Summer is a popular month for roofing repairs and maintenance because of the warmer weather and lack of snow. When you have construction work done on your roof, there’s a great level of trust that occurs between you and the contractor. You are essentially allowing them to make sure that the home you and your family live in is kept secure. However, a startling and disappointing poll from Angie’s List revealed that up to one-third of homeowners had an issue with their roofers, ranging from financial scams to subpar work. One of the easiest ways to make sure you are paying for quality work is knowing what to look for — both in the company and on your roof. Here are some of the essential items and roofing red flags to keep in mind.
Licensed
A license lets you know from the get-go that you are working with a company that has the legal framework to be operating. The license shows that the contractor is allowed to work in the state and are up to date on the most recent laws and other necessities. This license number will be readily available and can be used as well to check out their past performance through the Better Business Bureau. If a company doesn’t have a license or is reluctant to offer a number, you risk having low-quality supplies and ill-trained contractors doing important work on your home. No license is one of the most important roofing red flags to watch out for!
Bonded
Being bonded means that a company has funds set aside in case a client needs to file a claim against them. Though this may seem negative, it’s actually much more beneficial for the customer in that they can trust that there is accountability in the case of legal repercussions and that the state has given a background check to the company. Especially in the case of large scale projects, such as roofing repairs, it is essential that a roofing company will be responsible for any damage.
Insurance Certificate
Don’t just take the company’s word–that would be a roofing red flag! Request an insurance certificate or policy that legitimate contractors can offer either in person or electronically. This shows that the company has both workman’s compensation and general liability insurance so, in the event of an unfortunate accident that injures a contractor or damages your home, you won’t be left on the hook for the bill. It affords you an additional step for financial security and you certainly don’t want to find out you’re working with an uninsured company post-facto.
A Written Estimate
Similar to the previous items, a written estimate is another form of accountability because it shows that your roofing company knows the relative expected cost of your repairs upfront. This mitigates the risk of a contractor inventing and billing you for unnecessary repairs and leaving you with a substantially higher bill at the end.
Red Flag: Uneven Roofs
There’s a lot of nuance in roof work, but an easy roofing red flag is a visible unevenness on your roof. This can refer to shape or color. If the shingles aren’t laying down properly, are misaligned, or different colors from one another, this may mean that the shingles were installed using shortcuts. Not only does this simply look displeasing and can decrease your home’s property value, but it can also damage the long term health of your roof and infrastructure.
Red Flag: Missing Granules
If your shingles look eroded shortly after the repair, especially without explanatory bad weather, this is usually indicative of shoddy materials used by a contractor.
We’re passionate about providing our valued clients quality craftsmanship, long-lasting repairs, and ethical installations at a competitive price. Bill’s Roofing has been serving the Washington area for over thirty years and we love our community. If you want a roofing company that you can trust, contact us today!
