Questions to Ask Roofing Contractors
There are many different roofing and construction companies and contractors competing for your business. As you evaluate your options, we encourage you to ask the following questions. Every company will answer these questions differently. We have provided what we feel are the correct answers to each question along with some reasoning as to why.
Roofing companies come and go. It is not uncommon for a roofing company to be created quickly following a storm just to capture the business generated by unfortunate weather damage, only to close permanently when the work is completed. We recommend you choose a company with longevity and a history in your local market. After all, any guarantees you are offered are only as good as the company behind them. Meister Roofing has been in business for 17 years.
Here in Ohio storms damage many roofs each year. Hail and strong winds can damage your roof to the point it needs to be replaced. However, not every storm will damage every roof and just because your neighbor’s roof has some damage, it doesn’t necessarily mean your roof does. When you are solicited by a roofing company and told that your roof has storm damage, it is always a good idea to seek a second opinion from a reputable roofing company. This will ensure that your roof truly has damage necessitating repairs and that you get competitive estimates for the repairs if necessary.
Meister Roofing is happy to help you determine the soundness of your roof and to assist you in replacing a storm damaged roof . We treat the process as if we were the consumer and will advise you throughout the process.
It is always a good idea to get at least 2 written estimates for your roofing project. This ensures that you are receiving the benefit of competitive bidding on your project.
When a major weather event hits a particular area, out of state roofing companies won’t be far behind. These companies come to town to capture the fast money associated with weather repairs and move on taking their service and ability to honor warranties along with them. As with most major purchases, we recommend local businesses with proven track records in the local market. Meister Roofing is headquartered in Clinton, Ohio, our warehouse is in Massillon, Ohio, and we have been in business there for 17 years.
On a large residential roof or commercial roofing project, it is reasonable to pay a deposit. However, the deposit should only be asked for and paid after the materials have been delivered to your job site.
Licensing requirements for contractors vary from community to community. Your roofing contractor should either maintain or obtain the proper licenses to work in each community and should provide you with a copy of the license upon request. Meister Roofing is licensed in Canton, North Canton, Massillon, Summit County, Barberton, Norton, and Stark County and obtains additional licenses as required by each municipality.
While your individual job may not require a bond, it is important to know that the contractor you select can be bonded when necessary. Reputable contractors will be able to obtain a bond relatively easily.
Liability insurance is an absolute must have. When choosing your roofing contractor ask to see a copy of their liability insurance policy to verify they are covered in the event they damage your property in the course of performing work for you. Meister Roofing maintains liability insurance that specifically protects our clients.
Worker’s compensation insurance is an important component of the construction industry that is often neglected. Again, the most reputable contractors maintain worker’s compensation insurance for their employees. Meister Roofing carries this necessary insurance.
While credit references may not be necessary for your job, it is important to select a roofing contractor with good credit and solid credit references. How a roofing contractor pays for the materials used in your project is important. The most reputable companies maintain excellent credit and relationships with their vendors ensuring that your job can be completed with quality products and supplies and that any warranties will be honored. Meister Roofing has excellent credit references and will provide them upon request.
An estimated start date and completion date are very important components of your roofing project. Recognizing that weather plays an important role in schedule the repair or replacement of your roof, a solid contractor should provide you with an estimate of how long your project should take. When you check references, ask them if the contractor delivered on time and on budget. Meister Roofing always provides a time estimate for completion of each project. More importantly, once we start a project, we stay on that project until it is completed.
In most cases, the job site is your home. The contractor you select should respect your property and clean up the job site each day. A clean job site helps to prevent accidents or injuries as well. The Meister Roofing staff will clean up throughout the day and at the end of each day’s work.
Payment terms will vary from contractor to contractor. The important item of consideration is understanding the payment terms clearly prior to signing a roofing contract. On large residential or commercial roofing jobs, it is reasonable for a contractor to ask for a deposit, but only after the materials have been delivered to your job site. On most homes, we do not require a deposit. We ask for payment upon completion of the roofing job.
Every roofing job should have an experienced foreman or supervisor on site throughout the job. When evaluating roofing contractors consider who will be overseeing your project and how much time they will actually spend at the job site. When you choose Meister Roofing, a qualified roofing foreman will manage your project and a company owner will visit the job regularly throughout the project.
While it may seem like a formality, a contract for services is a must have when you are replacing your roof. This document should outline the work to be performed, the scope of the project, the price, payment terms, and all other pertinent details of your specific job. Meister Roofing provides a signed contract for every job performed.
Have other questions? Please don’t hesitate to ask us.