The fatal day has arrived when you need a roof replaced. You’ve put it off for as long as possible, but now you realize the roof leak is unlikely to go away on its own. So, where should you start? How do you find a good roofing contractor? When it comes to replacing your roof, you want to work with an experienced, reliable roofer that will complete the job correctly the first time.
When considering the cost and time required to replace a roof, you also need to ensure that the estimate and warranty you obtain are both long-lasting. In this article, you’ll learn how to choose Trusted Roofing Companies and avoid shady contractors. Let’s get started.
Clear Signs Your Roof Needs Replacement
The age of your roof is probably the most important element in deciding when to replace it. Most roofs last for many years if correctly installed, and they are generally repairable rather than replaced. The average life expectancy of a residential roof is 15 to 20 years.
Water damage to a home’s interior or overhangs is frequently caused by leaks from a single worn section of the roof, or by improperly fitted flashing around chimneys and skylights. Furthermore, seasonal fluctuations in the weather are typically the most harmful influences.
Your shingles should be level against the roof. If they are curled, buckled, or damaged, your roof is showing indications of severe wear.
Inspect your gutters and downspouts for shingle granules, which are broken stone and fiberglass particles that give asphalt shingles their fire resistance. Roofs that are nearing the end of their useful life tend to shed them easily.
Did Your Contractor Walk the Roof?
A thorough roof inspection should always involve a stroll around the roof and a check of the attic. If your contractor exclusively used satellite images or Google Earth to calculate materials, this is a red flag. Without a physical examination, they are only guessing, and assumption leads to erroneous rates and unexpected costs. Before providing a price, a qualified roofer would thoroughly inspect the roof and all associated materials.
The Importance of Checking and Replacing Damaged Roof Decking
When removing old shingles, a qualified roofer will first inspect the roof decking for signs of rot. If water-damaged wood is not removed before new shingles are installed, the decking will eventually fail to hold the roof nails in place. This will cause leakage or shingle loss following a windstorm. If the decayed support timbers are not replaced, a piece of the roof may fall. Look out for this.
Watch Out for Bait-and-Switch Pricing Tactics
Some contractors purposefully quote a low price to win the business, only to raise the price midway through the project. This bait-and-switch strategy can have you paying exorbitant fees for decking, flashing, or structural faults that you were never informed about.
Always request to inspect the damage before committing to additional repairs, and be wary of any contractor who refuses to offer photographic evidence. Be wary of roofers that offer much lower bids than their competitors.
Hire a Licensed Contractor
A trustworthy roofing firm will have state licenses and comprehensive insurance coverage. Request proof. This protects you from liability for worker injuries or unintended harm.
One of the most effective ways to find a roofing contractor is to ask friends and family for recommendations. You can also ask a professional roofing association for recommendations. Professional associations have certain requirements that their members must follow. The roofing association in your area will provide you with a list of potential contractors.
Roofing Warranty
While a roof warranty is beneficial to all homeowners, it is only effective if the roofing provider honors it. That is why you should ensure that any roofer you engage is not only licensed and insured, but also a local roofer with a lengthy history in the area. If your roofer leaves town or goes out of business, the warranty you receive will be worthless.
Did Your Roofer Skip Certain Replacements?
Roof vents, like shingles, have a limited useful life. A reputable roofer will always include a replacement in their quote. That’s also why customers should examine the itemized quotation to ensure that new roof vents are included. Poor ventilation is a surefire method to increase your utility expenses and shorten the useful life of your new roof.
Your roofer should also repair the drip edge. A drip edge is a thin strip of metal flashing that is laid near the gutters. Their job is to prevent rain from seeping under the shingles and rotting the timber beneath. It also helps to direct runoff into the gutter rather than allowing it to seep behind it, which might cause the wood that supports the gutter to decay.
Can You Communicate with Your Roofer?
Whether during or after installation, a respectable roofer should react to a roof-related inquiry or concern within 24 hours. If your roofer fails to react or takes an inordinately lengthy time to respond, it indicates that the roofer is more concerned with the bottom line than with building a long-term relationship with their clients.
Remember, you and your property should be your roofing contractor’s number one concern. If they can’t take the time to answer a question, comment, or worry, it’s likely that they don’t care enough about the job to execute it well.
Your Roofer Should
- A reputable roofer will always present you with an itemized estimate outlining what is and isn’t included.
- A reputable roofer will never hesitate to show you their credentials, insurance, and references.
- A reputable roofer will never ask you to pay for the service up front.
- A reputable roofer should never require you to obtain a permit or buy materials to complete a project.
Conclusion
Roofing services are one of the most expensive home improvements, in addition to being crucial for comfort and structural integrity. All of the tips discussed above will help you determine if the company is reliable enough to handle your roofing needs.
