Hiring a professional roofing contractor isn’t always easy. No matter where you live, there will always be multiple contractors to choose from and it can be difficult to determine whether each one is honest and performs high-quality work. To make your decision easier, here are all of the steps you should take that will help you choose the best roofing contractor in your area.
Read Reviews of Local Roofing Companies
If you need to hire a contractor for a roofing inspection, repairs or a roof replacement, you’re always best to start by searching online for local contractors. Any reputable, experienced roofing contractor will have many reviews online from their previous customers. Reading all of these reviews is important since it will quickly let you know how satisfied the contractor’s customers were with the work they performed. You’ll also usually be able to get a general idea of how different contractors’ prices compare and the level of customer service they provide.
Focus on Accreditations and Certifications
Another important thing when choosing a roofing contractor is to look at their accreditations and certifications. Any reliable, trustworthy contractor should be accredited by the Better Business Bureau. You should also look at the contractor’s BBB rating. If the contractor doesn’t have an A+ rating, you should keep looking for someone else. Anything other than A+ indicates that the contractor has had multiple previous customers report them to the BBB for not fulfilling the original agreement or various other issues.
It’s also important to check if the contractor has any roofing manufacturer accreditations or certifications. Most manufacturers will see their products to any contractor, but they will also have an accreditation or certification system for contractors they work with often and trust to install their products correctly. Choosing a manufacturer-accredited contractor will make it much easier for you to ensure that the company knows what they’re doing and performs high-quality work. Most manufacturer-accredited contractors are also able to offer extended warranties that aren’t available to non-accredited contractors. This is obviously important should any issues arise and the roof fail or need to be repaired due to a manufacturing defect or improper installation.
Check That the Contractor Is Licensed and Insured
Performing any type of work on a roof can be inherently dangerous, and there is always a risk that one of the roofers could get hurt on your property. This is why it is especially important to make sure that whichever contractor you hire has both liability and worker’s compensation insurance to protect you against potential liability issues should an accident or injury occur. Liability insurance is also important in case the contractor causes any damage to your property since their insurance provider will cover the full cost to repair the damage. If the contractor isn’t insured, there is a risk that you’d have to instead pay these costs out of pocket.
Iowa and many other states require that most roofing contractors are fully licensed with the state, and this is another thing you should always check for. This information will usually be listed on the contractor’s website. If you can’t find this information or a contractor can’t prove they are licensed with the state, you can also check with the state licensing department if you’re unsure. Hiring an unlicensed contractor is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Licensed contractors are required to be insured. They also have to regularly renew their license, and their license can be revoked or denied if they have too many complaints or don’t meet all of the necessary requirements.
Make Sure the Contractor Provides Transparent, Upfront Pricing
When reading reviews and getting estimates, you need to make sure that the price you are quoted is the price you’ll pay. Unfortunately, there are unreputable contractors that may try to gouge you on the final price or tack on hidden fees and extra costs that you won’t be aware of until you get the bill for the work. This issue is one reason why most experts recommend signing a contract before the contractor starts the work so that you know ahead of time what the final cost will be. Of course, the cost could change if any unexpected issues arise, but a reputable contractor should always inform you at that time so that you’re not suddenly surprised when you get the bill.
Evenhouse Roofing has been providing reliable residential and commercial roofing services to customers in Davenport and the Quad City area since 2015. We are fully licensed by the state, and we pride ourselves on performing high-quality work and offering transparent, honest prices. We have an A+ rating from the BBB and are both a Malarkey Roofing Emerald Contractor and an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor. Whether you need to have your roof repaired, replaced or inspected, contact us today to learn what makes us the best roofing contractor in the area.
