The roofing industry is saturated with roofing companies, and there are new ones starting every day. This gives you plenty of options, which makes finding a roofing company easy.
But while finding one is easy, finding a good roofing company in your area is harder. The last thing I want is for you or another homeowner to get taken advantage of by the bad side of our industry.
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided transparent advice so homeowners can confidently make the right hiring decision. That’s why I want to give you the tools to find a good roofing company out of a sea of options in your area.
This article breaks down the following steps to find a good roofing company:
- Start with a simple Google search
- Don’t go into the hiring process with a cheap mindset
- Talk to and get estimates from multiple roofing companies
- Compare your multiple estimates
- Ask for references to see recent roofing projects
Start with a simple Google search
The first step to finding a good roofing company in your area is to do a Google search. Google “roofing contractors near me” or “roofing companies [insert city]” to get a list of roofers who service your area.
Once you get the list, look at the Google reviews of the top local roofing contractors from the last 3-6 months to get current homeowner experiences. While this is important, you should take these reviews at face value.
This is because reviews are taken to the extreme, good or bad. However, reviews give you an idea of the finished product, if the company stands behind its work, and how they interact with homeowners.
While Google listings are the first place to look, you should also use other online resources. This could be Better Business Bureau, “Best of” lists, and other recommendation websites like Nextdoor.
But just like reviews, you should take recommendations with a grain of salt. That’s why it’s important to research potential roofing companies and go through their website to get a feel for who they are.
Don’t go into the hiring process with a cheap mindset
While researching potential roofing companies, it’s important to be in the right mindset about your roofing project. It’s crucial not to go into the hiring process looking for the lowest price from the cheapest roofing contractor.
This mindset makes you a prime target for bad roofing contractors, especially if you need a full roof replacement. Once they know you’re pricing shopping, they’ll lower their prices to outbid the other roofing contractors.
Unfortunately, they don’t tell you they’ll use cheaper materials and labor to reach these lower prices. Even worse, they could cut corners by leaving crucial components completely off your roof.
I’m not saying to buy the most expensive roof possible, but your roof is set up for premature failure if you try to find the cheapest price.
Talk to and get estimates from multiple roofing companies
After narrowing down the list of roofing companies, you’ll need to pick two or three for an estimate. Getting these quotes from multiple roofing contractors is one of the best ways to choose a good roofing company.
This is mainly because you have to take their word on what needs to be done if you only talk to one roofing company. You may think this isn’t a big deal, but some companies try to sell you a new roof, no matter the problem.
While finding out what your roof needs is important, it’s not only the benefit of talking to a few roofing companies. It also allows you to compare prices and, most importantly, determine which roofing contractor is the best fit for you.
Compare estimates from the roofing companies you chose
After talking to multiple roofing companies and their roof inspections, you’ll get a quote from each of them. Once you get the estimates, you’ll need to compare them.
You’ll obviously compare the difference in the pricing, but you also need to ensure everything in the estimate is broken down into line items. These items are everything from the roofing components to the roofing contractor’s labor to dump fees.
Everything that impacts the cost of your new roof should be included as a line item in your estimate. You also need to make sure the estimates line up and include the same information as each other.
They don’t have to use the same brand or manufacturer but must include the same components and materials. Just know there are red flags that should disqualify an estimate immediately, whether or not you’re comparing it to others.
These red flags include the following:
- Not including or hiding fine print
- The estimate only comes with a price
- They have hidden fees
- There’s no warranty information included
A good roofing company should offer to sit down and review every line item so you fully understand what you're getting. This is also the perfect chance to ask questions, raise any concerns, and anything else on your mind.
If a roofing company isn't willing to go over your estimate, don’t consider hiring them. I guarantee there’s a hidden fee or another clause they’re trying to hide.
Ask for references to see recent roofing projects
After going over the estimates and narrowing down the roofing companies, you should ask for references. Get each potential roofing company to provide references from jobs completed in the past 3 to 6 months so that you can see the final product.
You could even ask the homeowner about their personal experience and if there were problems with the process. A good roofing company will be happy and proud to give you these references.
If they’re not even willing to give you an address to drive by, don’t think about hiring them for your roofing project.
The top 8 questions you need to ask potential roofing companies
Now you know how to find a good roofing company in your area. By following this advice, I have no doubt you’re ready to confidently look for a roofing company.
Unfortunately, you can do everything in this article and still get taken advantage of by a roofing company. This is because companies present themselves the right way on the surface.
Luckily, you can avoid this by asking the right questions when meeting with potential roofing companies. Asking questions and getting the right answers is honestly the best way to spot a good roofing company from a bad one.
That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the questions every homeowner needs to ask a roofer.
Check out the Top 8 Questions To Ask A Roofing Contractor to ensure you’re actually hiring a good roofing company.
