If you think you may need a new roof or roof repairs, having a professional assess your roof will be your first step. Considering how important your roof is to the safety and comfort of your home, you will want to ensure you have a trustworthy and honest contractor to give you guidance. Here are 5 tips to ensure you end up with the right roofing professional for your situation:

  1. Get detailed warranty information for the work your contractor is providing. Of course the longer the warranty, the better, with 10 year warranties being the current gold-standard in the industry. There should be two warranty types specified: the warranty offered for the physical roofing material, and the warranty for the contractor’s workmanship/labor.
  2. Ask for a detailed written estimate of work to be provided. You will want as many written details as possible, including itemized cost breakdown, proposed timeline/completion date, and payment terms.
  3. Check the Better Business Bureau rating of your contractor. This is easily done by researching BBB.org and searching by company name for the contractor you are working with. Stay away from roofing providers not listed on BBB.org.
  4. Get multiple bids to compare. Three bids are recommended for most major home improvement projects, such as roofing replacements or repairs. You might choose the lowest cost option, or may weigh all factors (price, warranty, materials, etc) together to make your final decision.
  5. Ask to ensure your contractor is licensed, bonded, and insured. Although unlikely, having the proper licenses and insurance will prevent potential legal damages in the event of damage to your property or injury to a worker during your roofing project.
  6. If you’re working with your insurance company on your roofing project, check to make sure your chosen roofing professional is compatible with your insurance. Don’t sign a contract with a contractor until you’re sure they’ll be able to work with your insurance provider.
  7. Finally, ask a lot of questions of your roofing contractor during the bid process. Most homeowners don’t have more than basic roofing knowledge, so use your contractor as your personal roofing specialist to answer any question you may have about the process.