What to look for when choosing a local roofing contractor

Your roof is just as valuable as your home so it makes sense that when you need it to be repaired or replaced you will want to hire the best for the job. So how to decide who is best? First you need to identify what it is that you need done. Different jobs may affect who you choose to do it, for example, you will probably prefer a roofer with expertise in shingles if you have a shingle roof and an expert in Yorkshire stone roofing in you have a Yorkshire stone roof. Once you have an idea of what the job is, you can start searching for the perfect roofing contractor.

Use this checklist when choosing a roofing contractor

1. Professionalism

The very first thing you need to know about anyone who is going to be in charge of putting the roof over your head is: do they know what they are doing? You will want to check any roofing contractor’s credentials and that of their roofing team. Make sure they are a member of one of the approved roofing schemes, such as NFRC or CORC Don’t be afraid to ask for proof if you feel they are being a bit vague about their qualifications.

2. Quality of workmanship

It’s all very well if your contractor has a piece of paper to say they are qualified for the job but this isn’t going to tell you the quality of that work. Take some time to check their background, ask for some references and call them up. A good indication of good quality is if their customers are happy and if they are good enough to have stayed in the business for a long time.

Nottingham roofer

3. Are they insured?

Your roofing team are going to be doing a very dangerous job and there are plenty of opportunities for accidents. You don’t want to get caught in the middle if something happens to one of them. Check they have insurance, any decent roofing company should.

4. Service

Never settle for any service that is less than you expect. It is fairly easy to spot good service right from the moment you call a contractor. Are they friendly and helpful on the phone? Do they offer a free estimate? It is the little things like personal attention to your job that make all the difference. Ask previous clients how they found the service.

5. Price

Let’s face the facts. Price is always going to be a factor in any job that needs to be done. The important thing here is to find the balance between the right price and good quality. If there is a contractor out there offering to do the job at half the price of everyone else, you may want to check their references. A contractor who can show you by means of a thorough job estimate how they are saving you money, by sourcing materials from local reliable suppliers and not randomly marking up prices, is worth the consideration.

6. Reliability

Is the roofer going to finish the job on time? Or will there be delays? Having your roof repaired is a big job and you don’t need a team of unreliable roofers dragging out the process any longer than it needs to be. Again, by speaking to previous customers you can get an idea how likely it is that your contractor will turn up for work day after day.

7. Availability

If you have a major leak and need your roof fixed right away, you are going to need a roofing contractor that is available immediately. If you are building a new home and have a set construction schedule you need to check that your roofer is able to start on the given dates.

You will be able to judge if a roofer is professional and is going to provide good service just by listening to the way they communicate with you and by their knowledge of roofing in general. Gut feelings are always good but make sure you back them up by speaking to previous customers and checking their licences. Once you have chosen a contractor make sure you get a written agreement and guarantee on the roofing work to be done before hiring them for the job.

Our author: Tony Harrison is a Nottingham roofer of some repute, being involved in the trade for more than 30 years. He is highly regarded as one of the strongest and most competent roofers in the whole of the Midlands.