Insurance

When you're hiring a roofing contractor to do work on your house, it's important to make sure that the two of you are on the same page. You should also check them out to make sure that they are fully qualified and insured. Here is a checklist of important questions that you should ask the contractor before the job begins.

What's the full name and address of their company? Make sure that they've got a physical location somewhere, and it really helps things if it's closer to your home. This means that they'll be able to get there sooner if there is a problem.

Does the roofing company have workers compensation and liability insurance? If someone is hurt during the job and the company does not have this type of insurance, you're the one who has to pay for it all. If they tell you that they do have it, make sure they show you proof. It should be specifically workers compensation and liability insurance, and not any other type such as auto, health or life.

Does the company have the roofing license and credentials required by the state? Every state or local government has requirements that must be met in order to receive certification. You can find out before you talk to them from your local government. Again, make sure that you actually see the documents. A roofer who is proud of their work will be forthcoming about it.

Have they had any customer complaints and how did they handle them? Most roofing contractors have had some problems in the past, so find out how things were resolved. You can also ask them for a referral to a customer who had a complaint, and you should always check with the Better Business Bureau as well.

How does the payment work? Most contractors ask for you to pay in full upon completion, but some arrange payments as the job progresses, especially for big jobs. There may also be a deposit that you have to pay. No matter how the pay structure works, make sure it's something that you are clear on before the job actually begins.

How do they charge for add-on work? Sometimes during a roofing job there are little surprises that pop up, like rotted areas that need to be fixed. Whether they're going to do this for free or not should be clearly stated before the job begins, or you might find them charging you with it later. Standard procedure is for them to charge for add-on work, but they should let you know before they proceed with it.

Will they be doing the job or subcontracting? It is common for companies to subcontract work once the job is underway, but make sure that they will be supervising everything themselves.

These are all thing that you should discuss with the roofing contractor before the job begins. If you have any other questions, this is the time to ask them as well. Make sure that they're clear about all the job specifics before they start, and you'll know exactly what to expect. You'll also know that you've found a trustworthy contractor who does quality work.