How to Find a Reputable Roofing Contractor

When you need trade services, you ask your friends and family for recommendations. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always lead to a reputable roofing contractor “near me.”

As the most important part of your house, it isn’t the place to skimp. Instead, you want a qualified contractor tackling your project with the expertise you can trust.

Many items seem like they would cost the most, but end up being affordable. Other times, what you thought would be cheap ends up adding lots of expenses.

Before you choose the wrong roofing contractors, continue reading our helpful guide. You can always rely on us at Tornado Roofing for your home improvement projects.

One reason why homeowners may feel ripped off is they didn’t hire a reliable roofing company. What they did instead, was choose a general builder or handyman, hoping to find savings.

While they do offer an affordable installation at the moment, once severe weather rolls through, you have missing shingles and damaged wood.

The ideal way to complete your job is with someone who holds current licensing and insurance. Otherwise, you’re liable should something go wrong during the project.

Check out sites like Angie’s List, roofing associations, and the Better Business Bureau for providers. You will find that hiring a reputable roofing contractor costs less in the end.

Like many people, you probably start out searching online for trade services. Within seconds, you have millions of options to comb through.

A closer look finds that many results aren’t anywhere near where you live. When a local contractor is miles away, it only takes longer to finish your job.

Start with your neighbors by asking about their experiences with certain contractors. They will likely give you both the good and the bad points for each trade.

Remember, online reviews aren’t always accurate, and some get paid to boost their ratings. An honest opinion from someone better informed is still the best option.

Once you find the right contractor, the next step is securing an estimate. Many professional companies will even provide this free of charge.

When they ask for a down payment, that can sometimes make homeowners feel uneasy. After all, a successful company would have enough to work with, right?

However, each roofing job has risks, expenses, and upfront costs to cover first. Even the best company would require an advance to pick up your materials.

You shouldn’t take offense to companies asking for a portion up front to begin the job. Instead, see it as a signal that you found an experienced professional you can trust.

Chances are unless you have unique roofing materials, most of the cost is labor. Even larger roof surfaces can be installed at a reasonable rate.

That said, you can’t only look at the final price to make your decision. Instead, request estimates from several well-rated companies and look beyond the amount.

Factors like where they buy products from or their level of expertise plays a role. Even smaller roofing projects take longer when contractors lack experience.

How quickly you need it finished, and with what materials, factor into your costs. That is why you should never pay for estimates, knowing they’ll likely require down payments.

Although a low total is attractive, you should see drastically cheap estimates as suspicious. Chances are, they’re using inferior products that won’t last as long as they should.

Even a standard asphalt shingle system should last at least a decade without issue. However, if roofers only buy what the nearest hardware store has for sale, it won’t.

Always check to see what brand designations that they carry. Manufacturers require training for factory certification, keeping them from liability over shoddy installations.

When in doubt, see if they are a member of the Better Business Bureau. Or, you can review their license and insurance information to search for red flags.

There you are, thinking about how you need to find a reputable roofing contractor. Like magic, one knocks on your door, ready to give a quote.

Unfortunately, those that go door-to-door often scam homeowners one way or another. Either they don’t have licensing, and insurance or they aren’t even roofers.

Others still try and use high-pressure sales tactics, desperate for a fast cash down payment. Worst yet, they may not even come back, having received several hundred dollars from you.

Finally, beware of contractors that only appear directly after a storm. They are the roofing equivalent of “ambulance chasers,” and aren’t worth your time.

One reason why homeowners feel wary of down payment requests is because of bad roofers. When they force you to pay it immediately, you know something is off.

The only time you should need to cover costs is when materials are ready. If they haven’t even arrived at the store yet, why do they require payment?

Stay in the know regarding timelines, as well as when shipments are ready. You may also want to go with them to the store to guarantee the payment.

You should be able to ask why they require money at any time. If roofers can’t give a suitable answer, it’s time to find someone else.

The right roofing company will do more than one type of roof. However, if they don’t provide options, it makes you wonder why.

Either they don’t have the skills required to complete every job, or they want fast cash. When you only offer the least expensive choices, they profit off you.

Instead, choose a qualified contractor who can build any style you need. For example, at Tornado Roofing, we can complete a variety of projects, such as:

• Asphalt Shingles
• Tile Roofing
• Metal Roofs
• Architectural Shingles
• Residential Flat Roofs
• New Installations
• Replacement Roofing Systems
• Repairs and Maintenance
• Safety Inspections
• Gutters and Downspouts
• Commercial Roofing Services

You wouldn’t eat at a restaurant with only one item on the menu. Don’t settle for cheap roofers who only take the easy way out.

One reason why their estimate was so cheap is they agreed to pay the deductible. This is surprising since they already wanted money for building materials.

The reason being, unfortunately, is that they likely don’t have insurance at all. Roofers know that once you try and file a claim, they are out of luck.

Worst still, inflating their cost estimates to hit a specific deductible is fraudulent. By allowing them to handle the claim, you’re violating your policy.

While contractors may explain the process, they cannot file it for you. Instead, insist on paying the insurance deductible to stave off cut corners and poor quality.

Our team has helped Florida residents with quality roofing for over 20 years. In that time, we’ve expanded our service offerings, as well as our area.

Whether you need a broader selection of roofing options or a guaranteed better experience, choose us. Our contractors build, repair, and replace a variety of systems every day.