Replacing a roof can be an overwhelming process for many homeowners. There are so many contractors and material choices available and all of them claim to be the best. So how do you know who to choose or what to look for? The first step with any re-roofing process is selecting the right contractor. Below are eight tips of what to look for and what to avoid when looking to get bids.
LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED
When looking for a contractor, always make sure they are not only locally owned and operated but have also been around for more than a few years. There are many “traveling roofing contractors” that move from state to state to work recent storms. These contractors will be out of state as fast as they came in, leaving homeowners high and dry when issues come up down the line. To avoid having this issue, avoid out of state license plates and always do your research.
LICENSED & INSURED
Make sure your contractor is licensed and has liability and workers’ compensation insurance. This will keep you from being liable for any injuries to workers or others on your property, including damages to your personal property. Always ask that your contractor provide proof of this insurance to protect yourself and your property.
WARRANTIES & LIEN WAIVERS
A reputable contractor will provide warranties covering both materials and workmanship. Companies that are certified with a material manufacturer can usually provide a better warranty that is also backed up by that manufacturer. A reputable contractor will also provide you with a lien waiver once a job is paid in full. Under Missouri law, a homeowner is responsible for the cost of material used to remodel or build their home. If you pay your contractor in full and they fail to pay for materials, you will be the one liable to pay for them or the supplier will file a lien on your home. A lien waiver will protect you from any outstanding debts the contractor may owe and will prevent anyone from being able to place a lien on your home.
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU ACCREDITED (BBB)
When choosing a contractor, always 
check to make sure they are a BBB Accredited Business. Any company can be on the BBB and have free business reviews, but that does not mean they are accredited. Being accredited means the BBB has determined that a company meets the accreditation standards, which includes a commitment to make good faith and effort to resolve any consumer complaints. According to the BBB, accredited businesses are carefully chosen and must first be: registered with Secretary of State; have any necessary licensure; free of any patterns of complaints or government actions – or unanswered/unresolved complaints with the BBB; and in operation more than one year.
REFERENCES & REVIEWS
Any exceptional contractor will be more than happy to provide you with several local references. Follow up on these references as well as checking online review sites. A contractor who is not able to provide you with any references or reviews usually means they haven’t been in business very long or are not a local company. Following up on references and reviews will ensure that you are choosing a contractor that is locally known to do good work.
KNOWLEDGE OF BUILDING CODES
A reputable contractor will be familiar with the local building codes in your municipality. This includes whether or not they will need a permit and what type of underlayment and ventilation your building department requires. A contractor who does not know the building codes could result in your roof having to be re-done because it was not installed up to code.
MATERIAL CHOICE
When choosing a contractor, make sure you ask what type of materials (brands & styles) they offer and what they would suggest for your home. Make a list and research those brands. Doing your research will ensure that the company is not using the cheap products on your home to save them money.
WRITTEN ESTIMATE
Getting a written estimate from a contractor is important because it gives you a detailed description of everything that is going into your project. Too often, many proposals name a few generic materials and nothing else. A professional contractor will always provide a written estimate that explains what they will be tearing off, what materials will be going on, what brand they will use, and how they will dispose of old materials. Having a written estimate will give you detailed description of everything being put on your home. It will also hold the contractor liable to install all of the materials in your written estimate.
References and reviews would both be good things to look at when it comes to selecting a roofing contractor. It is good to know that an exceptional contractor will be more than happy to provide you with several local references. I have also heard that it is a good idea to hire a service who specializes in working with the shingle type you have selected.
These are some great suggestions, especially about making sure they are locally owned and operated. You never want to go with a roofing contractor that shows up to offer work after a storm has passed. These are usually scams and it is more likely that you will get solid work from a local contractor rather than a storm chaser.
When going to install the roof always check the nails have been properly installed or not. There are two ways of nailing the roof one is with drill and other one is the hammer.Always prefer hammer because this allows us to use the proper amount of pressure to ensure that every nail is installed properly and your shingles are tight and secured to your new roof.
Hello! Cool post, amazing!!!
My friend is looking to get a new roof to improve her property value. It is good to know that any exceptional roofing contractor will be happy to provide a list of local references. Speaking with past clients would be a good way of learning more about the contractor’s work.
You have some fantastic tips for choosing a roofing contractor. I like how you said that they need to be accredited by the BBB. If that means they have high standards, I’ll have to check for that when we hire someone to look at our shingles.
I agree that it is a good idea to hire a roofing contractor how can show you they know all the building codes relevant to their job. Like you said, hiring someone unqualified may result in subpar work that needs to be replaced. This is a good example of when it is necessary for the average person to hire a professional rather than trying to do a job yourself.
I have personally never followed up with references, as you suggested. Maybe that is something I should start doing. That way, I won’t just be needlessly asking for them.
I like that you said that following up on references and reviews will ensure that you are choosing a roofing contractor that is locally known to do good work. My husband and I are looking for a roofing contractor that can help us replace our roof because it was recently pretty badly damaged in a storm. I think it would be nice to follow up on references so we can know that we are hiring a reputable contractor and so that we can maybe get some ideas for what we want to do with our roof as well.
My husband has been thinking about having a professional come in and redo our roof since it is really old, Thank you for your comment about making sure that you have a contractor that is knowledgeable about things like needing a permit or what kind of ventilation is required. I will be sure to froward the article to my husband so that we can be aware of what we should be having an eye out for in a contractor.
It’s good to know that a quality contractor will provide you with references. My uncle needs to find a roofing contractor soon. I’ll tell him that he should find someone who is willing to provide him with several references.
My dad plans to have our roof replaced into a rubber slate. We’ll keep in mind to check if the roofing contractor is licensed and possess a workers’ compensation insurance. Also, he must provide warranties that cover both the materials and the warranties; We better start looking for a potential roofer, so we can proceed with the whole process.
It’s good to know that you should ask your contractor what kinds of materials they are able to use for your roofing project. I remember my uncle mentioning that he would like to install some asphalt shingles since they are durable and affordable. Hopefully, he can find someone who offers the materials that he is looking for.