Choosing The Right Contractor

Put together a list of potential contractors to handle your roofing project:

• Get local referrals from friends, family and neighbors. If possible, choose a contractor from your own community.
• Research ratings and reviews. Check out what other homeowners have to report on the contractors and their work. 
• Check for manufacturer certifications.

Once you’ve compiled a list of potential contractors, put together some questions that you’ll want to ask each company before/during their consultation. You’ll want to make sure that any contractor you engage with meets the following criteria: 

• Properly insured & licensed
• $1M+ liability insurance
• Workmen’s compensation
• State-licensed where required and applicable
• Reputable and trustworthy with a track record of providing quality roofing services in your community
• Good standing with the Better Business Bureau
• Good credit rating per Experian
• Up-to-date on the latest technology and practices, ensuring expert installation
• GAF trained and certified
• Carries a workmanship warranty

Before you invite your top choices to your home for an estimate/consultation, it’ll be important to ask specific questions about your roofing installation to help guide you to your final decision. Consider these topics: 

Product choices:

• How many shingle choices do you offer?
• Are the shingles listed by the brand and manufacturer’s name? 
• What warranties can you offer?

Estimates and payment:

• Do you offer free estimates? (Reputable contractors should provide free estimates, but be sure to ask about this before agreeing to one.)
• Does the estimate list the exact product name and color?
• What are the payment terms? (It’s typical to pay one-third of the cost up front. Be wary if anyone asks you to pay full price in advance.)
• How do you accept payment? (Reputable contractors should accept checks and/or credit cards. Be wary of anyone who only accepts cash.)
• How do I pay my insurance deductible? (Any contractor who claims they can handle the repair without you having to pay your insurance deductible may be committing insurance fraud and/or putting you at risk.)

Clean-up and inspection:

• Will you be conducting daily clean up?
• How will you make sure my yard, home and property stay free from stray nails and other debris? 
• Who will inspect the job? When will this inspection take place?
• Can you provide an overview of the schedule? How many days will the project take?
• What might cause possible delays in the schedule?