Do you need a new roof? Are you worried about being taken advantage of by a roofing contractor?
Considering that the roofer you hire has a huge impact on every aspect of your roofing project, being guarded is understandable. The industry becoming increasingly saturated hasn’t made it any easier to find reputable companies.
However, there are ways to spot a great roofing contractor in a sea of options. You just need to know what you should be looking for.
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing has taken pride in helping homeowners navigate the complexities and frustrations of the roofing industry. I want you to be confident when making your hiring decision, so let’s look at the tips every homeowner needs to do this.
This article breaks down the following 9 tips for hiring a great roofing contractor:
- Only consider roofing contractors with a local address and phone number
- Don’t look for the cheapest roofing contractor
- Every roofing contractor must be licensed, bonded, and insured
- Look for at least a 10-year workmanship warranty
- Check for certifications from shingle manufacturers
- Read recent reviews of local roofing contractors
- Ask for recommendations from your friends and family
- Get quotes from multiple roofing contractors
- Review your roof estimates carefully
1. Only consider roofing contractors with a local address and phone number
Every roofing contractor you consider must have a physical office in your area and a local phone number. They know your area’s local codes, the paperwork required, and everything else to comply with your area’s regulations.
This also makes it easier to find them if there’s ever a problem. However, another huge reason you must hire a local roofing contractor is to avoid getting taken advantage of by out-of-state companies chasing storms.
They’ll undercut the prices of local roofing contractors, get the money, and move on to the next storm-hit town. Not all out-of-state roofing companies are bad, but most don’t know local codes and won’t wait around to see if they properly install your roof.
2. Don’t look for the cheapest roofing contractor
Other than hiring locally, the biggest tip I can give you is not to look for the cheapest roofing contractor in your area. Bad roofing contractors have a gift for recognizing when homeowners are looking for the cheapest price,
They’ll lower prices to win your business, hoping you’ll jump at the cheap estimate. Unfortunately, this is only possible by leaving off necessary materials, installing low-quality materials, and using cheap labor.
Reputable roofers may lower their prices a bit to be more competitive, but they’ll be transparent about why and how they’re doing it. But if a price seems too good to be true, there are usually reasons why, and you need to be skeptical.
3. Every roofing contractor must be licensed, bonded, and insured
Every roofing contractor should be licensed, bonded, and insured in your state. Any roofer will have no problem showing you all three to back it up, so don’t be afraid to ask for proof.
Keep in mind that every state has different rules and requirements. However, I recommend only considering roofing contractors that have all three, even if your state doesn’t require one or the other to run a business.
These three pieces of paper protect your roof investment and wallet, which is why every roofer should be licensed, bonded, and insured. The last thing you want is to have zero recourse if something goes wrong during your roofing project.
4. Look for at least a 10-year workmanship warranty
Roof warranties protect your roof investment, with one covering the roofing contractor's workmanship and the other the roofing materials. Workmanship warranties vary greatly from one year to twenty-five years or even a lifetime.
However, you should only consider roofing companies that offer long-term protection with a strong workmanship warranty of at least ten years. I even recommend taking it further by looking for one that offers more.
Roofing companies should have no problem offering a 20, 25, or lifetime warranty if they take pride in their work and do things the right way. However, you still need to do your research and read reviews to determine if they practice what they preach.
5. Check for certifications from shingle manufacturers
The top shingle manufacturers pick six to ten established roofing companies in a given area known to do top-quality work to get certified on their products. These certifications allow roofers to offer the best warranties from the specific manufacturer.
So, it’s definitely worth looking for a certified roofing contractor. Being able to offer the best warranties is one thing, but it also tells you a shingle manufacturer trusts them to install the product correctly.
Simply visit any manufacturer’s website and type in your zip code to get a list of certified roofing companies in your area.
6. Read recent reviews of local roofing contractors
Google is usually the first place homeowners go to look for a reputable roofing contractor, plumber, carpenter, and anything else. The most obvious tip on this list is simply to read a company’s reviews.
You need to focus on the last 3-6 months to get current homeowner experiences, but it’s also a good idea to read the majority from the past year. It’s important to keep in mind that all reviews may not be accurate because some people take their reviews to the extreme, good or bad.
However, recent reviews give you an idea of whether a roofing contractor does quality work, stands behind it, and provides great customer service. This is especially true if most of the reviews say the same thing.
7. Ask for recommendations from your friends and family
While reviews tell you about a stranger’s experience, you can’t beat recommendations from people you trust. That’s why you should ask your friends and family for recommendations and get their roofing experience.
This should carry more weight because it’s recommendations from people you trust and know personally. But, like reviews, there’s always a chance they go to the extreme in either direction.
Fortunately, you can talk through their experience and ask questions for more clarification.
8. Get quotes from multiple roofing contractors
One of the biggest tips I can give you is to get quotes from multiple roofing contractors. This allows you to find the one that fits your budget, you feel comfortable with, and you can trust to produce high-quality work.
You’ll also learn what your roof actually needs to avoid roofing contractors whose only goal is selling you a new roof. After all, talking to one company means you have to take their word on everything.
So, get quotes from two or three (at the most) roofing contractors to find the right one for you, your budget, and your situation.
9. Review your roof estimates carefully
It’s absolutely crucial to carefully review your roof estimate(s) (and the fine print) before signing anything, especially if you have multiple. Any estimate should be broken down line by line to show everything that impacts the cost of your new roof.
This ensures everything is included, while also showing you why there’s a price difference between roofing contractors. For example, there should be a line item for tarps to protect your property during your roof replacement.
If a roofing contractor doesn’t have this as a line time, their price will be lower than one who does. So, you’ll have to decide if hiring them is worth the potential damage to your property.
This is one example, but it shows how doing things right or with attention to detail can cost more.
What do you need to consider before replacing your roof?
You now have 9 great tips to help you hire a roofing contractor. As long as you follow the advice in this article, you can be confident when making your decision.
While picking your roofing contractor is the biggest decision you’ll make for your roof replacement, there’s a lot more to it. After all, a new roof is a very large investment.
The last thing you want is to start the process without considering the right things. That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the things every homeowner must keep in mind when getting a new roof.
Check out 7 Things to Consider Before a Roof Replacement to go into the process with the right mindset and considerations when getting a new roof.
