Overseeing roof repairs can be a frightening experience, especially if you are doing it for the first time. Your house might be the most valuable investment you have, and leaving it to someone you are not familiar with might not bode well with you. On the flip side, doing the job yourself might not be the best thing to do since you could easily get hurt in the process since you might not be experienced to do the job in the right way. All in all, you have to trust the services of a professional roofing contractor.
To make sure that you are dealing with someone who knows what they are doing, here are five queries to ask your roofing contractor before committing to a contract with them.
Are they licensed?
One major thing that you need to find out from a roofing contractor is if they have been approved by the authorities to practice in that state. Most states require that contractors be licensed, but this does not hinder the unlicensed ones from doing their work, even if the government regulates roofing. A contractor that is licensed offers you the guarantee since they must be knowledgeable, credible, and have the right technical skills to do the job.
Several states have an online portal where you can key in a contractor’s license and see if they are licensed or not. If a contractor is reluctant to show you their license, look at the other options.
Do they have the right coverage?
Roofing work is risky, and there will always be a probability of someone getting hurt when they climb onto the roofs. This way, make sure that the contractor has the right insurance cover that protects both of you in the event of an accident taking place on-site.
Check whether the contractor has workers’ compensation and general liability insurance covers. General liability insurance protects you from losses caused by damage to your property. At the same time, the workers’ compensation policy absolves you of any liability for the medical costs in case the expert gets injured while working on your property. Several states specify that contractors should have general liability insurance as it protects them from claims against the work they do.
Do you have any references?
One of the surefire ways to ascertain a contractor’s experience is by looking at what they have done before. Request them to give a list of entities they have worked with previously and make a point of visiting or talking to them about their experience with the roofer. If they recommend the work done by the roofer, you are guaranteed of their expertise.
A few things to ask these previous clients include:
- Did they finish the task in good time?
- Were there any errors in the job? How were these errors dealt with?
- Did the initial project plan change?
- Were you happy with their work?
- Would you recommend the roofer to others?
- Do you employ subcontractors to do some of the work?
Some roofers may hire other subcontractors to deal with a section of the project. If this happens, you should conduct some checks on these subcontractors and see if they have the required licenses and insurance.
An important thing to note is that asking about these subcontractors will help you iron out some of the payment issues that are likely to rise between the roofer and subcontractors. A subcontractor that has not been paid can take the matter to the authorities and force you to pay for the services rendered even if you did not hire them directly.
How will you pay them?
Payment terms that are not blatant can give you problems at the end of the project. Therefore, before any issue with the pay comes up, request the contractor about their preferred mode of payment. Ask how much they will charge for the project and the amount that should be paid upfront. You should also ask if they are to be paid based on specific milestones within the project. Be sure to understand all these terms clearly before the project commences.
It is tough to find a reliable, roofing contractor in Oconee County. Take note of these questions that are to be directed at potential contractors. If their responses are positive, then you will be guaranteed that your project will go on as planned.
