What questions should you ask a roofer? | Roofing Fife
Choosing a roofing contractor may be a stressful experience. You may be dealing with a leaky or damaged roof. Furthermore, you must filter through all of the available roofing contractors in your area to choose one that will perform the work correctly while remaining reasonably priced.
There are numerous contractors for roofing fife who offers roof repairs Edinburgh. Understandably, you may be unsure what qualifies a roofing contractor as reputable or dependable, especially if you are a beginner homeowner or have never required one prior.
Consider the following helpful questions to ask potential roofing contractors before you sign the contract
ARE YOU A ROOFING CONTRACTOR WITH A LICENSE?
Most states need roofing Fife contractors to be licenced in that state to work; however, rules and standards change throughout states, so understanding the code requirements for your region can help you. This ensures that you are working with a roofer that will adhere to your state’s codes. Furthermore, knowing whether or not they are licenced and whether or not their current licence provides you with legal redress if something goes wrong on the job.
DOES GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE COVER YOU?
Workman’s compensation insurance covers the roofing workers while they are on your property, but you must still be concerned about damage to your property due to the job. Request to view an insurance certificate to ensure that the roofer has general liability insurance. If your roof, house, or property is destroyed, you will not be held liable for repairing the damage caused by someone else.
DO YOU WORK WITH ROOFING SUBCONTRACTORS?
Some roofing contractors will use subcontractors to do the task. Inquire whether they utilize subcontractors and obtain proof of workman’s compensation and general liability insurance. You should also obtain lien waivers since these agreements may protect you if the contractor fails to pay the subcontractors.
DO YOU HAVE WORKER’S COMPENSATION INSURANCE?
Although it is now necessary by law that roofing Fife businesses provide workman’s compensation insurance to all employees, regardless of quantity, it is still prudent to inquire. Some contractors may prefer to go without and take their chances. Still, if the accident occurs on your property, you may be held responsible for the medical expenses, something no homeowner wants. Make sure that the roofing professional you’re considering employing has workers’ compensation insurance.
WILL YOU TAKE DOWN MY OLD ROOF?
It is fairly uncommon for roofers to visually assess your previous roof before deciding to shingle over it. Visual inspections will always fail to detect problems like soft or rotting patches, and if those difficulties persist, they will only exacerbate your roof’s issues in the future. You should permanently remove the old top before installing a new one to ensure that any problems are recognized and treated. Also, you can ask them do they offer roof repairs or not?
WILL YOU USE STANDOFFS OR LADDER STABILIZERS TO PROTECT THE GUTTERS DURING ROOF INSTALLATION?
When looking for a new roof, it’s easy to overlook how the roofers will gain access to your roof, but it’s essential for the safety of your gutters. Standoffs and stabilizers will keep a few hundred pounds off your gutters while your roof is being replaced, preserving your guttering system. Inquire with the roofing firm if they utilize ladder stabilizers or standoffs, and if not, how they intend to safeguard your gutters. If they don’t answer or refuse to provide one, they aren’t the right roofing contractor for you.
DO YOU BRING A REFUSE MATERIAL CONTAINER?
Roof replacement creates a significant quantity of the garbage, which includes shingles, old plywood, nails, drip edge, and other materials. Whoever you hire to maintain your roof should bring their own container to the job site to dispose of the rubbish; you should not be asked to provide the container or deal with the trash once the service is completed.
ARE YOU GOING TO INCLUDE DRIP EDGE/EDGE METAL IN YOUR INSTALLATION OF MY NEW ROOF?
Drip edge and edge metal are tiny bits of aluminum located beneath the shingle and extend off the roof. This directs rainwater into the gutters rather than behind them, preserving the wood and fascia on your roof. Some roofers may not install this unless specifically requested, so make sure to bring it up when hiring a roofing firm.
WHAT IS YOUR PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS, AND ARE YOU LOCAL?
When looking for a roofing contractor, be sure they have a physical site. Operating out of a P.O. box is typically a red sign, so always insist on obtaining the actual location of their firm, their phone number and the entire name of the company. One excellent reason to know this information is to check to see whether they are nearby.
Roofers may go to hurricane-prone areas, such as Florida, to seek work; but, what if the roofing Fife business you employ isn’t local and you have difficulties with your roof after they’ve finished? They may not be available to rectify any mistakes or challenges that emerge from another city or state.
WHAT IS THE PERIOD OF WARRANTY ON MY NEW ROOF?
Shingles are the same price as previous ones, but they last much longer. Customers can anticipate new shingles to last at least 25 years (minimum). Therefore inquire about the term of the guarantee on the new roof. Anything less than 25 years should be considered suspect.