Your roof is one the most important parts of your home, so you shouldn’t let just anyone repair or replace it. You wouldn’t let an unqualified doctor perform surgery on you, so why would you let an unqualified contractor work on your largest asset. When it comes to roofing though, most people don’t know what to look for in a qualified contractor. We put together this helpful guide to educate you on a what questions to ask your roofing contractor in order to ensure that they are fully qualified to do the job.
1. Are you licensed in Florida? If yes, may I see a copy?
- Ask the roofing contractor if he or she is licensed by your city or state. Check with your local licensing offices to make sure your roofer’s license is up to date and doesn’t have any outstanding violations. Visit this website to verify licenses – https://www.myfloridalicense.com/wl11.asp . A business license is not the same as a roofing contractor license. A business license is for tax purposes and identifies the company. It does not mean the person has passed a test or is qualified to work as a roofer.
2. Do you have Workers Comp and General Liability in Florida? If yes, may I see a copy?
- Roofing contractors should have workman’s’ compensation and liability insurance to protect the homeowner in the event of an accident. Workers’ compensation protects the homeowner if a roofing company’s employee gets injured, and liability protects you from damage caused by the roofers during repair or replacement.
- At one time employers with three or fewer employees didn’t have to offer workman’s compensation insurance; now they do by law. Still, some contractors and roofers will skimp out on this requirement. The reason? Insurance isn’t cheap, and some would rather take their chances. The problem, of course, is when the chance is taken on your property and an employee becomes injured. If you hire a company that doesn’t offer employees workman’s compensation and someone gets injured on your property, you might find yourself forking over thousands of dollars to pay for medical bills. This is a loss no homeowner wants to incur. To protect yourself, make sure the company you hire insures each worker that will be present on your property.
- Workman’s compensation covers the employees on your property; general liability insurance covers your actual property. For example, if a contractor accidentally burns your house down in the process of welding something on your roof (it has happened!) and the company doesn’t carry liability insurance, you could be responsible for covering the debts incurred by this tragic accident. When it comes to insurance, though, don’t simply take the roofer’s word for it. Ask to see an insurance certificate. This certificate will list your name and address as an additional insured, so if something happens on the job, you –and all of your hard-earned property – are covered. If you still feel hesitant, call the insurance company and ask.
3. How long have you been in business?
- Just because a contractor is the new kid on the block doesn’t mean that the company is substandard, but in the roofing business, longevity is a good indicator of quality and service. A company can’t stay in business for 20 or 30 years, unless it develops a strong and trusted customer base.
- A company with an established business is likely to be around when you need them. If you have a warranty, you want to make certain someone is around to honor it should there ever be a problem.
4. What is your Contractor’s Workmanship Warranty?
- Manufacturers’ warranties do not include labor—that’s up to the contractor. Ask how long the roof repair company guarantees its work. A roof warranty typically lasts for a year, but some roofers offer longer warranties (ROWE offers a Limited Lifetime Workmanship Warranty!). The manufacturer usually covers the materials, and the roofer covers the work. These are two separate warranties, so ask the roofer what is covered under each warranty and the length of each.
5. May I have a few local job sites you have recently completed?
- Ask for local job sites you can visit and check previous roofing work. A reputable roofing contractor will be happy to provide you with a list of previous addresses. You can also ask for references, but sometimes past customers do not want their personal information released or a contractor cherry picks a couple of happy customers. Follow up with the homeowners and ask whether they are happy with the roofing job completed by the contractor. In addition, ask the contractor to provide references from at least two clients with roofing projects that took place three or more years ago. These clients can give you better idea of the long-term quality of their roofs and how the contractor handled callbacks. Also, read online reviews that you can find about the company. Do remember there are always two sides to the story so reading the responses is always good to!