Unlike typical home renovations like kitchen or bathroom remodeling, replacing your roof is essential. Once your roof shows signs of damage or deterioration, you will have no choice but to repair or replace them. Of course, you can do it yourself if you have the skill, but at the cost of risking your safety. You may even do your roof more harm than good!

So how do you ensure your roofing project’s success? By hiring a professional roofing contractor.

Why is Hiring a Roofing Contractor Important?

It can be tempting to fix a damaged roof by yourself. After all, a lot of information on the internet can help you do it yourself, but it’s not always the best thing to do. Hiring a roofing contractor may seem unnecessary, but their help is crucial if you want your roofing project done correctly.

But why should you even hire a roofing contractor in the first place?

They Are Trained Professionals

Safety is the number one priority for fixing any roofing system. Fixing your roof yourself is possible, but you’re risking your safety whenever you walk on a considerably damaged roof. Instead of risking your life to repair a damaged roof, you can hire someone who’s an expert in this field – a roofing contractor. 

These contractors have the training and knowledge to operate on roofs, especially the damaged ones properly. They also have the proper tools and safety equipment such as ropes and safety shoes. They’re even capable of getting on and off a ladder at various heights, a skill not everyone has.

Professional roofing contractors can do any roof repair, roof replacement, and roof installation with ease and safety. Let the professionals handle your roofing project instead of DIY-ing it and potentially risk health and safety.

They Have the Proper Tools and Equipment

A professional contractor has access to a wide variety of materials that would help you end up with a roofing project that’s exactly what you envisioned. They can also give you various roofing material options such as different brands, types of materials, and colors that favor how you’d like your roofing project to end. These contractors are also certified by shingle manufacturers so that they can offer you a better shingle manufacturer warranty.

They Have the Expertise

Like in any craft, the difference in skill means the difference in results. The difference between an experienced roofer from the rest is expertise and years of proven-and-tested knowledge and abilities. Professional contractors not only have the qualifications, but they often have a more sound judgment than just an average roofer. They also make fewer mistakes because they make data-driven roofing decisions in the first place.

They Can Give You Various Warranty Options

A professional roofing contractor can give you two different warranties once your project is complete.

Workmanship Warranty. It is placed mainly to protect your roof against any roof installation errors. If your roofing contractor somehow managed to install your roof improperly, they can correct it at no cost.

Manufacturer Warranty. Like most consumer goods, every roofing material installed on your roof will come with a manufacturer warranty.

Both warranties protect all that you’ve invested in your roof. That’s one of the benefits of hiring a roofing contractor – you get long-term protection.

What Are The Qualifications of a Roofing Contractor?

What differentiates a non-professional roofer from a professional roofing contractor are their qualifications. 

Every state has its specific requirements, and every contractor must abide by them before they can legally operate. According to CamTech School of Construction, a Florida roofing contractor must pass several requirements first before they can get their licenses, such as:

• Age limit (they must be 18 and above)
• Pass various state certifications examinations
• Experience in the trade
• Provide proof of financial stability and responsibility
• Have the required roofing insurance

Aside from those requirements, a good roofing contractor must follow some criteria before you decide to hire them.

Here are some conditions you can use to qualify them for your roofing project.

• They must have prior roofing experience.
• They must have a roofing contractor license.
• They must have insurance.
• They must be bonded.
• They must be willing to provide estimates and references.

What to Expect From Roofing Contractors

It is essential to set proper expectations once the roofing contractor of your choice starts the roofing installation. During the project’s duration, they will employ various processes so they complete the job according to plan. You must know these processes so you can organize your house and your activities accordingly so as not to disturb and obstruct their work.

Here’s what you should expect from these contractors once they get to work.

Consultation

Almost all contractors will offer an upfront interview to further discuss the project with you. They’ll use the data they’ve obtained in this consultation to evaluate the status of your roof and formulate an actionable plan on how to deal with the problem. This is also an excellent time to assess if your contractor’s personality is pleasing enough to work with you.

Evaluation

The roof inspection is arguably the most critical process of your project. This process will help the contractor identify the problematic areas on your roof and develop an actionable plan to deal with them. Remember that skipping this part is detrimental, and doing so will most likely result in a failed project.

Estimation

After evaluating your roof, the contractor will take some time to create an estimation that will contain the specifics of your project. This estimation will include crucial information such as the materials they’ll be using, the estimated timeframe for the project completion, and any unexpected costs.

Addressing Your Concerns

Your part in the project is to ask your contractor any questions that you may have regarding the project. Use this time to address any bugging concerns because replacing your roof has serious long-term consequences.

Some of the questions you should ask your roofing contractor are:

• What’s the full business name, address, and contact information of the roofing company you’re working for?
• Do you have a professional license?
• Does your roofing company have insurance?
• Do you offer workmanship and manufacturer’s warranties?
• Who should I approach about my concerns once the project starts?

Contract Finalization

Never hire a contractor that doesn’t offer any clear and defined contract that doesn’t have all the crucial information you need. A contract is a binding agreement, and whatever you have agreed on paper will be legally bound. So make sure that the contract shows the work’s outline, total estimated costs, and payment schedule.

Site Preparation

After finalizing the contract, your contractor will deliver the roofing materials to your property. By this time, you should expect dumpsters to arrive at your house. During this time, the roofers will employ practices to prepare the site and protect your property from any potential damage during the project.

Project Completion and Clean Up

Expect the roofing contractor to bring in a large crew of roofers to start the project. They will tear off your existing roofing system, put up protections around your property, and install solutions necessary for the project completion. Once the project is done, they’ll clean up the site, and the roofing contractor will give you a final inspection report.

Steps in Hiring a Roofing Contractor

It’s no surprise that hiring the right roofing contractor is challenging. There are practically many of them trying to offer you their services, so you need to choose the right contractor you think is perfect for your roofing project. 

Below are some steps to hiring the best contractor you can find.

Get a Referral

Relying on the internet for information may be easy, but the best method of finding a reliable and trustworthy contractor is through word of mouth. If you’ve got friends, close relatives, or neighbors that had a roofing replacement before, you can ask them for a referral. List down the names of the contractors you get from the referrals you requested, as they’ll be important in the following steps.

Find Multiple Contractors

The internet made it extremely easy for anyone to find a roofing company that offers roofing services. Research local roofers by searching for the term “roofing contractors near me” on Google or Bing, and you’ll instantly see many local roofers you can choose from.

You can also use online directories to search for contractors. Listings such as Angi (formerly Angie’s List) can connect you to vetted roofing companies with great reviews and fair prices. Examine each contractor’s listings by checking their reviews and ratings to see if they’re up for the challenge.

Compare One Against The Others/Start Investigating

After compiling a list of your chosen contractors, it’s time to vet them. Determine if they’re the right fit for your roofing project by doing the following:

• Request estimates from each of them
• Explore their website to see if it’s professional and updated.
• Check their customer reviews and ratings.
• Ask relevant questions like how long they’ve been replacing roofs, are they ensured, or can they provide references.

Use these criteria to filter the competent ones from the rest.

Choose Your Top Contractors and Test Them

You now have a list of 2-3 contractors. This is now the perfect time to thoroughly filter them to see who you should pick for your project. Invite your prospects to your home and ask them questions such as:

• Do you have insurance?
• What’s the insurance company’s name?
• Who will manage the warranty, and how will they do it?
• Can you give me a fixed price before I decide to sign any contract?

Pick Your Top Contractor

After vetting all of the contractors on your list, you have chosen a single roofing contractor you think will do a great job with your roofing job. Take this time to discuss the details of the project, including the quotation, what payment plan you should use, and if you can get a paper trail of the entire project.

Questions to Ask a Roofing Contractor

A professional contractor will gladly assist you with any issues you may have about your roofing job. It would help if you asked them relevant questions regarding your project so you can understand the scope of the job and what investments you will be making to accomplish the task.

Here are the ideal questions you should ask your contractor:

• Does your roofing company have a Worker’s Compensation Insurance?
• Do you have a Florida roofing contractor license?
• Do you offer a free on-site inspection?
• Can you provide before, during, and after photos of the project?
• What type of roofing materials do you offer?
• What kind of shingles do you think are best for my roof?
• What are your payment options?
• Do you offer financing?
• Do you recycle old shingles?
• What are some of the services you provide aside from roof replacement?

Asking these questions will give you a better idea of what kind of contractor you’re dealing with. If they’re confident with their answers and show no hesitation in responding to your questions, then you’re in good hands.

Conclusion

Attempting to repair a roof yourself can lead to undesirable results if you don’t know what you’re doing. If you want a roof neatly repaired or even replaced, hire a professional roofing contractor instead. They have the skills and experience, and they’ll employ proven-and-tested processes to ensure your roof will get the best treatment possible. 

Are you looking forward to hiring a roofing contractor in Florida? Look no further – we here at Century Roofing Specialists can help you. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you require any roofing services.