Let’s face it, hiring and working with a roofing contractor can be more than a little overwhelming. There are so many details involved in making sure that you are getting the most for your money and it can be easy for contractors to take advantage of stressed homeowners. In any job of this size, the cost is a major consideration, but this isn’t just any job because your roof is all about protecting your family. So you need to make sure that you approach working with a contractor the right way.
Remember that the quality of the work done to your roof will not only impact your living conditions now but also the resale value of your home in years to come, so you should never take it lightly. That’s why it’s so important to be an educated consumer, which means comparison shopping so that you know you’re hiring the right person for the job.
Obviously, the location will be a big factor. You need a company that works locally to you for convenience sake, but there are other things to take into consideration as well.
Here are a few handy tips to bear in mind: Here are a few handy tips to bear in mind:
- Make sure you have a contract. It seems like this would be obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people don’t think about it. You should always, always get everything in writing so that you know exactly where you stand at all times. A contract works to the advantage of both the customer and the roofing contractor because it can help to avoid potentially costly issues down the line.
- Pay close attention to those warranties and guarantees. Any contractor you hire should offer a warranty on their work covering any possible issues, and they should also make you aware of any manufacturer’s warranties that come with the materials you choose. At DePalma Construction we carry a 20-year workmanship guarantee on every System Plus job along with a 25-year workmanship warranty on the Golden Pledge warranty package from GAF. This includes GAF’s Master Elite coverage, which means a certified GAF inspector may personally look over each job. But we don’t stop there. We are also the only contractor in the greater Harrisburg area to offer in most cases a 24-hour turnaround guarantee on most estimates as well as a 24-hour completion window for most jobs. We know how important that can be because we understand how valuable your time is.
- Make sure they are licensed and insured. Most states require contractors to have a license but you should always double check before hiring a roofing contractor. At the same time, because roofing work can be very dangerous it is important to be covered for any eventuality. A good contractor will carry both workers’ comp, to cover any accident or injury to their workers on site and liability insurance to cover any damage to your home. You don’t want to end up on the line for these expenses, so make sure you find out about it up front.
- Remember the customer is always right. It’s your home and your property that will be impacted by the job so you should always make sure that every consideration is being taken to avoid unnecessary damage. Don’t be afraid to ask what steps a contractor will take to protect your landscaping and your house and what will they do to clean up after themselves. At DePalma Construction we treat every customer’s home as if it were our own. To that end, we even use our own movable dump trailers, the Equipter, to contain and remove debris as we go. That way you don’t have to be staring at an ugly dumpster for any longer than necessary. And our unique 24-hour guarantee on most jobs ensures that any disruption to your property will be as minimal as possible.
Of course, the best way to judge the performance of any roofing contractor is by talking to previous customers. That’s another advantage of using a local company; it makes it easier for you to see examples of their work for yourself. At the same time, you should look not only at the references provided by the contractor but also get reactions directly from the customers themselves to find out what the experience of working with them is really like.
Hiring a contractor is a costly undertaking, so you should never take it lightly. And there’s no need to feel intimidated either. At DePalma, we make ourselves available to answer your questions at any time. In most cases, the owner will even show up on site to make sure that everything is done to your satisfaction. That’s how important our customers are to us.
So don’t take chances with your roof; make sure to get a written estimate or two to compare and check them all over very carefully. You can get a free estimate online within 24 hours at DePalma. Once you make your choice, don’t hesitate to ask questions. The contractor is working for you and working together should be their top priority.