The roof of a home is very important, and while it would be nice to think that once a house has a roof that’s the end of it, like most things, the roof is going to need care and attention if you want it to last the lifetime of the building. On average, a shingle roof can resist the wear and tear of nature for about 12-20 years. Sure, that sounds like plenty of time, but if you think about staying in a home your entire life, that’s at least several times you’re going to need to consider hiring a roofing contractor. The key to making this task as least expensive as possible is to keep any eye on your roof; know when things look like they aren’t quite right. Know if you live in an environment where roofing has a shorter lifespan. If you catch roof issues early, you avoid having to do major replacement of the decking beneath the shingles or any structural aspects of the home that have been damaged from exposure.
Selecting a roofing contractor should start with friendly recommendations from the people you know best. It’s great if a roofing professional has a thousand positive comments in online reviews, but these can be bought and solicited easily enough. True word of mouth is the best way to find a reliable contact, and since most people live in a home at some point, they probably have at least a little experience when it comes to picking a roofing contractor.
Construction on the exterior of a home is rarely as simple as throwing a ladder up and getting the job done. In most situations, any work done that is considered major is subject to permit requirements from the city or the town the home is in. These permits may also carry with them a requirement for local inspection to ensure the home remains up to certain codes. Before you start calling roofing contractors, do some leg work and find out just what hoops you need to jump through to have your roof done. This way, when you start making phone calls to those trust folks family and friends pointed you to, you’ll be able to ask if the roofing contractor takes point on obtaining all the permits and inspections, or if that’s something you need to do.
Arming yourself with plenty of roofing knowledge is also in your best interest. Sure, there are situations where you want the strongest and the most durable products, but there are also situations where you can be “oversold” on the materials needed for roofing. There are many different types of fancy roofing products out there, and they often come at a higher price compared to traditional materials. If you truly want to use these on your home, that’s your decision, but make sure you know when you have to do something versus when something is just an unnecessary upgrade. You can end up spending thousands of extra dollars if you aren’t careful. Going into your roofing project with some know-how is always recommended.
Once you feel secure and comfortable in your knowledge base and with the roofing contractor options you’ve been recommended, it’s time to pick up the phone. Ideally, you should start this process as soon as you know you need to have your roof done. Roofing contractors can be very busy, especially during the warmer months. The last thing you want to do is find out you’ve waited too long to have your roof done, and now no one is available to come out right away to help you. Start the phone calls early and you won’t regret it.
When you make that first phone call to pick a roofing contractor, know the questions you want to ask ahead of time. Think of this as an interview process; you want to know everything there is to know about the people who will be working on your home. It's okay to ask a lot of questions, and you should rate how well a contractor hands those inquiries. Someone who is friendly and does their best to put your mind at ease should naturally rank higher than someone who is abrupt or annoyed on the phone. You’re about to pay someone a decent amount of money to do a job for you. They should be patient and respectful of your time, even on the phone.
You’re also going to want to get all the details of the process. This includes fees, material estimates, when and if the contractor will come out to your home to do a detailed project review. You’re going to want to ask about that permitting process and all the technical hoops that come with it, like garbage disposal after and during the job. Many roofers require homeowners to do the leg work on having a dumpster delivered. It’s important during these preliminary calls to know who will be responsible for what.
Even if you receive detailed instructions while on the phone, anything that has to do with your roofing project should be put into writing. If you’re hiring a roofing contractor, you want legal protection, and contracts are the best way to ensure that. A contract should clearly outline the process, timeline, and payment structure, among other things. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or have the contract reviewed if you have a lawyer friend. Anyone who pushes you to sign a contract before you’re ready should be put lower on your candidate list.