There’s a lot of misinformation going on in the roofing industry in the Nashville area. Unfortunately, some Nashville roofing companies are taking advantage of this by saying it’s not required to have a contractor’s license in the state of Tennessee.
This isn’t the case at all. The truth is every Nashville roofing company needs to be licensed, but that’s not all they need to truly protect you and your investment.
Because we want to help you avoid being taken advantage of, we’re going to give you the three things every Nashville roofing contractor needs to have.
Bill Ragan Roofing’s main goal is to correct the misinformation and dishonest tactics of the roofing industry. Even if you don’t work with us, we can at least provide you with the critical information you need to make the right decisions.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn why and what it means for a Nashville roofing company to be licensed, bonded, and insured.
Does a Nashville roofing company need to be licensed, bonded, and insured?
Every Nashville roofing company is required to be licensed, bonded, and insured in the state of Tennessee. These three pieces of paper are in place to protect you and your roof investment.
If a roofing contractor isn’t licensed, bonded, and insured in the state of Tennessee, don’t even think about hiring them. If the one you hire doesn’t have these three pieces of paper, you'll have literally zero recourse If something goes wrong during your roofing project.
When meeting a potential Nashville roofing company, don’t be afraid to ask for proof. If they have them, they’ll be more than happy to show you.
But if a Nashville roofing company is missing even one of the three, start looking for another local contractor.
What does it mean if a Nashville roofing company is licensed, bonded, and insured?
Now you know that, yes, a Nashville roofing company needs to have all three. But what exactly does it mean to be licensed, bonded, and insured?
Licensed
For a Nashville roofing contractor to get a license, all they have to do is register with the state of Tennessee’s board of licensing contractors. The price of the potential project determines what kind of license a company needs.
For example, a job over $3,000 requires a home improvement license, but anything over $25,000 requires a general contractor’s license. Nashville roofing companies should have a general contractor’s license because a roof is a large investment.
Be aware, if the company uses subcontractors, they also need a general contractor's license. To find out if the Nashville roofing company you want to hire is properly licensed, go to the Department of Commerce & Insurance Administration License Roster Search.
Bonded
A bond is in place to protect you and your roof investment. It ensures if a Nashville roofing company goes out of business during your project or if there's a problem with the work and they don't fix it, then the customer can fall back on the bond company.
Bonding companies give bonds to Nashville roofing companies that do business correctly and ethically. They’re willing to put up the bond because they know the contractor will do the job the right way.
If you run into a situation where you have to fall back on the bond, the bonding company pays to get your roof taken care of, and then they'll go after the contractor for the money to make it right.
Insured
Every Nashville roofing company should be fully insured with general liability, workman's comp, and a company vehicle insurance policy on all the vehicles owned and unowned.
General liability insurance and workman’s comp limits depend on the size of the contractor’s jobs and Tennessee’s laws. If a Nashville roofing company only does small residential roof work, their general liability will not be as much as a company that does larger jobs.
This impacts the cost of your roofing project and causes bigger Nashville roofing companies to charge more for their services. But in the end, it’s worth spending the extra money to ensure you and your roof investment are protected.
What else do you need to look for when hiring a Nashville roofing company?
Now you know why and what it means to be licensed, bonded, and insured. If a Nashville roofing company is missing even just one of these crucial pieces of paperwork, don’t think about hiring them.
Ensuring a Nashville roofing company is licensed, bonded, and insured is something crucial to look for in a contractor. But there’s even more you need to be on the lookout for when trying to hire a great Nashville roofing company.
Because we want you to make the right hiring decision, we’re going to give you more things to look for in a Nashville roofing company.
The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided high-quality roofing services to homeowners in Nashville and surrounding areas since 1990. Whether you need roof repairs or a full roof replacement, you can count on us to provide you with a rare experience in the roofing industry based on honesty, education, and quality workmanship. That’s why we’re proud to offer you a lifetime warranty once the job is done.
To ensure you hire a great company in the Nashville area, check out this article on 5 Things You Should Look for When Hiring a Nashville Roofing Company.
