Need a roofing company in Nashville, TN? Are you worried about finding a Nashville roofing company you can trust?
This is understandable, especially with the roofing industry’s reputation. In fact, hiring a Nashville roofing contractor you can trust is the most important decision in the roofing process.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to spot a trustworthy roofer in the Nashville area without knowing what to look for. However, there are clear signs you’re dealing with a reputable roofing company. You just need to know what they are.
For over 35 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has provided Nashville residents with transparent roofing advice, whether they’re customers or not. While I know we’re the best roofing contractor in Nashville, I understand doing your due diligence.
So, I’ll break down the following 8 signs of a trustworthy Nashville roofing company you need to be looking for:
- Positive reviews
- Established in the Nashville community
- Licensed, bonded, and insured
- Strong workmanship warranty
- Certifications from shingle manufacturers
- Honest and thorough roof inspections
- Estimates are broken down by line items
- Nothing is hidden in the fine print on the final contract
1. Positive reviews
When you first start looking for a Nashville roofing to contact, you need to read their recent Google reviews from the last 3-6 months and how the owner responds. I tend to trust Google reviews because the company can’t remove or hide negative opinions.
If a Nashville roofing company stands behind their work, interacts positively with homeowners, and does things the right way, it’ll show in the reviews. It’s also a good idea to read the owner's responses to see how they handle negative reviews.
Now, you should take all reviews with a grain of salt because some people exaggerate to the extreme. However, positive reviews are the first sign of a trustworthy Nashville roofing company.
2. Established with a long history in the Nashville community
Every Nashville roofing company should have a physical office address in our area and a phone number with a Middle Tennessee area code. While being local is crucial, the sign of a trustworthy roofing company is a long history of serving Nashville.
This ensures they’ll still be there to take care of your roof investment and honor their workmanship warranty if problems show up. However, having a long, established history is only possible if the roofing company is doing things right.
This isn’t to say there aren’t good young companies in Nashville; everyone has to start somewhere. However, most young companies don’t know how to price jobs correctly to have retained earnings to get them through the slow months, which leads to shutting down.
That’s why newer Nashville roofing companies usually have cheaper prices than established ones.
3. Licensed, bonded, and insured in Tennessee
Every Nashville roofing company must be licensed, bonded, and insured in the state of Tennessee. In fact, this is one of the easiest ways to determine if a roofing company is trustworthy enough to do things the right way.
Reputable roofers have no problem showing you all three to back it up, so don’t be afraid to ask for proof. And if they’re missing even one or aren’t willing to provide proof when asked, don’t even consider hiring them.
Trust me, the last thing you want is to have zero recourse if something goes wrong during your roofing project. After all, a Nashville roofing company being licensed, bonded, and insured isn’t just what they need to run their business, but it’s also to protect your investment.
4. Strong workmanship warranty
Workmanship warranties vary from one year, two years, three years, five years, ten years, 25 years, or even a lifetime. Every Nashville roofing company should provide a workmanship warranty in case installation errors cause leaks or other problems.
A roofer's willingness to stand behind their work is a good sign of their installation quality and their trustworthiness. That’s why you should only consider Nashville roofing companies that offer long-term protection with at least a 10-year workmanship warranty.
Some companies, including us, offer lifetime guarantees, so don’t be afraid to shoot higher.
5. Certifications from shingle manufacturers
The top shingle manufacturers pick six to ten established roofing companies in the Nashville area that are known to do top-quality work to get certified on their products. Certified roofers can offer the best warranties on a given manufacturer's roof system (we are a Select ShingleMaster with CertainTeed).
However, it also tells you a shingle manufacturer views them as reputable and trusts them to install the product correctly. So, being certified is a great sign that a Nashville roofing company is considered trustworthy.
Simply visit any manufacturer’s website and type in your zip code to get a full list of certified roofing companies in Nashville or another Middle Tennessee area.
6. Honest and thorough roof inspections
Nashville’s roofing industry doesn’t have the best reputation, and it comes down to one big reason: dishonesty. Plenty of bad roofers do inspections and immediately try to sell homeowners a roof without explaining why.
Obviously, Nashville roofing companies should provide honest and thorough inspections. Now, I understand this should automatically be expected anytime you get roof work done.
However, only trustworthy Nashville roofers take the time to get on your roof for an inspection, take pictures of the facets and any issues, and explain why you do or don't need a new roof. This quality is so important today, especially with the state of the industry in Nashville and the United States.
7. The estimate is clearly broken down by line items
Every Nashville roofing company should provide a roof estimate (quote, proposal, etc.) with an itemized list of everything included in your roof replacement. This is a great sign of trustworthiness because they clearly break down everything you’re paying for, from the roofing materials to labor costs to what’s actually being done in certain areas.
A transparent estimate is one thing, but the biggest sign of a trustworthy Nashville roofing company is their willingness to go through it with you before signing. This ensures you know what you’re signing, plus this is the perfect opportunity to ask questions and voice any concerns or hesitations.
In my opinion, going over an estimate is the most important part of selling a roof. But even if the estimate is broken down correctly, it’s a red flag if a Nashville roofing company isn’t willing to go over it with you.
8. Nothing is hidden in the fine print on the final contract
Just like every contract, a roofing quote or proposal includes fine print. Of course, you need to read it, but a trustworthy Nashville roofing company is upfront about anything in the fine print.
Unfortunately, it’s common for companies to hide exclusions or “not responsible” clauses in the fine print. Some even tell you the one thing to make you feel confident in signing, but the fine print says otherwise.
This is simply to clear them of liability for damage to your property, like landscaping, gutters, windows, light fixtures, sprinkler heads, and even things hanging in your home. Trust me, you don’t want to hire a Nashville roofing company that doesn’t hold itself accountable.
Is Bill Ragan Roofing the right Nashville roofing company for you?
Now you know 8 signs of a trustworthy Nashville roofing company. By noticing these signs, I guarantee you’ll find a great roofer in our area.
But if you want a roofing company in Nashville that exemplifies these qualities, look no further than Bill Ragan Roofing.
For over 35 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has provided top-quality residential roofing services to homeowners in Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, and surrounding Middle Tennessee areas. We offer roof replacements, skylight replacements, roof repairs (repairs on hold for new customers right now), and insurance claim guidance for roof storm damage.
I take extreme pride in what we do, and back up our workmanship with a lifetime craftsmanship guarantee. That’s why I say, “When you work with us, you’ll never have to worry about your roof again.”
Get a Free Quote here or call our office at (615) 242-0333 today to schedule your free roof replacement inspection and get the peace of mind you deserve.
