Whether you need roofing repair or replacement, follow a careful process to find and hire a contractor. Its steps include searching for referrals, determining candidates’ legitimacy, gathering quotes, comparing contractors, and signing a contract. Observing these steps allows you to narrow down your local Palm Coast roofing company options and hire the best one for you.
Shop For Local Addresses And Phone Numbers
When looking at contractors to hire, it’s crucial that you pick one that’s local to your area. Only look for roofing contractors that have a physical office location in your area and a local phone number. This ensures you know where to find them if you ever have a problem with your roof.
A quality local roofing company will know what local installation codes to follow, the paperwork required, and everything else they’ll need to ensure your roof is correctly installed and in compliance with your state’s requirements.
Check That They’re Licensed, Bonded, and Insured
Every roofing contractor should be licensed, bonded, and insured. These three pieces of paper are in place to protect you and ensure the job is done right. To ensure that they have all three, don’t be afraid to ask for proof.
If a local roofing contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured, they’ll be more than proud to show you that they have all the appropriate paperwork. But what does this paperwork mean to you and your roof?
- Licensed: To get a license, all they have to do is register with your state’s board of licensing contractors. The price of the job will determine what license they’ll need. Roofing contractors should have a general contractor’s license because a roof is a large investment.
- Bonded: A bond ensures that if a company goes out of business during the middle of a job or if there’s a problem with the work and they don’t fix it, then the customer can fall back on the bond company. Being bonded means that a bonding company knows that a roofing contractor does business correctly and ethically.
- Insured: All contractors should be fully insured with general liability, workman’s comp, and a company vehicle insurance policy on all the vehicles owned and unowned.
If a roofing contractor isn’t licensed, bonded, and insured in your state, don’t even think about hiring them.
Ensure They’re Established
When you invest in a roof replacement, you need to research how long a potential roofing contractor has been in business. If you choose a newer roofing company that’s a couple of years old, chances are their prices will be a lot cheaper. The problem is they don’t know how to price jobs correctly to have retained earnings at the end of the year to get them through the winter months.
That’s when a new company will shut down. That’s not to say there aren’t good young companies in your area. That said, five years from now, you want to make sure the company will still be there to take care of your roof investment and any problems that come up. (If you ever have plans on having a new roof, check our roof replacement cost in Palm Coast.)
Compare Your Chosen Roofing Contractors
After inspections and quotes, compare your potential roofing contractors. In addition to their variations in costs and timelines, consider their project quality and process differences. For example, how did they act on-site? What is their execution plan? What materials did they suggest? Did they offer a warranty on their labor and roofing materials?
An unknowledgeable, impatient, or dismissive contractor should raise red flags. You’ll probably recognize such doubts as a gut feeling about how comfortable each contractor makes you feel (without disregarding other factors, of course).
Get it in Writing
Finally, get a written and detailed quote from each roofer. Doing so helps you to avoid misunderstandings or unexpected changes to your project. These quotes should specify the project’s installation methods, cost breakdown, scope of work, and schedule for completion.
Also, make sure it covers safety procedures, insurance, and liability, including workers’ compensation. When you choose a contractor, request a lien waiver to shield yourself from potential claims if the roofer fails to pay a vendor for materials.
If you’re looking for a reliable roofing contractor in Palm Coast, call or contact Elo Roofing in Palm Coast today and see what we can do for you!
