If you need roof work done in the Nashville area, it's important to find a great roofing contractor. Especially since the roofing contractor you hire has the biggest impact on the quality of work.
But when looking for a roofing company in Nashville, you’re probably overwhelmed by all the companies in the area that say they can take care of your roof. That's why you need to know what qualities set apart quality Nashville roofing contractors from the others.
The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided the highest quality roofing services in the Nashville area since 1990. While we know we can take care of all your roof needs, helping you make the right hiring decision is more important to us.
By the end of this article, you'll learn the 4 key qualities to look for in a roofing contractor in Nashville, Tennessee.
1. The Nashville roofing contractor must be licensed, bonded, and insured in Tennessee
The first thing you want to look for in a Nashville contractor is that they’re licensed, bonded, and insured. Any roofing contractor with all three will be more than happy and proud to show you that paperwork.
Their license, bond, and insurance must be specific to the state of Tennessee. But what does all this paperwork mean?
Licensed
For a contractor to get a license, all they have to do is register with the Tennessee state board of licensing contractors. The price of the job will determine what license they’ll need.
For example, a job over $3,000 requires a home improvement license and anything over $25,000 requires a general contractor’s license.
Nashville roofing contractors should have a general contractor’s license since a roof is a large investment.
Bonded
A bond ensures that if a company goes out of business during the middle of a job 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.
Being bonded means that a bonding company knows that the Nashville roofing contractor does business correctly and ethically. The bonding company puts up the bond because they know the contractor will do the job the right way.
Insured
All contractors 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 jobs that a contractor does and the state they’re in. If all they’re doing is small residential work, their general liability will not be as much as a company that does larger jobs.
If a Nashville roofing contractor isn’t licensed, bonded, and insured don’t even think about hiring them. Otherwise, if something does go wrong, you will have literally zero recourse.
These three pieces of paper are in place to protect you and to ensure the job is done right.
2. Look for a roofing contractor that's established in the Nashville community
When you invest in a roof replacement, you need to research how long the Nashville roofing contractors have been in business. To get the most out of your roof investment, you should hire a roofing contractor that’s well established and has a strong history in Nashville.
Be aware, if you choose a newer Nashville roofing company that’s a couple of years old, chances are their prices will be a lot cheaper.
The problem is they don’t know how to price jobs correctly to have retained earnings at the end of the year to get them through the winter months. That's when a new company will shut down.
That's not to say there aren’t good young companies in Nashville. However, five years from now, you want to make sure the company will still be there to take care of your roof investment.
3. They’re one of the roofing contractors certified by the shingle manufacturers in the Nashville area
If a roofing contractor is established in Nashville and is known to do top quality work, then the top shingle manufacturers will seek them out about certifying to install their products.
The top shingle manufacturers pick six, eight, or 10 of the best contractors in any given area to go through their certification process. The certification(s) allows a contractor to offer the best warranties and enhanced warranties on the materials from the manufacturer.
What a certification really tells a customer is that the shingle manufacturer trusts the contractor and that they’re a reputable company. They know the contractor will install their products correctly per the manufacturer’s installation instructions to ensure the customer gets the most out of the materials and that the roof will last for many years to come.
Every Nashville roofing company that is certified takes it very seriously. If one of these contractors loses a certification, other companies in Nashville are standing in line waiting to take it from them. That’s why once a contractor gets certified, they want to stay certified.
4. Only look for a roofing contractor that's local to Nashville
When looking at contractors to hire, it’s crucial to pick one that’s local to Nashville. They must have a physical office address in Nashville and phone number from the Middle Tennessee area.
This ensures that they’re in Nashville and you can find them if you ever have a problem with your roof. This is especially important after big storms that hit Nashville from time to time.
For example, some out of state companies come in after a big storm, undercut Nashville roofing company prices, get the money, and move on to the next storm-hit town. These companies don’t care about local codes or if they properly installed your roof.
On the other hand, a quality Nashville roofing company will know what local installation codes to follow, the paperwork required, and everything else they’ll need to ensure your roof is correctly installed and in compliance with Tennessee’s state requirements.
Be aware, you should always hire a roofing contractor that’s local to your area. Read this article on why it’s important to hire a local roofing contractor.
Are you ready to hire a roofing contractor in Nashville, Tennessee?
You just learned the 4 main qualities to look for in a Nashville roofing contractor. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and learn as much as you can about them before picking up the phone.
If you find one that hits all 4 of these points, you’re on your way to hiring a great Nashville roofing contractor. If you want to save time, Bill Ragan Roofing Company has all these qualities and more.
We've helped the homeowners in Nashville and surrounding areas with all their roofing needs since 1990. Our history of doing things the right way ensures you get a new roof that lasts for decades. That’s why we're proud to offer a lifetime warranty on our workmanship.
Contact us to take care of you and your roofing needs in Nashville, Tennessee today.
If you don't think we're the right fit or just want to know other quality options, check out the 7 Best Roofing Contractors in Nashville, Tennessee.
