Your roof protects you and your family from the elements, but with the changing weather in Colorado, your materials see a lot of damage over the years. Eventually those materials will need to be replaced with an entirely new roofing system in order to continue keeping your home safe from water damage. However, if you’re like most homeowners, finding Arvada roofers you can trust to handle the replacement can feel like a huge challenge. Here are a few important questions to ask when interviewing contractors to help you decide which company is the best fit for your needs.
How Long Have You Been in the Industry?
Since your roof is one of the most important features of your home, you don’t want to trust the repairs to just anyone. Before you pick a contractor, make sure they have enough experience to adequately repair or replace your roofing system. The best roofers should have been in business for at least a few years and should have experience working on the type of roof you want installed on your house. Remember, inexperience can be a major safety hazard for your home and inexperienced apprentices should always be supervised by an experienced contractor when doing any work on your house.
Are You Licensed and Insured?
Any contractor you hire to work on your property, whether they’re doing basic roof repairs or installing new shingles, should have a valid license and insurance policy in place. Licensing ensures that the company is registered with the state, further validating their reputation and ensuring good business practices. Additionally, your contractor should have valid insurance for themselves and their employees before they start work on your roof. If an uninsured contractor makes repairs and they or their employees are injured on the job, you may be liable for the cost of their medical care. Hiring an insured roofing contractor is the best way to avoid needing to file a liability claim with your homeowners insurance provider.
What is Included in the Estimate?
Different contractors provide different types of estimates, making it difficult to accurately compare your options. Before agreeing to an estimate, make sure you understand what the price includes. Ask the contractor to go through each aspect of the estimate and explain precisely how the numbers were reached. If anything is unclear, ask for clarification. A reputable contractor will be happy to explain the estimate to you as they want you to feel comfortable with the decision. If an individual tries to rush you through the process or demand that you make a decision on the spot, walk away. Remember, your roof is an investment and as such, it’s important to choose a company with your best interests at heart.
Do You Hire Subcontractors?
When you hire a roofing company, you likely expect their team to handle the installation or repairs. However, some companies outsource their jobs to third-party subcontractors just to be able to take care of a few more clients at once. While the subcontractors may be just as skilled as the roofing company’s employees, they may not have the same licensing or certifications in place. If a contractor is not properly licensed, the manufacturer of your new roofing materials may not honor the warranty. Before you agree to an estimate, make sure the people who will do the work are directly employed by the roofing company in question. This will give you peace of mind in the long-run, knowing that your warranty is still in place.
Do You Have References I Can Talk to?
While it may seem odd to ask for references when you’re receiving estimates from your prospective roofer, it’s an important step to take. If a roofer has been in business for several years, they likely have a strong client base that’s happy with their services. Ask if they have customers you can speak with and follow up with them. Ask their clients about their experience, whether they’d recommend the roofing company, and if they still use them for repairs. If their previous customers are still happy with their work, you can trust the company to show the same care with your property.
Are Your Repairs Guaranteed?
After you have your roof fixed, you likely don’t expect to have to take care of any major repairs for a while. However, accidents can happen and some repairs may not always address the issue or worse, they fail altogether. Before letting a contractor work on your property, make sure they guarantee their work. If a repair does not fix the problem or makes the issue worse, they should be willing to fix the damage. Working with a contractor that does not guarantee their work puts you at risk for paying for the repair twice.
Who Will Clean Up After the Work is Done?
Believe it or not, some roofing contractors do not pick up the jobsite after the repair work is finished. This means the homeowner is responsible for picking up the yard and making sure any extra roofing nails and scraps are properly disposed of. While this doesn’t mean they do a poor job, it does mean you’ll have to spend your free time putting your yard back together. Make sure to ask who will handle the cleanup after the repairs. If the roofing company does it for you, you’ll save time and potential frustration after already dealing with a compromised roof.
At Arvada Roofing & Construction, we pride ourselves on standing by our repairs and making sure each roof is up to the task of protecting your home before we ever leave the property. Since 1996, our experienced contractors have helped residents across the greater Arvada area handle everything from minor shingle replacements to full reroofing projects after some of the area’s most devastating hailstorms. If you’re looking for an experienced team to take care of your home and your roof, contact us today and schedule a free estimate. We’ll thoroughly inspect your roof and attic space to accurately assess the damage so you can know precisely what to expect with your repairs. Call (303) 432-2753 today.