Choosing a good roofer can be the difference between playing “find all the leaks” when it drizzles and sleeping soundly while a downpour ensues outside. We’ll go through a list of things you need to ask a roofing contractor before hiring them, making sure you get a quality roof install that will last you for years to come.
Question 1: What is the company’s full name and do they have a local physical address?
This may be the most important question you ask. When an area gets hit with a hail storm (like Dallas Fort Worth many times a year) “storm chasers” descend like vultures to pick off unsuspecting homeowners who need new roofs. They go to the nearest P.O. Box to get an “address” so they can act like they are a local roofing company. The biggest problem with this, aside from them putting the cheapest roofing crew they can find on top of your house, is they will disappear just as quickly as the storm that brought them in. Your warranty will be useless. Many times these roofers will just add a layer of shingles (called a roof over) leaving the old, decaying, and leaky roof underneath which will just continue giving you trouble. And because they have now (probably) moved on to another state, you will have nobody to call when your roof starts to leak. Here are the main things to ask to avoid this:
- What is the company’s full name? (including L.L.C./Inc., etc…)
- What is their address? Do they use a post office box? Ask for the physical location. If a roofing company doesn’t have a physical office in the area, you should move on.
Question 2: Does the roofing company have insurance?
Roofing contractors should carry liability that protects the homeowner in the event of an accident. It will protect you from any damage caused by the roofers.
In addition to liability, Old Pro Roofing carries a type of insurance called Open Roof Endorsement. If a storm comes up while we are in the process of roofing your house, all your belongs are protected in the house if anything gets damaged. This ads great peace of mind for our customers during the roofing process.
Question 3: Does the roofing company have references?
Ask to see local examples of roofs they have installed. Roofing companies that are experienced will either carry pictures of examples of their work or will have a website that shows their work on houses in the area. You can also ask for references. While some roofers claim that their customers don’t want to share pictures or give statements, we have never had a problem getting references from our customers. In fact they are usually happy to give us one and they will typically go online and review us on a number of sites such as Angie’s List, Yelp, Google, etc. – be suspicious if they can’t produce any legitimate references of their work.
Question 4: Does the roofing company warranty it’s work?
Ask the roofer how long they guarantee their work. A typical roofer’s warranty will last for a year. Manufacturers usually warranty the roofing materials, and the roofer is responsible for the install. Make sure to ask about these warranties to make sure the roofer is not acting as if his work is part of the manufacturer’s warranty. Old Pro Roofing offers a 5-year workmanship warranty that covers all work we do with your roof.
Question 5: Does the roofing company have a manufacturer’s certification?
Like many states, Texas does not require roofers to carry a roofing license. So GAF (the largest roofing manufacturer in the world) created a certification for roofers as a measuring stick to know if a roofer is a reputable installer of their roofing systems. To earn this, roofers are required to meet the highest standards of quality including annual training courses for proper install, conferences to stay up on the latest roofing knowledge and industry standards, as well as installing large volumes of roofs each year. Old Pro Roofing has achieved the highest certification as a GAF Factory-Certified Master Elite Roofing Contractor. Only 3% of roofers have earned this certification.
In this video: the TV show Designing Spaces explains the importance of choosing a GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractor
So lets recap the major questions you should ask a roofing contractor before hiring them:
- What is the full company’s full name and do they have a local physical address? – Old Pro Roofing L.L.C. is family owned and operated by locals right here in DFW. We have been operating since 2005 and we have offices in Fort Worth and Burleson.
- Do they have insurance? – Not only does Old Pro Roofing have liability insurance, but we carry Open Roof Endorsement Insurance which covers all your belongings should it storm while we are roofing your house.
- Do they have references? – If you go to our website you can see our list of testimonials adding to our already extensive customer reviews on other sites such as Google, Yelp, BBB, Angies List, and many more.
- Do they warranty their work? – Old Pro Roofing guarantees every roof we install with a 5-year workmanship warranty (5 times longer than most)
- Does the roofing company have a manufacturer’s certification? – Old Pro Roofing has achieved the highest certification as a GAF Factory-Certified Master Elite Roofing Contractor.
If take the time to qualify a roofer it will pay off for years to come. With so many fly-by-night roofers (who are nothing but a guy in a pickup truck) out there you risk putting your home, your finances, and your family at risk by not checking their qualifications. It’s for these reasons that thousands of families have trusted their home to an Old Pro. If you have a roof thats been hit by a recent hail storm or it’s been a while since your last roof inspection, give Old Pro Roofing a call and we’ll set you up for a free roof inspection so you can sleep knowing you’re safe.