Whether you are putting up a roof over a new house or replacing an old one after a storm, installing a roof is a costly business, so you want it done correctly. Finding the right certified contractor is the secret to getting your work done right, and you should spend a fair amount of time researching for one or two for comparison. Here are seven easy tips for finding the right certified roofing company:
1. Recommendations
The easiest and most reliable way to find the right roofing contractor is to ask a few people who have had their roofs done well. Get a friend, neighbor, home builders association or the local lumberyard to recommend the contractors who did their roofs and ask a few questions about those contractors. Did they have insurance? Were they good communicators? Did they have the right training and warranties? Are the clients happy with the job? Chances are, one name will keep recurring because that contractor is good at their job and they left a lasting impression. If you find a good local roofing company, you will be assured of great service because they have a reputation to uphold and they are well-versed with all the local standards and laws.
2. Yellow Pages
The yellow pages have a list of the best companies in any state so it’s the best place to find quality service providers. Pick a few companies that are close to your location and visit them to compare their quotes, services and scope of work. Ask for references, insurance, warranties and permission to check out a few of their recent jobs. Compare two or three companies and take your time to settle for one.
3. Online
In today’s technologically advanced world, every company that is worth something has a good website running. Apart from word of mouth, looking for a roofing company online is a great method. Just open any search sits like Google or Wikipedia and type ‘best roofing company in your location’. You will get an array of options to choose from and it’s up to you to weed out the god from the bad. Visit or call some of those companies and read through their websites and customers reviews to know everything about them.
4. Look for Manufacturer Designation
Finding a company that has been designated by a manufacturer to distribute and use their product is great. Manufacturers only designate companies that are certified, adequately insured and licensed and have a proven reputation and ongoing professional training. Manufacturers also train their designated contractors on upcoming trends and techniques so they stay up to date.
5. Look at BBB.org
Just like you will find that all great companies have websites, the best companies are also on the BBB website. You should not even consider a company that is not on this great website because that’s where you check their professional ratings. Check for roofing companies that have outstanding scores on BBB.org and compare them with two others before settling for one.
6. Ask Your Insurance Company
Insurance companies are a great resource for finding contractors because they have dealt with more than a few of those. You can also rest assured that you are getting a good deal because insurance companies only deal with reputable, certified and insured roofing companies. However, do your due diligence to understand what insurance fraud is, your deductible and how much the insurance company will cover.
7. Angie’s List
This is a free website that will give you reviews and ratings of various businesses. The list only contains certified companies complete with background checks and no anonymous reviews are allowed. The ratings on this Angie’s list change depending on customer feedback so you will get to see how well every company is doing. The best companies always strive to be on this list and to get good ratings so you can be confident that what you see there is excellent stuff.
Finding a certified roofing contractor is a huge accomplishment when it comes to placing a roof over your head. However, you also need to ensure that you get every detail in writing including how much material is required, the period of work and cost. Beware that you don’t jump for deals that seem too good to be true.
