When you are ready to install a new roof on your home you should always prepare a list of questions to ask the roofing contractor before your scheduled appointments. There are many different styles of roofing materials so you should take some time, and look online for the roofing type you want on your home.
What Are The Questions To Ask The Roofing Contractor?
What Type Of Roofing Materials Do You Sell?
What Type Of Insurance Do You Have?
Do You Have Any References?
How Many People Will Be On The Crew?
How Long Have You Been In Business?
How Long Will This Roof Installation Take?
What Is Your Workmanship Ace Hardware Blackjack Guarantee?
Does My Home Need Additional Roofing Company Startup Costs Ventilation?
What Are The Different Roofing Types?
There are several roofing materials from asphalt roofing, steel or metal roofing, ceramic roofing, and single ply rubber roofing. Most residential homes have either asphalt or metal roofing panels as the roofing products, and on the flat roofs like dormers single ply rubber is also used. In tropical or different regions ceramic or terracotta roofing materials which can be used. All of these products are great for waterproofing, and are very easy to find information about online.
What Roofing Materials Are Best?
In different parts of the country roofing materials will change because of weather conditions. In Maine people use a lot of steel roofs because of the heavy snow fall. In Florida the choice of roofing is tile, and because of the heat, and asphalt shingles are used all over the country. There are also special asphalt roofing shingles for high winds along the coast, and flat line wind storms like in North Dakota and surrounding areas.
What Insurance Is Required For Roofers?
As you can understand roofing is a very dangerous job, and not all liability insurance is the same. Roofing liability insurance is usually about 200 percent more than basic carpenter liability insurance, and excludes roofing completely. I have seen many insurance binders over the years from roofer who has only purchased basic carpenter type liability insurance, and when a problem occurs the home owner will not be protected or covered under this type of policy. As a homeowner you need to have the insurance company send you a copy in the mail with your name on the binder, and make sure that the policy includes roofing.
The next insurance that the roofing contractor should have is workman’s compensation insurance, and this is where you could lose your home if someone is killed or seriously injured. In most homeowners insurance policy’s it is clearly stated, that anyone you hire to perform work on said property must have workman’s compensation insurance. And you are responsible to make sure that they have this workman’s compensation insurance before you hire them to start the work on your home.
What Should I Need For Ventilation?
The reason a home should have ventilation is to remove the moisture from the home. Prove fact is that each person in the home permeates about 3 gallons of water a day. From showers, to cooking, and breathing water vapor is created and need to be able to leave the property. One of the largest reasons is to allow the attic to breath, and remove all the excess heat from the attic. Roofing manufactures want the attic to be the same temperature as the outside at all times. This adds life to the roofing materials but also helps you save money on your heating, and cooling cost.
How Many Estimates Should I Get?
You should get at least 3 roofing estimate from reputable roofing contractors to ensure the size of the roof, and compare the roofing materials, and pricing. Caution, do not only make your decision on the price, and you as the home owner must assume some of the responsibility if you insist the contractor lowers his price in which he cannot possibly by the materials, and supply the necessary labor to complete the job correctly. To do the job right the roofing contractor will need to pay for the materials and insurance then hire qualified installers to effectively complete the roofing work. Plus the roofing contractor will need to pay for his tools, equipment, and his vehicles plus additional over-head to manage the job correctly.