Picking the right roofer is essential to avoiding disaster. After all, your roof literally protects many of your loved ones and most valuable possessions from Mother Nature's wrath. Knowing what to look for and what questions to ask will help to separate the good roofers from the bad.
With that in mind, we wrote this blog to highlight the top five elements that we believe contribute to a quality roofing job. If any prospective roofing contractor is missing one of these, be weary.
Hiring a licensed, bonded, and insured roofing contractor should be non-negotiable. Although an unlicensed contractor might seem a tempting way to save on upfront costs, you truly get what you pay for when training and protection is low on your priority on their list.
With a licensed roofing contractor, you're hiring a professional who has invested their own time and money into learning the latest practices and product offerings. More importantly, picking a roofer that is not bonded and insured could leave you personally on the hook for thousands of dollars if something goes wrong. Unfortunately, falls happen. A qualified roofing contractor will have liability insurance and workman's compensation to protect their customers.
Not all roofing materials are created equal. Under our harsh Arizona sun, the differences in material quality and durability can have a stark effect on the overall lifespan of your roof. How long your roof will last depends on a combination of factors, such as the overall design, environmental conditions, quality of the installation, and most notably, the quality of materials.
Many of today's top roofing products can easily last for decades, even in Arizona, when installed by a qualified roofing professional and properly maintained. Choosing a roofing contractor that chooses the cheapest materials to lower costs could result in you spending more money on roof repairs or premature roof replacements.
Commitment to ongoing education is important in all service jobs. Professional memberships and certifications, like the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association, demonstrate that your contractor has access to the best training and knowledge base. Because the roofing industry isn't constantly evolving, like the tech industry, it's vitally important for roofing companies to keep up-to-date with the latest installation techniques, safety protocols, and roofing materials. By staying on top of their training, a high-quality roofing contractor will make sure that their customers get the best products backed by the best workmanship.
Qualified roofing contractors will back their installation workmanship with warranties, in addition to individual product warranties. Many lower-tier roofing companies are able to save money by limiting or excluding coverage for their labor and installation work. These omissions can easily leave the homeowner on the hook for any issues that arise from shoddy labor practices. Be sure to ask if your contractor offers a workmanship warranty and take the time to review critical exclusions.
In comparison to starting other businesses, roofing has a relatively low entry cost. As a result, our industry fraught with inexperienced roofers posing as competent contractors. Many of these contractors don't have the proper knowledge or experience to work a roof. So as you do your research, check how long your potential roofer has been in business. This will help you determine whether or not they know the industry, have the experience and skill to do a job properly, and if they will be around for the length of your roof’s warranty and lifespan.
We hope these tips will help you find a qualified roofing contractor in your area. If you’re worried about your roof, or are seeking peace of mind, we invite you to contact us to schedule a free, no obligation roof evaluation.