7 Tips When Looking for a Roof Contractor

We know that purchasing a new, or having your existing roof fixed can cost quite a bit of money. It is a big investment for you and for your house. This is why we encourage taking the time to research your contractor, and have questions ready for the potential contractors before they come out to view your roof. We thought we would give you some tips on what to look for and ask about when finding the perfect contractor for you.

Tip 1: Check for the permanent place of business. Make sure you have an address, phone number, and a fax number, if possible, for the contractor in questions. If you are able, you might look for a tax identification number and a business license.

Tip 2: Proof of Insurance! Need we say anymore? Ask to be shown the proof, because if one of their workers falls off the roof or gets seriously hurt while on your property and they do not have insurance, you could be liable for the claims. Make sure that the insurance covers the time period that they will be working on your roof.

Tip 3: Check for a license. In the State of Georgia, roof contractors are required to have a license to work on your roof. Ask to see that paper. You can also check the contractor in question at Georgia’s State Licensing Board: http://sos.georgia.gov/plb/contractors/

Tip 4: Proven Track Record. Ask the contractor to provide client references, or a previous client that would be willing to talk with you. With so much social media, check the contractors Facebook page, Yelp, or Kudzu profile. Ask questions on these profiles, and get to know the contractor.

Tip 5: Detailed Proposal. Ask for a detailed, written proposal and then go over it with the contractor. Make sure you have an understanding of the materials, dates, workers, supervision, and payment schedule before any work starts.

Tip 6: Safety. Ask the contractor about safety for their workers. Do they provide safety training for their workers? Who do they use for safety training? How often do they go over safety procedures? Check to see if the contractor is interested in safety. If they are not forthcoming with safety information, they will not have safety on their mind during the job.

Tip 7: The BBB. The Better Business Bureau is always a great place to check out any type of company you are using. Check for complaints that may have been filed against the contractor. If those complaints have been corrected, ask the contractor what they did to correct it and what procedures they have in place to assure it does not happen again.

Transparency is always the best option when choosing a roofing contractor. If you are not getting answers to your questions, it is safe to assume that you are not obtaining the full picture of the company. At Bell Roofing, we strive to be as open and honest as possible. We encourage questions from our clients so that they feel comfortable choosing us for the job. Feel free to contact us anytime!