You’ve heard horror stories about roofing contractors that performed substandard work, then couldn’t be found to fix it. You’ve known people that hired contractors that didn’t complete the work on schedule or left their property a mess. May be you’ve hired a contractor who came in with the lowest quote, only to have exorbitant fees added on as the job progressed.
As one of the oldest and most respected roofing contractors in San Diego, Sully-Jones Roofing wants to provide you with information that will insure that you get the best quality, workmanship and service from your roofing contractor. Please ask these 10 questions to make sure you avoid the most common and costly mistakes when hiring a company to repair or replace your roof.
Make sure that your roofing contractor has you covered, (pun intended) by asking these critical questions before you hire your roofing contractor.
1.) Do you offer free inspections and quotes? You cannot rely on a quote over the phone. Typically, a roofing contractor will offer one price over the phone but once the job is started, they will start adding on charges for work that they did not include in the estimate. Only a physical inspection will enable any professional roofing contractor to determine the condition of the roof and identify any issues particular to your roof.
2.) Are you insured and bonded? If a worker is hurt while working on your property with no workers’ comp in place, you could be held liable for medical expenses and lost wages. Ask your roofing contractor for verification of liability insurance.
3.) Are you licensed in this state? Every state requires that contractors be licensed, while local cities and towns may have varying regulations. Your roofing company should be able to provide you with their license #.
4.) How long have you been in business? There are many fly-by-night contractors that go into the business only to fail or move on to another endeavor. If anything goes wrong with your roof, that contractor is nowhere to be found. You want to contract with a roofing company that stands behind their work and is in business for the life of your roof.
5.) Can you provide references? You want assurances that your roofing contractor will show up when they say they will, complete the work on schedule, keep the work site clean and provide competent and courteous service. You can often see the company’s references on their website or check out sites like Angie’s List or Yelp.
6.) Has the company had any complaints? How did you resolve them? No company is perfect but it is how they deal with problems that set the good contractors apart. Check the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any significant problems.
7.) Is debris removal included in the cost? Don’t get stuck with a mess and a big bill at the end of your roofing job. Make sure that your roofing contractor takes responsibility for cleaning up the job site and hauling away old roofing materials and debris.
8.) Does the roofing contractor offer a written contract? Successful businesses do not do business on a handshake. Get your contract in writing to insure that you and your roofing contractor are in agreement about the scope of work, the timeline, the clean-up and the details of whatever warranties are provided.
9.) Does the company provide a warranty on workmanship? There are 2 types of warranties; a manufacturers warranty and a warranty on workmanship. The roofing materials are normally covered under a manufacturer’s warranty. Not all roofing contractors provide a warranty on workmanship but most will offer a one year warranty on workmanship. You want to hire a roofing company that backs up their own work. Ask any company you are considering hiring about their extended warranties.
10.) What is covered in the warranty on workmanship. More importantly, what is NOT covered. Many customers think that this warranty is like an insurance policy on their roof. Get the warranty in writing and really look at what is covered and what is not. Most companies have many exclusions and conditions that will void the warranty. See our blog post about what is covered and what is not covered in a typical Roof Workmanship Warranty.
Sully-Jones is San Diego’s most respected Residential Roofing and Commercial Roofing Contractor offering the highest quality at lower costs. For more than 60 years, our experienced & knowledgeable specialists have addressed San Diego’s roofing needs with a commitment to total customer satisfaction.
