Putting a new roof on your home is a huge job that requires specialized tools and equipment. While there are some homeowners that could be up to the challenge, it’s really a job best done by professionals for a lot of different reasons. Even if you have some of the tools, half the knowledge, and some friends to help out, it still could be dangerous to proceed on your own.

Roofing Companies Have Insurance, Licenses and Bonding

These are all very necessary for all contractors working on your home, especially roofers, for a variety of reasons. For one, if a worker lets go of a hammer or other tool and it slides down the roof and sails through the air breaking a car window, who’s going to pay? If the roofer doesn’t pay, his insurance company will, that’s why he’s required to have it.

There are a thousand other scenarios involving ladders falling, broken windows, chimneys collapsing, employee theft from the home, even employees sliding off the roof and getting hurt. The roofing contractor is liable for all these mishaps and more. However, when the homeowner chooses to re-roof his own home, he won’t be covered and neither will his buddies that come over to help. If one of them falls off of the roof, the homeowner could be sued for negligence and lose in court.

The insurance, license, and bonding are all the ways that keep the contractor from causing harm to their customers and it’s why those regulations are in place. You’ll always want to know if the contractor you’re dealing with is properly covered before they start work. As you search for roofing contractors you should find that their credentials are prominently displayed on their websites. If not, ask to see them before you sign any contracts.

You Should Get A List Of Roofing Contractors From Friends And Neighbors

Once you have a long list of recommended contractors then you should go online and read some of their reviews. Most will have good or excellent customer reviews, those that don’t you should eliminate from your list. Any that aren’t on the Internet or don’t have reviews should also be passed by. This is to prevent poor contractors with bad reviews from changing their name to run from their bad service records.

You should also insist on a written estimate when the representative arrives to look at your roof. On the estimate should be their warranty and what is covered so read it carefully and don’t rely just on what the salesman says. After you accept the price and terms, you should be given a written contract signed by both you and the company representative to make it legal. This is binding, so if they try to charge more, don’t finish the job, or have some other problems, this is your proof of what was ordered, for how much, and by what time.

If you’re replacing a roof, it may be the last one you ever have to do if you choose the materials wisely. For that reason, it’s important to have it installed correctly and with care so that you never have to re-roof your house again for the rest of your life.

Asking your friends and family about reputable roofing companies or contractors with reliable roofing services in Denver, CO is a good way to learn about your roofing company options. However, picking the best among the candidates is the harder part. Here are some tips to help you decide which one to hire.

Locate and Research the Roofing Company

Make sure the company has a permanent and established headquarters or office. It should also have a tax ID, phone number, email address and business license.

Paying a visit to their website allows you to have a background on its services. You can see whether they offer roof repairs or not, or whichever service you need.

Check for customer complaints through the Better Business Bureau. You can also directly request for the customers’ testimonials and references. This allows you to ask the company’s past customers if they completed their roofing job well.

If the company has been in the roofing business for quite a while, then most likely they are an established company with a good experience and understanding of the roofing systems.

Research Your Best Candidates

Professional roofing contractors should always bring copies of their workers’ compensation papers and liability insurance, and you have every right to ask to see that they are properly insured. When deciding, remember that price does not always equal quality, and it’s always best to get your roofing and roof repair services only from licensed contractors. Most likely you will spend quite an amount of money for your roof, so make sure you understand everything that is written in the estimate.

• Request a copy of their liability insurance
• Get quotes from all your candidates
• Clarify what is written estimate
• Hire a contractor that offers warranties

You don’t want to pay for costly roof repairs after you have spent so much on your new roof. The best thing to do is to hire a company whose services include a full warranty. Keep the copy of the warranty in case you will need it.

Hiring a Professional Roofing Company

When hiring a roofing company, ask questions until you’re satisfied. Read and study the quotes and estimates so that everything is clear before you make a decision. Remember that you will spend quite a lot of money on your roof.

Don’t pay in full until the job is completely done. Roofing services require a small deposit but it should only be 25 percent or less of the total contract price. Have a copy of all the documents before paying in full.

(Image and excerpt from “10 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Roofer”)