Your roof is one of the most important parts of your house, and repairs are not something that you can put off. If you decide to have the roof replaced, working with the wrong contractor could be disastrous. Not only will you have to pay for the installation, but you will need to pay another contractor to fix the mess that the first one made. And in some cases, you might even face some legal repercussions if a third party, or even someone who’s part of the contractors’ crew, end ups being injured. This is why it is very important that you vet contractors thoroughly and find one that you can trust. Here are some questions you’ll need to ask before you work with any roofing contractor.
How Long Have You Been in the Business?
This should be one of the first questions you should ask. While experience isn’t everything, and some new contractors might be very skilled, you want somebody who has been in the business for a long time and has experience in the specific type of roofing you need. Companies like belfastroofingservices.co.uk, for instance, have been in the roofing business for over 22 years, and have an easily verifiable track record. Working with a well-established company will also reduce the chances that they’ll vanish into thin air after they done your job.
What do You Specialize in?
The next thing you should ask is what type of projects they have worked on before. This will allow you to see if they’ve done the kind of job you had in mind. For instance, if you need a solution like a metal roof, only someone who’s familiar with metal roofs should be trusted with the job.
Are You Fully Insured and Licensed?
This is also a crucial question that you should ask before you hire any type of contractor. You have to make sure that they have the proper insurance so that any damage to your property is covered. They should also have liability insurance to make sure that you’re protected if anyone gets injured.
Check if their employees are insured as well, and ask what type of employees they’re working with, as some might work with temporary workers. Others will work with subcontractors, which can further complicate things when it comes to insurance. If they’re unlicensed, chances are they won’t follow building regulations. Also, ask if they have any other type of industry accreditation to further show their expertise.
What About the Warranty?
You should always ask about the warranty, and a reputable contractor will offer a substantial warranty on their work. These can go for as long as 25 years depending on the material. This is also where it pays to work with an established company that will still be there to actually honour the warranty.
These few questions should allow you to start separating the good contractors from the fraudulent ones. Make sure that you look at the options, and check the reputation of the contractor you’re going to go with before you make your final decision.
