimates and then just automatically choosing the cheapest one can lead to more costs for you later on.
If one company is far cheaper than the other companies bidding on your roof replacement or repair project, that should be a red flag. Find out why their bid isn’t close to the other bids you’ve received. Ask specific questions about the process, such as the materials they’ll be using and the length of time they’ll take to complete the job. Ask if they have some sort of guarantee on their work and your roof.
The lowest price for a roof replacement or repair certainly won’t guarantee a quality job. Likewise, hiring the most expensive company won’t guarantee that, either. Ask the right questions, do your due diligence, and you’ll likely make an informed and educated choice not entirely based on pricing.
5. Hiring a Handyman or Sub-Contractor Instead of an Actual Roofing Company
It can be tempting to hire someone who claims to be skilled at roof replacement. They will often give a far lower bid on pricing if they are a handyman or sub-contractor doing work alone or without a full crew. Roof specialists are the ones to trust with your home and its roofing needs.
Everyone wants to save money. Some want to give the job or work to someone who really could use the income. It’s important, though, to pick the best people and company for the job. A roof replacement is no small task. These projects can often take numerous days or even weeks to complete.
Be careful to choose a reputable roofing company with a number of positive, solid references. Don’t skimp on the time spent researching and interviewing the leading companies in your area for consideration for your job. That extra time invested in choosing the right company instead of a handyman or sub-contractor will likely lead to a job well done on your roof replacement or repair.
6. Not Checking to Make Sure the Roofing Company You Hire Is Insured
This can be overlooked if the person hiring a roofing company doesn’t have prior experience of having a roof replaced or repaired. Replacing an entire roof can be a major repair expense, much higher than having a plumber or electrician do a minor repair at your home.
Be sure to ask every roofing company you’re considering hiring if they are licensed and insured. Perhaps go a bit further and ask to see a copy of their insurance policy. Any reputable roofing company that wants to earn your business and charge their price to complete the job should gladly produce a copy for you. If they say they are insured but refuse to prove it, chances are they may not actually be insured or could be difficult to work with during the job.
If something happens to your roof because of poor workmanship or materials being used, you’ll want to have the peace of mind to know that a follow-up repair can easily be done at the cost of the roofing company, not out of your own pocket.
Replacing a roof doesn’t have to be a scary, intimidating process. If you follow the above-mentioned guidelines when you have a need for a roof repair or replacement service, the project will be far less stressful than it otherwise could be. Roof specialists that have experience and good references will be able to take care of your roofing needs and do the job in a timely, effective manner. Be an informed customer and your home will last far longer with a healthy, strong roof.
