How to Choose a Trusted Certified & Licensed Roofing Contractor in 2024

When you hire a roofing contractor, your decision has a significant impact on every aspect of your upcoming projects. That is why you need to be sure that you are making the right decision.

Roof Replacement is a big decision. You want the best roof replacement contractors to do the job. Most of the people replace their roofs once in a lifetime. Replacing your roof asks for a bigger investment. But how do you know what to look for while hiring roofing contractors?

The problem is that because of the saturated roofing industry, there are multiple options to choose from which confuses you on your decision.

So, looking for a roofing contractor is easy but finding licensed roofing contractors and that too a reputable one is a whole different story.

In this blog, we will walk you through various questions and factors to consider while hiring the best roofing contractor for your roofing projects.

What is a Roofing Contractor?

A roofer or a roofing contractor is a person who is specialized in the construction of roofs. Roof contractors install, repair, or replace the roofs of buildings using various types of roofing materials like shingles, bitumen, or metal.

Roofing work involves lifting, storage, installation, and removal of roofing materials and tools which includes insulation, sheet metal, vapor barrier installation, and environmental friendly technologies for rooftops like vegetative roofs, rainwater harvesting systems, and solar energy systems like solar shingles and solar tiles.

How do I Choose the Right Roofing Contractor?

1. Check Out Google Reviews and Other Online Resources:

If you are planning to hire a roofing contractor, consider conducting a Google search in the first place. Google “local roofing contractors near me” and you will get the results of the top roofing contractors around you.

Make sure that you see the most recent reviews from the last 3 – 6 months to get the exact experience from the current homeowner. It is important to consider these reviews at face value.

This is simply due to certain people exaggerating their opinions, be they positive or negative.

However, most of the reviews will provide you with an idea of the final quality, the company’s commitment to their work, and their customer interactions.

2. Only Consider Local Roofing Contractors:

After cutting down the list of the names of roofing contractors, one thing that you all need to have in common, i.e., every shortlisted roofing contractor must be local to your area.
These contractors must have a physical office and phone number with the local area code. Selecting a contractor local to your area ensures that the local codes are followed, checks whether all the paperwork is in place, and you can easily find them if you encounter any problem in the future.
Yet another reason to hire contractors locally is because the out-of-state companies are entering into the market after big storms. These companies offer lower prices than the local roofing contractors, collect the money, and then move on to the next storm-hit town.
While there are a few reputable storm-chasing roofing companies, the majority of them lack knowledge of local building codes and proper installation practices. It is crucial to avoid investing in a new roof only to discover later that it was not installed correctly or does not meet code requirements.
As mentioned above, not all out-of-state roofing companies are bad. Nonetheless, hiring a local roofing will make sure that your project is completed in compliance with the requirements of your state. And if it is not done like that, you will know where to find them.

3. Talk to Multiple Roofing Contractors:

Since, now you have shortlisted roofing contractors, the next step is to select two to three roofing contractors to contact. By doing this, you can get quotes from multiple roofing contractors and it will help you find the best roofing contractor.
If you talk only to one contractor, you will have to believe their words on what needs to be done. You might think that this is not a big deal but most contractors try to sell you a new roof even if it is not needed.
If one roofing contractor asks you for a replacement, and two others say that you only need repairs, it is clear that you don’t need a new roof. While finding out your roofing needs is important, consulting various contractors offers more than just that benefit.
It helps you to compare the prices and the best-fit roofing contractor for you.

4. Look for Quality Over Pricing:

Once you have compared the prices of a few roofing contractors, it is now the time to look for quality services. It is absolutely crucial to not look for the lowest or cheapest roofing contractor services.

This is especially important if you are looking for a full roof replacement. If you are looking for the lowest price, you are inviting the bad roofers to take your advantage.

Once they know you are comparing the prices, these roofers will lower their prices to compete and outbid other roofing contractors. However, what they would not tell you is that they will use cheaper quality materials and cheap labor to justify these lower prices.

Unfortunately, those cheap roofers may even resort to shortcuts by leaving crucial elements from your roof. Though pricing is an important decision-making factor for most homeowners, you need to choose wisely.

Your roof is destined to fail prematurely from the beginning if you tend to choose the cheapest roof. If pricing is a concern, you might know that there are so many ways to afford a quality roof at affordable prices.

5. Ask for References to See Previous Work:

Once you are done with the estimates and narrowing down your decision more, the last step is to look at the references. You must ask each roofer to provide references from their previous projects from the past 3 to 6 months.
This helps you with a glimpse of the final product after the roofing work is done. You can even contact the homeowner of the previous project to ask about their personal experiences and whether their problem was solved.
A reputable and genuine roofing contractor will be happy to provide you with these references. But if they are not willing to give you the references, don’t ever think about hiring them for your roofing project.

Basic Questions to Ask Before You Hire a Professional Roofing Contractor:

1. How Long Have They Been in Business?

Inquiring about the company’s work is not the only way to know about the quality of the company’s work, but it can also help you get a clear picture. If your roofing contractor has been in the industry for a few years, he would probably have multiple references to hand out and plenty of examples to showcase their work.

2. Double-Check Licensing and Insurance:

Roofing work can be dangerous, which is why we strongly recommend that homeowners should not attempt it by themselves. Roof installation should be done with the correct tools, materials, safety gear, and proper experience.

Trustworthy roofing contractors have the necessary permits and licenses for each project they take on.

A reputable roofing company also has adequate insurance coverage to protect its workers in case of any injuries during roof installation.

Homeowners should avoid hiring contractors who fail to show adequate insurance coverage for their employees.

3. Get Financing Agreements in Writing:

It is crucial to have every detail of your roofing installation to be documented, but it is especially important to understand the financing terms.

A good roofing company will employ a knowledgeable staff to walk you through the entire installation process and answer any questions you have regarding the payment. No part of the agreement should be confusing or left unanswered.

4. Ask What Happens If You’re Unsatisfied With Work:

No matter how carefully you perform roof replacement or repair work, there is always room for errors. Ask the roofing company how they will handle errors, if any. This is something that homeowners should know before hiring.

Will you spend hours on the phone trying to reach the roofing company’s representative? Will the company take your money without completing the work?

Homeowners should hire roofing professionals who guarantee to correct the work if any mistake is done.

5. Ask About Unplanned Repairs:

Unfortunately, unforeseen repairs and emergencies are more often the norm rather than the exception in the realm of home improvement.

Once you start demolishing the walls or removing cabinets, you’ll start finding additional problems that need to be addressed.

Roofs work much in the same way. In some cases, the roofing team discovers water damage that needs to be repaired before the moisture gets to the property. In some cases, the decking is rotten or damaged by additional moisture.

Ask your roof repair contractor about how they handle unforeseen repairs.

6. Will the Roofing Contractor Tear Off Your Old Roof:

Some roofing contractors install new shingles over the existing roof. However, doing this is always a bad idea.

First, it adds additional weight to the aged roof. Second, it doesn’t solve any underlying problem, such as damage done by old shingles.

In this way, installing new shingles over the existing roof is like putting a band-aid on an infected wound. By doing this, you are covering up the damage, but you are not treating the actual source.

For now, you might find this an effective and cheap solution, but it can cause bigger damage in the long run.

7. Ask if the Roofer is an Unauthorized Installer:

Before hiring a roofing contractor, ask if the professional is a verified partner and authorized installer for a shingle manufacturer.

This is an important consideration because manufacturers do not validate the warranties if the roof is installed by a non-authorized installer.

8. Ask if the roofing contractor will provide a portfolio of their previous work:

There are a lot of contractors who are eager to share their previous work. Call a few of them, and avoid hiring contractors who hesitate to share their previous experiences.

9. Ask where do they source their roofing material from?

Ask your hired professionals about the type of roofing material they use in their roofing work and their access to the local wholesalers.

Always check if they plan to reuse any material, and if yes, you should know how this material will affect your new roof.

A reputable roofing company will also help you in selecting materials that qualify for tax rebates, especially those that can reduce your home’s temperature and offer improved insulation.

10. Ask if they will perform the final inspection:

When you hire a roofing contractor, ask if they will perform the final inspection once their staff completes the work.

Once completed, they should thoroughly inspect the attic, roof, gutters, and exterior walls to ensure that the work is done in line with your original project agreement.

Ask your contractor about how they close up the job and whom to contact for any future issues.

Interviewing Roofing Contractors Isn’t Bad, You Are Protecting Your Spaces:

Asking fewer questions to the interviewers about their work is not rude, so don’t feel bad while asking questions. It is your right.

Just Google “reputable roofing contractors near me” and you have access to the list of contractors.

Roofers are of many types such as residential roofing contractors, commercial roofing contractors, and more. Analyze your needs and hire accordingly.