We rarely think about our roofs until something goes wrong. To increase your roof’s lifespan and keep it in good quality, you have to take care of it. This includes having different roofing services carried out from having the gutters cleaned out or replaced to keeping up with roof maintenance, inspecting the shingles, and promptly fixing leaks, among others.
You may think you have what it takes to do some of these jobs but some roofing jobs can be quite complex and should be left to the professionals. Roofing professionals have the right training to not only deal with the technical aspects of roofing but the safety side as well.
Finding a Good Roofing Contractor
Once you’ve decided you need some roofing work done, the next step is finding a good roofing contractor. This can be tricky as there are plenty of scammers out there who promise to deliver at cheap prices only to disappear once payment is made. Even worse, unqualified roofers may end up doing more damage to your roof.
So how do you choose the roofer for the job?
The right roofing contractor should:
1. Be fully licensed.
Making repairs or replacing your roof is quite an investment. It’s not something you’ll do every day so you want to make sure it lasts and stands the test of time. This is why you should only trust licensed roofing professionals with your roof.
To get licensed and certified, roofing contractors must prove their expertise by undergoing training and passing tests and assessments. This means that you can trust them to know the best practices for roof repair, installation, and maintenance and that they’ll adhere to the relevant building codes and rules for your jurisdiction.
Every state has different licensing requirements. In Georgia, roofing contractors require a Contractor’s License for any project worth more than $2500. This is issued by the State Construction Industry Licensing Board. They also need to pass trade, business, and law exams before being licensed.
2. Have adequate insurance
Roofing work can be pretty dangerous and falls and other accidents are always a possibility. Reputable roofing contractors have adequate insurance in place to protect both you and their business from any issues that may pop up in the course of working on their roof. Working with a fully insured and bonded roofing contractor means that you’re protected from being liable should a worker damage your property or become injured as they fix your roof.
Some of the insurance covers your roofing contractor should have include: General Liability Insurance, Workers Compensation Insurance, Commercial Property Insurance, and Professional Liability Insurance.
3. Provide credentials
In addition to licenses and certification, a reliable, trustworthy roofing contractor should provide you with other credentials showing that they’re a legit business. This may include an office phone number and a permanent place of business. Having a website and an email address is also a definite plus.
The longer a roofer has been in business, the better as this is a good indicator of their reliability. After all, they wouldn’t have been able to sustain their business that long if they offered poor service. Your goal is to find a well-established roofing business with sizeable staff and a happy clientele.
4. Offer guarantees
The right roofer should be willing to stand by their workmanship by offering you the right guarantees. Most roofing contractors offer a Roofing Manufacturer Warranty which is a warranty on the roofing material used. This is extended by the manufacturer and it protects you against failure caused by manufacturing defects in the roofing materials used.
There is also a Craftsmanship Roof Warranty given by the roofing contractor to back up their work. Remember that roofing defects caused by substandard work can sometimes take time to appear so the longer the warranty given by the contractor, the better for your investment.
5. Provide a detailed quote
After conducting a full, on-site inspection on your roof, a good roofing contractor should provide a detailed obligation-free quote. This is important because it gives you an idea of how much the roofing job will cost.
The quote should clearly outline everything you and the roofer discussed including a detailed description of the required work, where this work will be undertaken, the type of materials to be used, and when the job will start and end. A good quote should also clarify the terms of payment as well as other terms and conditions related to the job.
6. Have positive reviews and testimonials.
Finally, a reputable roofing contractor should have no problem giving you references and photos of similar jobs they have completed in your area. Before hiring a roofer, always ask for and check the references they provide. You can also check their website for testimonials and reviews left by their previous customers. This helps you get a feel for the business and what others have to say about their services, costs, and quality as well as what they were like to deal with. Based on that, you can then make an informed decision on whether to hire them or not.
Let Us Sort Out Your Roofing Needs
Christian Brothers Roofing has been providing roofing services in Georgia since 1983. In the course of that time, we have gained extensive experience in carrying out all kinds of roofing work from regular maintenance and repair jobs to more complex roofing replacement jobs. We take great pride in offering excellent service and take care to get the job done right the first time.
Our team of professional roofers has the requisite licenses and insurance to work on homes in Atlanta and the wider Georgia. This means you can trust us to do the job well and safely.
Our customers’ satisfaction is our priority and we are happy to provide references and photos of jobs we’ve completed in your area. After a free inspection of your roof, we’ll give you a detailed quote with everything we agreed upon and we’re always ready to answer any questions you might have. So give us a call today to schedule your free roof inspection.