New Roof Contractor Questions

Assess the Contractor

• Ask about the contractor's industry experience, insurance and financial matters and the contractor's availability and customer service policies. Note industry experience, how long the company has been in business and if their employees are skilled and trained in roofing safety and skills. Ask to see a certificate of insurance, business license, and warranty for work and materials. Find out about billing and financial policies, financing options, contract policies, and discounts and rebates. Ask about the contractor's availability and customer service policies. Ask how many roofing jobs they are working on currently, if your job will be performed by employees or subcontractors, and ask about work order and problem resolution processes.

Ask About the Inspection

• Inspect your roof and research it before you talk to contractors. When the contractor comes to inspect the problem and estimate the job, ask the contractor if the roof requires repairs to problem areas or total replacement. Find out if the roof structure is safe and solid or if there are rotten supports and underlays. Inquire if the job requires a complete tear down or if a new layer of shingles on the existing roof is sufficient, and have the contractor show you areas of damage that are indicated in the estimate.

Get It In Writing

• Require a contract for your roofing work and do not rely on any verbal assurances. Find out who your main contact with the contractor is and who that person's boss is, getting all current contact information. Ask if the person you interact with verbally during the work is the one who signs the contract and if that person has the authority to commit the company to the contract. Take the contractor's written estimate with costs, materials, start and end dates for the work, the change order process, payment requirements, info about lien waivers and completion certificate to your lawyer to review and draw up a contract.

Red Flags

• Red flags that may come up while interacting with roofing contractors include an impatient representative, if the contractor is unwilling to use a contract your lawyer draws up, unusually low estimates for the work, or evasive answers to questions. Red flags indicate either a need for more questions or, if you get evasion and delays, that you should move on to another contractor.