A brand-new roof is a significant investment that increases your home’s market value and improves your property’s curb appeal. For this reason, you should weigh the outcome of every choice you make regarding your roof. The most important decision you should consider is the roofing company you hire to complete your upcoming roofing project.

Let’s take a closer look at what questions to ask your prospective roofer before moving forward with your roofing project.

What Are Your Qualifications?

Roofing contractors must demonstrate that they have received the proper training and experience necessary to work on any type of residential or commercial roofing system.

Before you hire a company to work on your roof, you should require the roofer to present the following documents:

Licensure

Florida establishes licensing laws that are specific to roofing contractors. A contractor that is willing to obtain a license demonstrates that they are qualified to work on a roof and that they are committed to their profession. Contractors must pass an exam to receive a license. Therefore, they demonstrate competency in their industry and garner trust from potential clients.

Certification

The State of Florida sponsors a certification program to enable roofing contractors to earn specialized credentials. Roofing certification gives contractors legitimacy by requiring them to increase their skills and knowledge in the industry. To qualify for certification, an individual must pass exams and carry a minimum amount of liability insurance.

Manufacturer or Factory Certification

Manufacturers offer contractor certification programs to ensure that their products are installed according to factory specifications. When a manufacturer awards certification to a contractor, the manufacturer is stating that the roofer has the proper training and skill necessary to install their products on any residential or commercial home.

Proof of Insurance

The State of Florida requires trade contractors including roofing companies to carry workers’ compensation and liability insurance as well as commercial general liability insurance.

What is Reputation in the Industry?

Thanks to the internet, you can research the business and industry reputation of any company in your area. A Florida roofing company’s business reputation is established by its current or previous clientele. A company’s industry reputation is established by its business partners.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

When checking a roofing company’s reputation, try to conduct enough research so that you get the whole picture. Attempt to find feedback from well-known, objective sites. Some of the most common online sites to find roofing contractor reviews include:

Better Business Bureau
Angie’s List
Yelp
Google
Glassdoor
Facebook
Yahoo! Local Listings
Trustpilot
Foursquare

Personal References

Before you hire a company, ask around to find out about their reputation. Talk to your family, friends, or coworkers. Ask specific questions based on your needs or concerns. Again, try to separate the rants from the reviews.

Business References

The best feedback you can gather is from a company’s previous clients or their business partners. A reputable contractor will always have a list of business references that they are happy to provide.

Do You Have a Portfolio?

An experienced roofer carries a portfolio of previous work with them everywhere they go. Companies may provide an online digital portfolio either on their website or on another platform. What should you look for in a portfolio?

A roof design similar to what you want on your home
A roof design that complements the home exterior
Quality of construction and a professional finish
Materials used (metal, asphalt shingles, etc.)
Completed projects in your immediate area
Recent projects completed within the last three to six months

What is in Your Estimate?

The most critical component of a contractor’s estimate is transparency. Meaning, that there should be zero ambiguity regarding the work, the materials, the policies, and the procedures of the company. As you request multiple estimates from contractors, scrutinize each one and make a side-by-side comparison.
A roofing contractor’s estimate in Florida should contain the following:

Scope of work. The scope of work outlines in detail the work that the contractor will undertake to complete the job according to your specifications.
Job duration & deadline. The contractor should be clear on when you can expect the work crew to start and finish the job. Keep in mind that weather is always a factor when launching a roofing project. Be sure to discuss weather-related issues with the roofer.
Materials & labor. The estimate should include all materials, supplies, and labor during the work. The contractor should itemize all materials.
Deposit & payment schedule. A typical payment schedule may include an initial deposit, a second payment when roofing materials arrive, and a final payment upon job completion. Therefore, the deposit should not exceed one-third of the total cost of the job.
Explanation of liabilities. The contractor explains how their liability insurance will cover accidents or property damage that occurs during the job.
Guarantee Of work. If there is an issue with the roof after the job is complete, the contractor should include their policies and what they will do to correct a problem if it should occur.
Workmanship & manufacturer warranty. The warranty information should cover both the materials and the work done.
Termination clause. The termination clause addresses the conditions of terminating the job contract.
Waste Removal. The roofing company or a designated third party will be responsible for the removal of all waste after the job

What is in Your Warranty?

There are essentially two types of roofing warranties: a contractor’s warranty and a manufacturer’s warranty.

The Manufacturer Warranty
The manufacturer warranty covers the roofing products and materials used in the project. Manufacturers guarantee that their products are free from defects and will perform as advertised. If you discover any problems with the products, the manufacturer will replace them.
Workmanship/Contractor Warranty
The workmanship or labor warranty covers the contractor’s work. If the roof has a problem that was related to the contractor or crew’s work, the contractor agrees to fix the issue according to the conditions of the warranty.

The contractor’s warranty should include:

The limits and scope of the agreement
The monetary limits of how much the repairs will cost
Determination of Applicability to assess what the warranty covers
Any exclusions to the agreement
Nullifications that make the warranty void

Contact Quality Roofing for Roofing Service in Florida

Quality Roofing offers premier roofing services for homeowners in Florida. To find out more about our roofing solutions, call us at (850) 753-0041 or fill out the quick form on our contact page.

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