Roof repairs should never be a do-it-yourself job, whether you have a leaking residential roof or an aging commercial roof. Mistakes made repairing a leaking roof can damage the underlying structure, not to mention the physical risk that’s involved. This is why you should always hire a commercial roofing contractor for your average roofing job. The hard part is finding a reliable, reputable roofer instead of accidentally hiring a fly-by-night or amateur operation. Here are some practical tips to help you find the right roofing contractor.

Do Your Research

The first thing you can do is start running a search on your own. Various outlets will allow you to do this. You could first look up a Roofing Contractor Directory like Roofing Insights, for instance. It runs down all the vetted professional roofers in your area. You can start by selecting your state and then narrowing the search down to contractors near you. Then you won’t have to spend 10 minutes researching a roofing company that considers you outside of their service area.

There are several benefits to hiring a local contractor. They'll almost always be available when you need them. On the other hand, your warranty is null and void if the roofer you decide to go with disappears or shuts down. It is easier to verify the quality of work with a local roofer, too, if you can see the prior buildings they've worked on.

Another thing you want to do is check if they’re registered with the BBB. If you see a large number of complaints or recurring ones, try to look at other outside reviews, and try to see if you can identify any patterns.

Ask the Right Questions

Ask every potential roofer if they are licensed and insured. Also, ask if they will be outsourcing any of the work to contractors and if so, whether their insurance covers their subcontractors. The answer to this question must be yes. 

Ask how much experience they have as contractors. If you're dealing with a commercial roof, ask what type of projects they've handled in the past. Ask for references, and then contact them to verify the contractor's quality of work. You could even arrange to see their work in person.

Another thing you have to look for is any additional certification they may have. Does the roofing contractor have any manufacturer certifications? If they do, it means they must follow stricter installation procedures for the roofing material. This also results in stronger product warranties. 

A limited manufacturer warranty isn’t worth much on its own. You want to work with a roofing contractor who offers both manufacturer and workmanship warranties.

Ask for the Paperwork

It is also important that you don’t simply take the contractor’s word at face value. Ask the roofer to show you their insurance certificate - they should be able to provide it. If they don’t have it, don’t hire them. 

This is especially important since everything that happens on the job site will be your responsibility if the contractor or their employees aren't covered. That means you could ultimately be held liable for damage to property or people caused by their actions - even to the employees themselves. So, it’s essential that you check their insurance papers, and follow up with their insurance company.

When the roofer provides a rough estimate for the roofing job, ask for a written estimate or a contract. If they won’t commit their numbers to writing, find someone else. They may ask for a deposit if they’re going to commit to working on your roof. However, if the deposit is more than a third of the cost of the job, keep looking.

Ask Them How They’d Do the Job

A good roofer will educate you regarding your options. They might discuss the various roofing materials that could be used and what they'd recommend in your case. They could also give you advice on improving the aesthetics of your roof. 

You should always be suspicious if they seem hell-bent on one option. This could be because it's either the most lucrative to them, or because they have a bunch of material they're trying to unload.

A roofer who will help you select the best roofing option for your home or office is treating you like an equal. A building contractor who’s unwilling to discuss these issues is a potential problem because you need to be able to communicate with the roofer whenever there are problems or concerns.

A good roofer will also give you a rough project timeline in addition to a price quote. They will also keep you involved every step of the way.

You can’t afford to let an inexperienced or unethical roofer work on your family’s greatest asset - your home. Use these tips to find a good roofer in your area that you can trust.