Imagine this: You have discovered there is a leak in the roof of your home of 20 years and according to local weather news, there is going to be heavy rain and thunderstorm for the next two weeks. You turn to yourself and say, “Actually, I have all the tools – ladder, gloves and courage – to climb up the roof and replace the broken or damaged shingles”. What is your next step? You may run for the door!
But this is the age of uncertainty and expensive medical bills. And this is also the age where one phone call can connect you to some of the best roofing contractors in your local area. Homeowners want to deal with the best and brightest professional in the field for the amount they can afford to pay. And that is exactly what you will find in this competitive market. When you are doing the roof repair all by yourself, even after watching thousands of Youtube videos and tutorials on roof, the power lies in how well you can execute the task. Because one simple mistake can cost you your house and one misstep your life. This is why you need to hire a professional roofing contractor, also because roof is a complex subject and doesn’t fit well as a DIY project.
Quality Of Service
The best roofing contractor you hire can offer the best quality of service. There is no doubt about this as quality is critical to roof repair or replacement. This project isn’t going to complete overnight, especially if more than a couple of square feet of tiles or shingles need to be replaced. However, you will get the peace of mind knowing that there won’t be future leaks even if a small rain turn into a hurricane. Be willing to invest the time and energy to find some of the best roofing contractors out there. Send out emails and phone calls to people who have done roof work by hiring roof contractors previously. Maintain a list of such contractors, so you can call or contact them one by one and ask about their service, price and other details. Some may come for an estimate right away, others may send it through emails. You may run into contractors who are actually handymen with a little knowledge of roof repair here and there. Do not hire anyone unless they have a license and good reviews to show for. View your ‘contractor hunting’ as an investment into your future. When one contractor is unreliable, pick another. Simply put, the best roof job can only be done by the best roofing contractor.
Price Estimation Upfront
If you haven’t already done so, it is time to set up a budget for the roof work. The cost to repair or replace a roof depends on the extent and complexity of the project. If it is a small leak due to two or three broken tiles, your contractor will charge around $500 or less. If the entire roof needs to be replaced, the cost can run anywhere from $2000 to $10,000 depending one the size of the house, material cost and labor. A free initial estimate that you obtain should tell you what to expect from the job. The price is not set in stone, you can always renegotiate it later and before the work begins. However, make sure that the materials that are used are not cheap and do not compromise the safety of your house. If you take the repair work seriously, your contractor will be more inclined to respect your wishes. We would caution you against any contractor who is offering the service for below market rate. Some homeowners have made that mistake in the past, but it didn’t take long for them to realize it. There is no thing as cheap roof project when so much is at stake.
Low Overhead And Less Worries
One great advantage of hiring a roofing contractor is that you will be saving plenty of time and resources for yourself. Contractors will take care of everything from hiring subcontractors to procuring materials for the project. Once you know the price and start date, sit back and relax. You don’t need to hire anyone else or buy expensive equipment other than the ladder and gloves you own. You don’t have to tap into both side of your brain to figure out how to make the roof work again efficiently. Your only task may involve inspecting the project’s progress by the end of the day. You may not be able to predict the end date if you are doing it yourself. Contractors on the other hand know when they will leave your premises. At the same time, you can allow yourself to plan for other home projects as well.
As a general rule, ask the contractor information such as referrals, insurance coverage and past performance. This will give you an opportunity to further lessen your worries. Be sure to contact your insurance agent to discuss what is happening and if your policy covers for the damage. This is particularly important if you are replacing the entire roof. Your insurance company will certainly require a copy of the estimate, contractor’s license number and a copy of your project.
Guarantees And Warranties
Apart from completing the roof work, the contractor may offer extended promises and warranties on labor and materials. These warranties can come to your rescue should you experience another leak in the future. Working with manufacturers, your contractor will fulfill those promises without you doing anything. Working yourself can be very distracting and time consuming. The contractor on the other hand is usually well-equipped to fill paperwork, call agents and perform other tasks beyond the assigned project. Any expense you incur in the regular course of the project should be included in the final bill. And don’t forget the little things, which can add up. Whenever possible pay for the contractor through credit or debit cards and obtain receipts for everything. Taking an extra minute to reflect on those bills can be of tremendous help when you file claim.
Thanks for explaining why it can be good to get a roofing contractor. I’m glad you mentioned that you should get any referrals from the contractor. This sounds helpful if you can contact them to see what roofing work the contractor has done.
Great information and hopefully homeowners can see the benefits of local roofing contractors versus out of town franchises or fly by night amateurs. Thanks for putting this together!
Thank you for pointing out that even after watching hours of you-tube you will not know as much as a professional roofer and, therefore, you should leave it up to them. Yesterday, my sister noticed that her cottage-style roof is looking a little dilapidated and there are a few shingles missing. I think it is time for her to start looking for local roofing contractors.
It’s good that you point out that hiring a qualified roofing contractor is important for making sure your roof is installed correctly. I need a new roof on my house, and I’m going to need to hire a professional to install it for me. I’m going to look for a reputable roofing contractor in my area to hire.
It’s good to know that roofing contractors will take care of everything related to your roof. My husband found a small leak in our attic, so we need to get some work done. I’ll look online to hire a local roofer to see how much these repairs will cost.
It’s good to know that roofing contractors can save you lots of time and resources. I want to hire a roofer this week because I noticed some damage to my flashing. I’ll make sure to do some research on the best local companies this week.
It really helped when you said that we should include certain information like referrals, insurance coverage, and their past performance as a general rule when looking for roofing contractors. I will follow your advice because I am on the hunt for a good roofer who can fix the issues on my property after living here for the past five years. Some of the issues that I have noticed or water stains on my ceilings which means that there might be lakes and there are also missing shingles that I noticed from looking at it from the ground.
It’s nice that you talked about how the best roofing contractor you hire can offer the best quality of service. We need a new roof for our home and we want to make sure that it will look good. So, I think we should rely on a residential roofing contractor.