It takes many phone calls and possibly hours of research to find a local roofer that fits the bill. We’re talking about a roofing service that offers a fantastic mix of high quality roofing, excellent workmanship and reliability.
Finding the right roofing contractor for roof repair can be challenging. We’ve put together this guide to show you how to look for a residential roofing contractor.
1. Choose a Local Roofer
Begin your search for a local roofer with local referrals. Ask any friends or family that you know who has had their roofs done in Phoenix. It’s better to seek referrals than blindly pick up the phone and respond to Craigslist or paper ads. Use this opportunity to obtain feedback, insights and advice from those close to you to avoid wrong moves.
Hiring a roofing company that has roots in your community is beneficial in many ways. First, it makes it easy to contact their roofing team whenever there is an issue or roof problem that needs urgent attention. While a labor warranty on their roofing job is great, it’ll do you little good if you can’t track down the roofer to fix a problem.
2. Look for Professionalism
Only hire a certified and insured roofing company – hallmarks of professionalism. The local roofer you choose needs to have proper licenses, and have worker’s compensation and liability insurance for their roofers and work. Ask to see the roofer’s certificates and contact their insurance carrier to confirm enrollment. This simple act can prevent you from being held personally liable for accidents, or losses or damage that might happen on-site. And, it protects you from any roofing issues that might arise in future.
3. Choose a Roofer With Standards
Would you settle for a doctor or plumber that’s just average or decent? We bet you wouldn’t. The same goes with a roofer. If you’re going to spend $10,000 or more on your roofing project, you want to hire a roofer with high standards. Remember, your roofing is an investment that will pay off in the long term. Work with a roofing company that does flawless installations to ensure your roof stands the test of time and offers you uninterrupted service for years to come.
The top roofers offer a mix of superior roofing materials, excellent workmanship and experience. They’re also eager to share their work approach and decisions so you can be confident they’re offering the best roofing service.
4. Don’t Go Too High or Too Low
True, we all want to get value for money on roofing installation. But never base your hiring decision on the cost of the roofing job alone. Remember, chip bids drive down the market. Ultimately, you get what you pay for with roofing. It’s always good to hire a roofing contractor on the basis of experience and quality of work. By doing so, you’ll avoid paying someone else to fix their shoddy work in the near future.
5. Solid Roofing Warranties
Warranties are important for any roofing project. Top residential roofers usually provide customers with manufacturer’s warranties that cover roofing products and labor warranties which protects against poor or improper installation. If anything goes wrong with your roof due to defective shingles or metals, the manufacturer will replace the products. The roofer will also tackle any repairs for free.
Some roofers may promise you the world in warranties, but won’t be around to honor the agreement. For this reason, it’s vital to choose a roofer that uses high quality products and backs their roofing services with warranties for maximum home protection. A roofer that can offer a workmanship warranty for 10 years after roof installation has full faith in the quality of their work. Those who go above and beyond, and respond to roofing issues are worth pursuing.
6. On-site Project Management
Before you sign on the dotted line, as the potential roof about their project manager (or lack thereof). Some roofing companies in Phoenix have salespeople who double up as project managers. Often, they’re stretched thin because they juggle multiple jobs simultaneously. This leaves you to oversee the roofing crew throughout the roof installation or re-roofing project. If you’re spending thousands of dollars on a new roof, you shouldn’t lift as much as a finger until the roofing job is done. A top roofing company in Phoenix will have a full time project manager, not a salesperson, on site to ensure your roofing project goes smoothly. This person will take charge of quality control, answer your questions and address your concerns.
7. Beware of ‘Storm Chasers’
Storm chasers are roofing contractors who usually look for or target homeowners in the aftermath of a storm. They know many people are desperate to repair their damaged roofs to get their lives back to normal. While this isn’t inherently bad or a poor industry practice, the problem arises when you rush to have the roof fixed. Some companies try to hide the bad history and will get you to sign the roof repair contract pretty fast. Don’t take the bait and sign anything until you read everything and know what their terms of work are.
8. Get Everything in Writing
Make sure you understand all aspects of the roofing job and provide clear instructions along with your expectations for the project. To avoid frustrations, get written quotes for roofing services and note down the details of the inspection and whatever work the roofer plans to do. Don’t make any payments for roofing services until you inspect everything. At the end of the day, you’re responding for what goes into the roofing contract. Ensure the document captures all the steps and tasks that are appertains to the roofing job. If the roofing team misses a step or neglects something, you’ll have a strong and valid reason to hold onto payment until all the work is done.
9. Check the Roofer’s Credentials
You just can’t hire a roofing company on the basis of blind faith or “track records”. Only work with a roofing service that has proof of insurance for their workers and subcontractors. The same goes for state licensing. Most states require anyone in the roofing business to have a valid license. If you are caught using the services of an unlicensed contractor, you could face hefty fines. Make sure the roofer sends you a copy of their license online or presents it in-person.
10. Great Work Culture and Staff
Work culture and results go hand in hand. Where roofers are unappreciated or overworked, they won’t deliver great results with roofing projects. A poor work environment anywhere makes it difficult for the roofers to do their very best. So, take time to learn about the work culture, processes, and values of the company that interests you before paying for their roofing services.
Do their roof technicians look happy, enthusiastic, and engaged? Can they answer questions about roof installation or repairs confidently? Well, not every roofing team will whistle as they work. That’s fine. But if the crew looks sad, disengaged or makes negative remarks about the company as they work, brace yourself for disappointments. Look for a company with a friendly staff, a great atmosphere, and a can-do attitude.
11. Uses superior roofing materials
Even if you hire a top roofing contractor, but they have a knack for using cheap roofing materials, your roofing system won’t stand up to the elements. Here in Phoenix, swinging temperatures and rainstorms can put your roof through the wringer. Low-quality shingles, nails and other components won’t be able to protect your home for long.
Before you hire a roofer for a re-roofing job, ask about the roofing materials they use. Do the materials offer protection against UV rays and high winds? Are they fire-resistant and tear-proof? You can’t afford to gamble with the quality of roofing materials. Grill the company to be sure you’re getting the best materials for ultimate home protection.
12. Work with a roofer neighbors and friends trust
Yes, you have heard it right. The proof is in the pudding when it comes to a roofing company’s quality of work. Stay away from roofers that have complaints. There’s a good chance they’ll take you through the same awful experience your co-worker or friend went through. If your next door neighbor or friend recommends a roofer, it’s because they have had a positive experience with them. First-hand experiences can save you time and heartaches down the road.
Hire a local roofing company in Phoenix AZ
If you’re looking for a local roofer with a strong reputation for timely roof repairs and flawless roof installation, The Phoenix Roof Company is the right contractor to approach. We’ll walk you through the roof process, answer your questions, and give you a cost breakdown of the project fee and material costs, so you know what you’re getting. Call (602) 800-ROOF to request a free estimate.