The importance of hiring a good roof contractor cannot be downplayed, as simple as it sounds a roof is integral to the structure of a property. A roof protects not only your family but also your personal possessions and investments within your home and ensures that you live comfortably. In turn, it’s likely that, because people don’t actually see their roof every day, they don’t often follow the measures to ensure it’s in good condition. Taking this into consideration, this is why most homeowners tend to find that their roofs deteriorate and don’t often reach their maximum lifespan. Many things affect a roof’s lifespan and lack of maintenance is the most significant of all. If you feel this may apply to you and you are currently experiencing roof issues, the best thing you can do is get in touch with a professional roofing contractor.
However, finding the right roofing contractor can be difficult. If you are in need of a roof repair or replacement, you’ll want to seek out the best roofing services in your local vicinity. You should not only look for a roofing company that’s affordable, but also make sure that your chosen contractor can cater to your requirements and needs.
A professional repair service, however big or small, will be able to help you ensure a longer lasting roof for your home. In this blog post, we will look at the various points you must consider when looking for a roof repair contractor. Read on to find out our ten do’s and don’t of hiring a roofing contractor.
Ask around your friends and family
Knowing where to begin when hiring a roofing contractor can be a lot to take in; there is a wealth of information online and a vast amount of choice out there. Moreover, a great place to start is simply asking your friends and family if they have any recommendations. It also might be worth querying with your neighbors or local community, particularly if you have noticed that anyone who lives around you has had work done on their roof recently. You are bound to find someone who has recently had work done and who can give you a recommendation – providing they were pleased with the work carried out.
Hire a roofing contractor who is local to your area
It is advisable to use a local roofing contractor for various reasons. Not only will you be supporting local businesses, but, if you had an emergency issues with your roof or you used a contractor who is based further afield, it is extremely unlikely they’ll be able to fix the issue in a timely manner. In turn, when you hire a local roofing contractor, they should be able to immediately, or at least quickly, come to your aid.
Request References
References are vital when hiring a roofing contractor. If a contractor cannot offer you references, this is perhaps a sign that you need to be very wary. In addition, if a contractor can’t show you samples of his or her work, be wary. These days, many roofing contractors will have samples of their work online and, if they do not, you can request some sample images via email.
Don’t just use the first contractor you find
It is recommended that you talk to at least three roofing contractors prior to making any decisions. If you rush into hiring a roofing firm, there is potential you may be scammed or receive a poor quality service. When looking at contractors, consider the following: years of experience, warranty, materials, labor, costs and fees.
Ask Questions
Before hiring a contractor, ensure you ask plenty of questions. A professional and reliable contractor will be happy to offer you answers. If you find a roofing contractor who seems hesitant or impatient, it may be unwise to use them. Questions you may want to ask include: Do you have a website? Can I look at your license and insurance information? Do you have regular subcontractors?
Don’t base the service on price alone
Low prices are of course enticing, however they can be an indicator that the contractor is either offering poor quality workmanship or is cutting corners on materials, or both. Generally, though, roofing scammers claim to have the highest quality and most competitive price when, in reality, they are attempting to appeal to clients whose only concern is saving money.
Nevertheless, a bad roofing job will cost you much more in the long term than the cost to hire an efficient high quality roofing contractor. Also, try not to confuse a low price with getting a good deal on your roofing. There are several high quality roofing contractors out there who will offer excellent workmanship at a quality price. Do your groundwork and always ask for references and read reviews.
Request an estimate
No matter how legitimate a roofing contractor may seem, always require an estimate of the project cost. A written estimate is essentially a form of contract that outlines what is involved in the project. An estimate should include information such as: project start and finish date, materials to be used, costs, guarantee of work and more.
Weigh up your options
Never proceed with a roofing contractor unless you’ve considered, but more importantly spoken to, at least three contractors. Rushing to hire without looking into the contractor’s background heightens the risk of being scammed or getting poor results. Weigh up comparisons such as their years of experience in the business, materials, labor, and fees.
Do they have warranty?
One of the key things you need to know is whether a contractor has warranty. There are two different warranties that should go along with a roofing installation: workmanship warranty and manufacturer warranty. The former covers against installation mistakes, the latter warranty covers against defects of the roofing material itself. Professional contractors should back their work. You certainly don’t want to be forking out for any kind of error that you had nothing to do with.
Final Thoughts
As long as you take these tips into consideration, you should be able to hire a contractor that can provide you with quality and topnotch commercial roofing results. To recap, communication is key and if you don’t find that you are getting what you need on the front end when they are trying to get your business, consider what will happen once you have committed to work with them.
AJ Donald Slaters – providing quality Roofing services and roofers in Aberdeen
AJ Donald Slaters are happy to call ourselves experts in roofing, roof maintenance and window installation in the Aberdeen area. We are a trusted firm that is highly committed to working on a range of commercial and domestic roofs for a variety of clients across Scotland. Whether you need a full roof replacement or maybe just a bit of maintenance work, our highly professional and experienced staff will offer the best in professional work. We have years of industry experience behind us and are highly confident that we can offer the best services in the Aberdeen area and beyond with the varied skill set and experience we have – not to mention our dedication to customer satisfaction.
At AJ Donald Slaters will work alongside you from concept to design and completion to get the results that you want and more. To find out more about what we do or to get a quote, visit our website or get in touch by calling 01224 644 680, or emailing us via ajdonald@btconnect.com to talk to a member of our friendly team.