When you need to hire a roofing contractor in Westchester County, you want to ensure you have the best possible experience. You want to hire a local roofing business with a good reputation. Asking a roofing contractor specific questions will help you determine if you should proceed. Below, you’ll read about the things you should ask roofing contractors before hiring them to work on your home.
Licensing and Insurance: Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?
It’s never wise to hire a roofing contractor who isn’t licensed, bonded, and insured. Ask the roofers whether they’re licensed, bonded, and insured so you can proceed with confidence. Make the roofing contractors show you proof as well. Reputable roofers will have no problem presenting you with this info.
Experience: How Long Have You Been in the Business?
Hiring experienced roofing companies in Westchester County will be less of a risk. Ask local roofers how long they’ve been in the business. This will give you an idea of whether the roofers have the necessary experience to handle the job. It’s also prudent to ensure the roofers have experience working on the specific type of roofing job you wish to hire them for.
Credentials: Does the Contractor Have the Required Credentials?
You shouldn’t hire a roofing contractor who doesn’t possess the required credentials. Ask the contractor about their credentials and have them present them to you. It won’t take long to get this information, and you can ask this question alongside questions about licensing and insurance. Never work with amateur contractors who don’t have credentials.
Working Times: What Are Your Working Times?
Communication is essential when you’re hiring contractors to work on your home. Ask the roofing contractor about working times so you’ll know what to expect. Be clear about your expectations and understand what the work schedule looks like. You want to know when regular work hours are scheduled and which days the roofing contractor plans to work.
Estimates: Can You Provide an Estimate in Writing?
Getting an estimate is a big step toward starting the roofing job. The best roofing services in Westchester County will gladly provide you with a written estimate. It’s better to have an estimate in writing because you can refer to it as necessary. Don’t accept a verbal estimate from a contractor.
Old Roof: Will You Remove the Old Roof if Necessary?
There will be times when it’s not practical to leave the old roof in place. Ask the roofing contractor if they’ll remove the old roof if necessary. You want the job to be done properly and hiring roofers who are willing to do everything it takes to get optimal results is vital. Discuss what will be done with the old roof to make everything clear.
Subcontractors: Do You Use Subcontractors?
It’s common for roofing contractors to use subcontractors, but you want to know what to expect. Ask the roofer whether they use subcontractors. Knowing whether a roofing business has a reliable crew is essential. Gather information and use it to help you decide whether you should move forward with the job.
Job Site: How Do You Clean Up Your Job Site?
You don’t want roofing materials and debris to be scattered in your yard. Some roofing contractors have poor cleanup practices, and you want to avoid hiring roofers who won’t clean up after themselves. Ask roofing contractors about how they plan to clean the job site. It’s better to hire roofers who have good cleanup procedures and will commit to cleaning up the job site properly.
Warranty: What is Your Workmanship Warranty?
Knowing whether the roofing service you plan to hire offers a workmanship warranty is important as well. You want to hire workers that will guarantee the quality of their work. If issues occur when the job is finished, you want to know that the workers will come back to fix things. Get the details about the workmanship warranty now so you can proceed with confidence.
Payment: How Does Payment Work?
Ask questions about how the payment process works before hiring roofers. There should be a clear payment agreement in place. It’s important to get everything in writing, and you want to get receipts for every payment you make. Go over the details before you agree to anything.
Associations: Are You a Current Member of Any Roofing Associations?
Learning more about roofers will help you decide if they’re right for the job. Ask if the roofing contractor is a current member of any roofing associations. Being a member of a reputable association helps you to feel more confident about hiring a roof contractor.
Contract: Will There Be a Written Contract?
There should be a written contract to protect your interests. Ask about having a written contract. Contracts protect both contractors and clients by ensuring that the terms are clearly laid out.
Who Owns Your Business?
Knowing who owns the business is helpful. Ideally, you want to speak to the owner of the roofing company. The best roofing companies in Westchester County will have you deal with people who are in charge.
What Jobs Do You Have That I Can Go See?
Ask to see past jobs so you can judge the quality of their work. The roofing company should have pictures and examples to show you. This will help you decide whether the company is a good fit for your roofing job.
Who Will Be Installing the Roof?
You should know who is going to be installing the roof. Get details about which workers are going to be doing the work. You don’t want inexperienced roofers handling the job alone.
How is Replacement Sheathing Handled?
Go over details about how replacement sheathing is handled. This helps avoid problems, and you’ll know what to expect.
How are Extras/Change Orders Handled?
Sometimes, extras or change orders will be necessary. Learn about how these are handled so you won’t be caught off-guard.
How are Material Substitutions Handled?
Likewise, it’s good to learn about material substitutions ahead of time. Ask how the company handles material substitutions before hiring them.