Get these 10 questions answered before hiring a roofing contractor!

Whenever you’re about to spend thousands of dollars on a project for your home, it’s a good idea to do your research before the project starts. In fact, when it comes to your roof, you should ask questions before you even hire a contractor.

Make sure to ask these questions (or find the answers online) when choosing a contractor.

What is your full company name and physical address? 

This is a great way to confirm a company is local and a step toward determining if they are legitimate, because if they don’t have a physical address in your area, they’re neither. Once you have this information, you can search the company using the Better Business Bureau, other online databases, and social media sites to find any potential red flags.

Are you licensed? 

The State of Minnesota requires roofing contractors to be licensed as a residential roofer, residential building contractor or residential remodeler. In order to be licensed, the contractor must also be bonded with a $15,000 surety bond to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. Before you hire a roofing contractor, make sure their license is up to date and that they have no outstanding violations by following this link.

Do you have worker’s comp insurance? 

Another requirement for roofing contractors is to provide worker’s compensation insurance for their employees. If your roofing contractor does not do so and someone gets injured while working on your property, you could end up paying their medical bills. Search here to confirm that a contractor meets this requirement before hiring them.

Do you carry general liability insurance? 

Nobody wants to think about anything going wrong with their roofing or exterior remodeling project. But, sometimes things do go wrong, and you want any damage that occurs to be covered by your contractor’s general liability insurance, not coming out of your pocket. Ask to see an insurance certificate with your name and address as an additional insured to be sure that is the case.

Do you offer a warranty? 

Manufacturers offer warranties on the materials used on your roof, but does your contractor warranty their work, as well? It’s important to not only know about such a warranty, but confirm what it covers, for how long, and how to file a warranty claim if needed. For example, Keyprime offers a True Lifetime Warranty™ to cover installation and workmanship on all jobs. Keyprime inspects the job a year after completion and, if there are problems, we make it right.

Do you provide written estimates? 

Before you sign anything with a roofing contractor, make sure they provide a written estimate that includes labor, materials, and any other factors that may affect the job. This should help prevent any surprises when you get the bill. You can also research the current costs of materials and typical labor rates to ensure those numbers aren’t out of line.

How will you keep the project on schedule? 

There are a number of unknowns with roofing jobs. However, the roofing contractor you hire should have a plan to address potential hiccups, and should be able to outline that plan. How will they deal with inclement weather? Do they have enough employees, materials, tools, and supplies to complete the job on time even in case of emergency?

How will you protect landscaping while working on my roof? 

Improving the exterior of your home is great, but not if it comes at the expense of your lawn and/or landscaping. Your contractor should take steps to avoid damage, and you should know what those steps are up front. Examples include instituting mandatory foot patterns and placing equipment only on hard surfaces. You also want to make sure that debris doesn’t litter your yard, so confirm there is a plan to dispose of it properly and that any dumpster placed on site does not damage your property.

Who is in charge of the project? 

Every project needs a point person. If the primary person you have dealt with to get a quote will not be on site throughout the job, be sure you know how to contact them. It’s also good to know who is leading the crew doing the work on your project.

Will you explain how my roof system works? 

Some people may not care how a roof system functions as long as it’s not leaking and causing damage, but this is a good question to ask. Roofing contractors should be able to explain the different components of your roof and how they work together. This is a great way for them to showcase how knowledgeable and qualified they are for the job, which is a primary reason for asking these questions in the first place.

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