The Importance of a Reputable Roofing Contractor

Roofing is a pretty big deal and, in all honesty, it’s something that the majority of the population doesn’t really know all that much about.

The majority of people have very little experience when it comes to materials and contractors, which is why it’s important to do your homework prior to hiring out the job. With all that in mind, we thought we’d share some tips – courtesy of the Better Business Bureau – on how to select a reputable contractor.

1. If you don’t already have a trusted contractor, you might obtain bids from several firms, making sure that the specifications of each bid are identical, and ask the contractor to quote you a weight per square foot for composition shingles. This enables homeowners to judge the quality of the materials — the heavier the weight per square, the higher the quality.
2. Ask for a business card and the home headquarters location of the roofing company.
3. Obtain a reliability report on the firm by calling the Better Business Bureau or look it up on their website (bbb.org). You can search by company name, phone number, or by address. To get an entire list, search by business classification and use ‘Roofing Contractors’. You can also find out how long the company has been in business – for instance, if the contractor was in business before the hail storm they likely will be in business after the storm is over.
4. In addition, make sure the company has a contractor registration and roofing bond on file with your city. Require that they obtain a permit for your roof from the city and that it is part of the written estimate. Remember, a bond may protect you against substandard work that doesn’t comply with building codes; however, it may not protect you if the contractor does not complete the job.
5. If possible, ask for and check references. Try to talk to previous customers, and if possible, look at a similar job that has been completed recently as well as one that has been done for several years.
6. Ask if the contractor would be willing to submit a dispute concerning workmanship or service to a third party arbitration program, and get that commitment in writing.
7. Beware of fly by night repair businesses soliciting work in unmarked trucks and requiring advance payment, and do not succumb to high pressure techniques such as the price is “good only for today.”

Here at Golden Rule, we take great care in treating our customers in the exact manner that we would want to be treated.

After all, that is the Golden Rule!