Hiring a Contractor: 4 Secrets You Should Know
It’s often hard to know exactly what to look for in a roofing contractor, so here are 4 things you should know that will help to help simplify the process of hiring the right one for you!
#1: Roofing Contractors Must be Insured
Any roofing contractor you hire — whether for new roofing, roofing repairs or roofing restoration — must carry insurance. First and foremost is liability insurance, which protects your property in the event it is damaged by the contractor or his employees. Any roofing contractor you’re considering must also carry Worker’s Compensation insurance. This insurance will protect you should the roofing contractor or one of their workers get injured on your property. If they don’t have it, YOU may be liable. Make sure you ask any roofing contractor for proof of insurance before signing a contract or allowing any work to begin. A good roofing contractor will expect to show proof of insurance to potential clients.
#2: Roofing Contractors Must be Licensed
In order to protect yourself, any roofing contractor you hire should be licensed. Anyone can come in and claim to be an expert, but without a license, you could potentially expose yourself to financial harm. If an injury or property damage occurs during work with an unlicensed roofing contractor, the Contractors Board cannot assist you with a resolution to a complaint against that contractor. Hiring a licensed roofing contractor also ensures a degree of quality in that it gives you the assurance that the contractor has met the qualifications required by your state. States usually have high standards for professional roofing contractors, which contractors must meet before being licensed.
#3: Roofing Contractors Should Guarantee Their Work
Most roofing materials have a guarantee, but your roofing contractor should too! The work done by a roofing contractor (including roofing repairs and roof restoration), should be guaranteed for at least a year. Make sure the guarantee is in writing and that it includes a guarantee against leaks, defective materials and defective workmanship. It should also detail what will be done to rectify any situation where the guarantee is not met.
#4: Roofing Contractors Should Sign a Contract for Their Work
You should ask for a signed contract from even the most reliable roofing contractor. In the contract, they should specify everything from cost and payment to schedule and completion date. Make sure the project cost, including a reasonable deposit request, is in writing. And payment schedule and/or due date or timeline should also be in writing. An important item to include in the contract is roofing materials and what brand specifically you have agreed upon that will be used. The contract from your roofing contractor should also include details such as cleanup during and after the project, and what happens if anything unexpected occurs during the course of the project or how any change requests will be handled.
Interested in hiring the most trusted roofing contractor on the Monterey Peninsula? Give Scudder Roofing a call today at 831-373-7212 and schedule a free, roofing estimate today!
