How to Choose a Roofing Contractor

At Black Roofing, we understand that selecting a qualified contractor for your home or commercial building isn’t easy, here are a few of our suggestions to help you make the right choice.

Find out about the history of your contractor

• Your roofing contractor should have a permanent and identifiable place of business, complete with a phone number, physical address, and appropriate business licenses.
• Your roofing contractor should keep abreast of the latest developments in the industry. A professional contractor belongs to local, regional, or national associations and attends seminars on the problems and developments of the industry. Ask about this if the information is not provided to you. Specifically, ask which trade associations the contractor belongs to.
• A qualified contractor should be licensed by the city and have $2,000,000 in liability insurance. They should also show you proof of this when asked to do so.
• Qualified roofing contractors should have references of past customers and not be afraid to share them with you. Use these references to see if the contractor completed the job satisfactorily. Be sure to ask if the product you choose has an approved applicator program, and if your roofing contractor is certified.
• All roofing contractors should have a written safety program that there crews adhere to. An emphasis on safety lowers the cost of doing business and further assures that your job will go smoothly.
• Most of all, your roofing contractor should make you feel comfortable that the company has the experience and expertise to handle your roof installation.

Find out about the plan for your job

• Your roofing contractor should provide you with a complete and detailed written proposal including: the work to be done, total costs, any warranties included, the time frame to complete the work and the terms of payment.
• Your roofing contractor should obtain a building permit from the local governing agency. Also be sure final inspection is done by the permit issuing agency.
• Your roofing contractor should not expect payment in advance. Some contractors request payment for materials after they have been delivered. Insist on seeing a copy of the invoice and have the contractor provide you with a lien release from the supplier for the amount of the payment. Your roofing contractor should have a supervisor inspect the work upon completion to be sure all deficiencies are corrected.