8 Benefits of Hiring a Roofing Contractor for Your Home
When you are a homeowner, it seems like something needs to be done at your house. Depending on how long you have been a homeowner, you probably have become pretty good at fixing and repairing items yourself. This may have come out of necessity, as hiring someone to do the work is often more expensive than fixing it yourself. However, it is important to understand what work you can tackle and when to hire a professional. One of the areas where it is best to contact a professional is when it comes to your roof. When deciding if you should hire someone, consider these benefits of finding roofing companies to hire.
1. Safety
Roofing is a dangerous business, and when you are looking for roofing companies to hire, you can feel confident and comfortable that there are professionals. This means they know how to make roof repairs and replacements. They will keep themselves safe, as well as care for your property. You want to ensure that anyone that provides roof metal decking services is properly insured. A professional roofing company should have both liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Liability insurance protects your property if something goes wrong during the repair or replacement. Accidents happen even when all precautions are taken. Liability insurance helps to protect you from any of those accidents. Workers’ compensation insurance protects employees of the business from injuries they sustain while on the job. It also protects you as the homeowner from being sued.
In addition to protecting your property from damage from accidents, a professional will protect your property during the repair or replacement process. There is a large amount of material being dropped from the roof to the containers below. A professional takes great care to move any items away from your house, including backyard furniture and decorations. In addition, the roofer will place tarps over bushes, plants, and flowers to protect them during the roofing process. You may even see roofers create a slide by placing a tarp on an angle to protect your home, the foundation, and landscaping from any damage.
2. Warranties
Most roofing materials, especially shingles, have some type of manufacturer’s warranty. You can expect the materials to have a limited lifetime warranty. This is the standard throughout the industry, and it means that as long as you own the home, the shingles are covered. The protection that is provided differs between manufacturers, and you should find out those details when making a selection on the material. When you are looking for roofing companies to hire, you want to find roofers that offer a contractor’s craft warranty. The way the roof is installed matters when considering how long it will last. When you find a reputable roofer, they stand behind their installation and quality. The length of the warranty differs between contractors, but they should offer some type of warranty.
The longer the warranty lasts, the better it is for you. You can expect a craft warranty to cover any failures in the material that happen due to error or improper installation. These warranties often cover the cost of labor and material needed for repair. It should include any damage that occurs to the inside of your home, including any personal property that is damaged. You should be aware that this type of warranty does not typically cover areas unrelated to craft. This includes a result of a storm, strong winds, and water damage. If you alter the roof in any way after the installation, it most likely voids your warranty.
3. High-Quality Work
One of the top benefits you will find when you hire roofing companies to handle your roof work is they provide top-quality work. This is the job they do every day, which means they are experienced and knowledgeable. Unless you are a roofer, it is going to take you twice as long as it does for them to complete the work. When you are deciding which roofing companies to hire, keep in mind the quality work they can provide for you. In addition, you want to confirm that they are using high-quality materials. You want a contractor that uses the same material they would use on their own house. You also want to know that they have faith in and stand by the products they are using.
No matter if you are looking for asphalt or metal roofing companies, you want to ensure they will install a product that you can rely on to protect your house and family. You should ask all roof contractors you consider about the quality of the materials they are using. Whenever possible, you want to find a contractor that is a certified installer for the product line. Certified installers typically have classes provided by the manufacturer on the best installation of their products. In some cases, the manufacturer will not honor the warranty if the materials aren’t installed by a certified company.
4. Reliability
When you are looking for roofing companies to hire, you want to ensure they are reliable and are going to follow through. You want to make sure you are selecting a contractor that stays on budget and adheres to the schedule provided to you. Delays can happen, especially when you are dependent on the weather. However, you want a contractor that is going to communicate any changes to the schedule quickly. You also want one that prepares for all possible scenarios and has a plan if something doesn’t go as expected. You should ask for three references, at a minimum, from previous customers.
Regardless if you want metal roofing or some other type of material, you can get a good idea of quality based on their previous jobs. There are many review sites online that should have information about your potential contractor. These reviews have not been paid for by the company and should be reliable. Do not hesitate to ask a potential contractor for the names and contact information of previous customers. If they don’t have any or are unwilling to provide you with that information, it should be a red flag for you. It’s also a strong indicator you should look for another contractor. Keep in mind your friends and family are great resources. If you know someone that had a roof replaced in the past several years, ask them about their experience and their opinion of their contractor.
5. Peace of Mind
When you are looking for roofing companies to hire, you’re also looking for peace of mind. When you hire a professional residential roofing service, you have certain expectations. You expect that they are educated and knowledgeable about their craft. You want them to be aware of changing rules, regulations, and recommendations. You should look for a contractor that uses best practices that are in line with industry standards. When you hire a professional, you expect their crews are also trained and use modern equipment. Finally, you want to feel confident that your contractor is using their own employees and not day laborers they aren’t familiar with.
When you hire a company that is used to working in your area, they are familiar with the regulations of your specific town or county. Each ordinance may have its own requirements, and you want to feel confident your company is following them. This could save you headaches in the long run and avoid fines.
6. Time
When you are looking for roofing companies to hire, you want the work completed as quickly as possible. The time it is going to take to have your roof repaired or replaced is often a deciding factor when choosing a company. You also want to find a company that can put you on the schedule quickly. You should feel comfortable asking roofing contractors how long it is going to take to finish your roof. The average roof can be replaced in one day for an average-sized roof of 3,000 square feet or less. Large or specialty-type roofs can take as long as five days. However, it is essential to keep in mind that the weather plays a major role in the schedule. If the weather is not cooperative, it can take as long as three weeks to have your roof finished.
Even when you use professional roofing services, if your roof is a complex style, it is going to take longer. The facets, valleys, pitch, and angles on your roof can make the job more challenging and take longer. If you have these special aspects on your roof, you should definitely consider hiring a professional instead of doing the work yourself. The more angles and steeper the pitch you have means that the roof is going to take longer to complete. When the pitch of a roof is steep, the roofer must take extra precautions for safety. They may have to work slower to ensure their safety. If your roof isn’t easy to access, it will take longer.
7. Cost-Effective
When you are considering which roofing companies to hire, cost does matter. While the price should not be the only consideration, it does have to be a substantial one. Before you even begin contacting roofing companies, you should have an understanding of how much you can afford. Oftentimes when you select a larger company for your roof, you will be able to get a better price. While larger organizations may have more overhead costs, they can often spread those costs out. When you select a smaller company, they may not be able to absorb the costs as easily, and they are passed along to the customer.
A roofing contractor CRM is a computer program that allows businesses to have better management and control of their jobs. This allows them to ensure they have the right amount of material when they need it. This software program allows them to schedule jobs and ensure they have enough people available at all times. It makes the management of the company easier and more streamlined. A larger company may be able to offer you payment plans that smaller organizations cannot. In addition to offering payment plans, they may also be able to offer discounts or sales.
8. Proper Tools
When looking for roofing companies to hire, you first want to see if you can find a local roofing contractor. A contractor that is familiar with the community may be able to provide better service than someone that is from another area. When hiring a roofing company, you want to ensure they are using the proper equipment to get the job done correctly. While a roofing company can use basic tools to complete the job, it may be harder and take longer. In general, you want to ensure that any roofer is using the best quality items and is up to date on the latest industry standards.
Any contractor you select should use a nail gun and air compressor to nail shingles down quickly. Other essential equipment any roofer should use includes hard hats, safety harnesses, safety goggles, gloves, and roofing shoes. These items keep workers safe while they are working on your roof. They will need ladders, extension ladders, and ladder hoists. You can’t forget the roofing hammer, caulk, pry bar, saws, and blades. You also want to ensure they have the proper cleanup equipment, too. This should include tarps, dumpsters, brooms, rakes, and sweepers. Most of this equipment helps roofers get the job done effectively and efficiently.
It may seem like a lot of work when looking for roofing companies to hire, but it isn’t nearly as much work as replacing the roof yourself. Even if you are incredibly handy, you may want to consider leaving the roofing work to the experts. If these reasons weren’t enough, keep in mind that it’s dirty and back-breaking work. You may ultimately decide your time is best spent on doing other things and leave the roofing to the pros.