How to pick a professional roofing contractor

A guide to choosing the right contractor for your next roofing project

While we would, of course, like you to choose Aboveboard Roofing as your roofing contractor, we strongly believe that an educated customer is far more likely to be a happy customer.  Our approach to sales includes teaching potential customers about roof damage, roofing products, how to deal with insurance adjusters and file claims, and how to select a contractor.  We realize that we may not be your final selection, but we want you to be educated and informed.  The first step in the process is selecting a contractor – a daunting task for most homeowners.  The checklist below will help ensure you hire the right one.

Use a Local Contractor – In the wake of major storms the impacted areas are converged upon by “storm chasers.”  These contractors flock to the area hoping to capitalize on damage claims, often doing shoddy construction with low quality materials, requiring cash deposits, and not completing the work.  They are not local contractors, which means once the work has dried up they leave town, and leave you behind.  They have no local office so you will have a difficult or impossible time contacting them in the event of faulty work. 

• Ask if they have a local office you can visit.  It’s a red flag if they provide a P.O. Box number as an address for the business.
• Obtain a contact number that is not a cell phone number and check to see that the number you are given is registered to the company.
• Ask for a copy of the contractor’s business license to ensure they are local.
• Look up the contractor in the yellow pages and/or on the internet.

Price - In the roofing world the best roofers are usually not the cheapest ones.  Be skeptical of roofers whose prices are far below other bids you have received.     

Construction Contract –

*NEVER SIGN ANYTHING UNTIL YOU HAVE MET WITH YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY AND DETERMINED THE AMOUNT OF COVERAGE

• “CONTINGENT ON INSURANCE” CONTRACTS – Unscrupulous contractors may ask you to sign a contract before you meet with your insurance company.  These contracts usually do two things:  (a) require you to use that contractor (often without a quote from them which will substantially increase your costs), and (b) if you attempt to use another contractor you will be required to pay 15% - 20% of your insurance proceeds to that contractor (again, this operates to substantially increase your costs).  These contracts are particularly onerous and usually used by predatory contractors - stay away!     Reputable roofing companies will meet with your insurance adjuster (at no cost or obligation to you), and using their time and expertise insure your claim is handled properly.  Note: reputable roofing companies will expect to be your final choice if you ask them to meet with your adjuster, so only allow a company you intend to use to meet with your adjuster.
• Do I need to sign a release document permitting a contractor to go on my roof?  NO!!!  If asked to do so, politely decline and look for a new contractor.  The contractor’s liability insurance covers this and usually if a contractor asks you to sign such a document it is probably a contingency contract mentioned above.  If the contractor says he needs it for insurance purposes he is wrong or likely underinsured.

Scope of Work – Be sure you know the full scope of work for the price. Read the contract, including the fine print, and obtain a detailed list of the work to be performed and the materials to be used.  Also, be sure that the range of disposal and clean up is clearly spelled out.   Make sure the contract reflects the correct price, and be sure to ask about any additional expenses you might incur (decking, for example, is usually extra). 

Homeowner Insurance – Select a company that will meet with your insurance adjuster to inspect the roof and one that will help you file your insurance claim.  Aboveboard Roofing will address your insurance concerns and educate you on the process as we move through it together.

Warranty of Work and Products – Warranties offered are only as good as the company offering them. If you cannot find the contractor it doesn’t matter what warranty you have. While shingle manufacturers warrant materials, that warranty is void if the shingles are not installed properly.  You want to look for companies that are certified by the manufacturer.  Additional manufacturer backed warranties can be offered by certified roofers that are not available to non-credentialed companies. Aboveboard Roofing is a CertainTeed Certified Roofing Company.

Contractor Insurance – Be sure your contractor has both general liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance, and obtain a copy of the policy. The contractors liability insurance will cover injury to contractor employees on your property – YOU DO NOT NEED TO SIGN ANYTHING GIVING THE CONTRACTOR THE RIGHT TO GO ON YOUR ROOF.  IF A CONTRACTOR ASKS YOU TO SIGN SUCH A DOCUMENT SOMETHING IS WRONG!  Check the dates of coverage to see how long ago the insurance was obtained.  If obtained recently it may indicate that the contractor is a “storm chaser” who will cancel the policy once they leave the state.  Also, be sure the contractor has insurance that is valid in the State of Georgia.

Trade Associations - Trade association memberships are a good indication that the company is reputable and professional.  Also, trade associations offer a dispute resolution process if there is a problem. The local trade association is the Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association of Georgia (www.rsmca.org), and the national association is the National Roofing Contractors Association (www.nrca.net).   Aboveboard Roofing is a member in good standing of both.

Materials Supplier - Ask for the name and phone number of the contractor's material supplier.   A reputable company will have done business with a local supplier for some time and will have a strong credit history.  The supplier should provide basic information on how the company operates.  Aboveboard Roofing has long term relationships with its suppliers and we encourage our customers to speak with them.

References - Ask for several references and, if you need repairs or replacement as a result of bad weather or storms, verify that these references are from jobs performed before the storm.  Aboveboard Roofing is happy to provide any number of customer references.