Springfield Mo Quality Roofing Without The Rip-Offs
How to find a good roofer in the Springfield Area
So you have decided that it is time to bring in a professional to roof your home. Whenever you are doing major construction there are many things to consider when making this important decision.
Steps to finding a good roofer:
1 Check to make sure that they have a contractor’s license. 2 Get two or more references. 3 Ask how long they have been in business. 4 Get at least one other bid for the job to make sure they are not totally ripping you off. 5 Get flat rate estimates so you know the total you will pay beforehand.
This includes making sure debris and other trash is not left on the lawn. If a roofer was sloppy with one customer chances are they will be sloppy with all of them. If you are left to clean up after your roofer this will cost you more time and money and frustration.
The best place to start asking about roofers is your family and friends. Other good sources of referrals include contractors, real estate agents and your local home supply store. Your city may even be able to provide a list of recommended roofers who are familiar with the codes in your area. When asking for referrals, be sure to check the type of job the roofer was called in to accomplish. Also, determine if the roofer specializes in residential or commercial work.
Some good questions to ask:
Were you happy with the quality provided by the roofing contractor? Everybody has their own ideas of quality, so you should take a look at their house and judge for yourself.
Did the roofing contractor protect other areas of the house?
Keeping an area clean after a job is of major concern to a homeowner. Get some references and ask a homeowner how the roofer cleaned up after the job.
Were they courteous and polite?
This is a very important consideration. The entire experience, from beginning to end, needs to be as stress free as possible. Plus if the roofer enjoys their job, the quality and attention to details will be better. The customers attitude can and will affect the entire paint job. Hopefully this will be the first question you ask. If the answer to this question is “no� then do not go any farther, you don’t want to work with that person.
Is a warranty included?
If a warranty was included find out if it has a reasonable amount of time before expiring, 20 years is enough, and if it has any value. Simply stating a warranty isn't enough. Get it in writing and understand its limitations! A good roofer is happy to stand behind his warranty. Good roofers use quality materials and know their level of expertise. If a roofer will not offer a warranty this is a problem in my mind.
How to Hire a Roofer
Think about the last time you purchased a car. Chances are you didn’t go to the yellow pages, choose a dealership at random, and buy your car from the first lot you visited. Many times, though, this scenario describes the way homeowners find a roofer --they look in the phone book and call the roofer with the largest ad or the first one listed. But much like purchasing a car, finding a qualified roofer requires research and comparison shopping.
Ask Questions
HOW DO THEY PLAN TO PREPARE THE SURFACE FOR ROOFING? Proper prep work is the key to a long-lasting roof. Make sure your contractor has a clear plan for removing old shingles, replacing wood, and preparing the surface.
WILL THEY CHECK THE SUB ROOF? Are OSB boards warped or unusable? They will need to be replaced. Will the roof have to be reinforced because of heavier materials, find out..
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PREPARE FOR A ROOF REPLACEMENT? Does the roofer have a checklist of all the things they need from you to get started?
Questions To Ask Former Clients
When a roofer gives you references, here are some good questions to ask:
Would you use this roofer again?
Did the roof leak? If so, did the roofer respond promptly, was he courteous and did he charge you for any additional work?
Did the job come in on budget? If not, by how much did he exceed budget? Were the extra charges justified?
Did the roofer damage any bushes or flowers, and did he leave nails in the driveway? Flat tires are a common complaint during and after a roofing project. Good roofers pick up any dropped nails with large rolling magnets throughout the job.
Was a designated foreman available to address your concerns during both the tear-off and the installation of the new roof? (These jobs are sometimes done by different crews.) You want a point person for questions and concerns you have throughout the job..
Ask For a Quote
Invite roofers to look at the job and ask for a quote in writing. In the quote also ask then to specify the time it will take to complete the job. It sucks to try and live in a house is hard to get into and is loud for long periods of time. Make sure the contractors are quoting on the same specifications -areas to be roofed, type of shingles and so forth.
Execute a Contract
Execute a contract specifying the work to be done, total cost, payment schedule, start date and estimated completion date. Make sure the contract includes the shingle type and colors to be used. Make sure the contract specifies that the roofer is responsible for cleanup and the removal of debris from the area.
Things to Look For in a Qualified Roofer
There are a number of qualifications which can set a professional roofer apart.
•Insurance Be sure that the prospective roofer you are considering is fully insured, having both workers’ compensation and liability insurance. Your selected roofer should be able to provide you with a copy of his or her insurance policy.
•Better Business Bureau Contact your local Better Business Bureau to ascertain if any complaints have been filed against your potential candidate.
• Use Angies List www.angieslist.com to see what others have to say about this person. If a painter has good reviews on Angies List then it is a good bet they will do good work for you too.
Safety Commitment
Accidents can happen with almost any home improvement project. So ask your prospective candidate what steps he or she will take to prevent injuries and property damage. Again if a roofer is good at his work he or she will be able to answer this question with ease. They have attention to detail and a cognizant of this when working.
Clean Up
Ask the roofer how he or she intends to leave the work area once the job is completed. You don’t want to be cleaning up after a roofer for hours after they’ve left your home. Also, ask about disruption during the project.
TIPS
* Small business roofers will be much more affordable because their overhead is lower.
If it's a big job, ask a number of roofers and discard the cheapest and most expensive options. The cheapest will have underestimated and will sting you for it later and the most expensive doesn't really want your business, probably because they have work up to their eyeballs already.
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