For most people, their home is the biggest investment they have. Your roof is one of your home’s first line of defense against the elements. It protects your home and your belongings from rain, wind and even the sun. As such, your roof experiences lots of wear and tear, and eventually it will need to be repaired or replaced. Since your roof is such an important part of your home, it is important to not just let anyone do the work.  Choosing a good roofing contractor can be easier said than done. You must make sure the person or company you hire is licensed, fully insured, and has the appropriate level of experience to guarantee you have a quality roof. 

1. Do they have valid Home Improvement/Contractor’s license?

The roofer you want to hire for the job needs to have a valid Home Improvement or a Contractor’s license with the state you live in. In order to apply for a license, a roofing company has to prove to the state that they are insured and bonded and also that they have the experience necessary to work on your roof. If a roofer or roofing company is not willing to go through the trouble of being licensed then they probably will not be willing to go through the trouble of doing quality work for you. Being licensed shows that they care to do things the right way. Licensed roofing contractors do not want to have a blemish on their record or complaints associated with their license. 

2. Do they have both General Liability Insurance and Worker’s Compensation Insurance?

The same way you do not want to have a car accident with a driver who is not insured, you do not want to have an incident with a contractor who is not fully insured. Roofing contractors are required by law to have both General Liability Insurance and Worker’s Compensation Insurance. The purpose of having insurance is so that, in case of an accident, all the parties involved are protected. Roofing contractors need to be protected in case one of their employees falls off the roof and employees need to be protected in case they suffer a work related injury. You, as the homeowner, need protection in case major damage is caused to your property or if one of the employees or subcontractors suffers an injury while working on your property. Homeowners can actually be sued and forced to pay for medical expenses if someone gets hurt while working on their property. You need to make sure that the contractor you hire for the job is fully covered so that in the event of an accident you do not end up footing the bill. 

3. Do they have a Workmanship Warranty?

Every reputable roofer should offer a workmanship warranty of at least 2 years. It should be a written warranty that is present in the contract that you sign at the beginning of the job. The warranty should cover the workmanship of the roof and any damages on the inside of the home from a leak on the roof. The manufacturer usually offers a warranty for the shingles or roofing as well, but this is not the same thing as a workmanship warranty. Ask the roofer before they even start the job what type of workmanship warranty they offer. 

4. Do they have experience?

Last, but certainly not least, the right contractor for the job will have lots of experience. Homeowners should ask questions and express any concerns they may have prior to hiring a contractor. How long have they been in business? Do they have hands-on experience? Do they seem familiar with how a roof works?  Some roofs are very simple and do not require a lot of technique. However, all roofs are different and while roofing systems are technically installed the same way every time, some roofs require foresight to identify “problem areas” and pay extra attention to avoid having a roof leak after the work is completed. Roofing contractors need to be able to understand how a roof will shed water and to find weak areas that can have problems after the fact. Did the roofing contractor inspect the roof before trying to accept the job? A lot of contractors never actually get on the roof or have someone they trust get on the roof to inspect it prior to selling the job and rather rely on the experience of their crews to get the job done right. A roofing contractor who does not get up on the roof should raise a red flag for homeowners. When looking to hire someone to do a roofing job, experience is a must! 

For the sake of your home, your investment, please make sure that the roofer you hire is completely qualified to do work on your home. Make sure they are licensed, have general liability and workers compensation insurance, offer a workmanship warranty, and they have enough experience to make sure that the job is done correctly. This will help you in the long run to make sure that your home is protected.