Top 10 Questions to Ask A Roofing Contractor At A Trade Show
Let’s admit it - trade shows and home shows can be straight-up OVERWHELMING! Between the multiple vendors, crowds, and sales reps - knowing what questions to ask can seem intimidating. Just last weekend, our team was out at the West Palm Beach Home Show answering client questions and helping them sort through the process of selecting a roofing contractor. Do you plan on attending a trade show or home show in the near future? Come prepared with these top 10 questions in mind!
How long have you been in the roofing business? This question is highly important, especially if you live in a storm-prone area, such as FL! Many roofing contractors “open up shop” after a storm, only to change their name and open business under another name later on down the line. Others may get involved in lawsuits and legal troubles, changing their business name to avoid bad press or to void-out warranties. Code Red Roofers has been in the roofing business for 17 years in the Stuart, FL area, and we have expanded to serve St. Lucie, Palm Beach, and Polk counties as well. A reliable and trustworthy roofer should be proud to refer you to past customers, and Code Red Roofers is happy to say that we have hundreds of 5-star reviews from satisfied clients!
Will you be removing the old roof when performing a reroof? Although this question may seem like it has an obvious answer, you’d be surprised to know how common it is in the roofing industry to simply lay a new layer of shingles or metal right over the existing material! This is an extremely risky procedure, as rotten wood, soft spots, leaks or termite damage aren’t often seen unless the prior roofing material is totally removed. Plus, installing new materials over old ones voids most warranties! A reliable contractor, such as Code Red Roofers, will always include the tear-off procedures and pricing clearly in their contract.
Will you be providing a written copy of the estimate? A roofer that does not want to provide a written and detailed estimate should be a huge red flag. A good roofing contractor will make sure to provide you the written copy of the estimate, and also walk you through it line-by-line in person or via a virtual appointment. A good contract will also cover any of the unexpected obstacles that you may be faced with upon roof tear-off, i.e., additional wood and labor, adding roof-to-wall connectors, etc. and detail the pricing for these circumstances. A roofer who does not provide you with these documents as a part of your contract leaves a lot of room for them to make false claims that certain fees were “unavoidable” and tack on extra costs. Code Red Roofers makes sure to cover any and all of the “unexpected” in our contracts, so you are not blind-sided or kept in the dark!
Who is going to be the contact person for my roofing project? Communication is key! Make sure your roofing contractor communicates the entire process to you and informs you of who your point-of-contact is every step of the way. Upon calling Code Red Roofers to schedule your free roof estimate, you will be assigned a sales technician for your initial site visit. This individual will be your main point of contact up until the signing of your roofing contract. At that time, you will be contacted by your Project Manager, who will be assigned to your project and assist you every step of the way through the roof tear-off/install, or repair process.
How does your company dispose of my old roofing materials? A trustworthy roofing contractor is going to remove the previous roofing materials down to the decking when preparing for a reroof. But where and how do those materials get disposed of? With many other companies, the homeowner is required to provide a dumpster or container that must remain on site for disposal of tear-off materials. Code Red Roofers does not require our clients to provide us with a disposal container, but instead hauls away ALL trash each day in our company-provided dump trucks! Trash removal and haul-away fees are included in all our roofing contracts.
How long will the work take? A great question to ask a roofing contractor is their lead-time. If time is of the essence, it is important to mention this to your roofing contractor to see if they would be able to realistically get the work completed by your deadline. Many factors play into how long a roofing project may take from start to finish, including weather delays, material shortages, or hold-ups with county permitting departments. However, a reliable roofing contractor will be realistic with their time frames. Be skeptical of any contractors that promise deadlines that seem too good to be true.
What type of insurance does your company have to protect those on my property? Sadly, there are some roofing contractors that carry sub-par, expired, or fraudulent insurance – which puts you at extreme risk should someone get hurt on your property during the roof install. Code Red Roofers holds both Workman’s Compensation as well as liability insurance should the unfortunate incident occur where an employee or individual on your property becomes injured. Our insurance not only covers our employees, but every single person that steps foot on your property during the repair or reroof - so you can rest assured you and your family are protected.
What is your company’s license status? Make sure the roofing contractor you select has current and valid licensing within your state. Many roofing contractors move state-to-state and perform unauthorized work without proper in-state licensing. Licensing also needs to be current and up to date. Code Red Roofers provides all our valuable clients copies of both our license and insurance information.
Is your company local? It is vital to make sure the roofing contractor you select is local to the service area. Selecting a roofing contractor that travels from state-to-state or isn’t familiar with the service area is risky business. Oftentimes, they will not know the specific building codes or requirements for the area, or they will be difficult to contact upon roof completion should you experience any issues. Code Red Roofers services Martin, Palm Beach and St. Lucie Counties from our office in Stuart, and services Polk County from our office in Winter Haven.
How is payment handled, and do you offer financing options? It is important to select a roofing contractor that uses reliable payment methods, as well as offers financing through a legitimate source. Code Red Roofers utilizes ACH payment software that makes sure all of your payment information is secure and confidential. We also offer financing through either ENERBank or Ygrene (select areas) both of which provide you with a safe and secure way to finance your roofing project.
With this information in hand, you can now feel more prepared to select your roofing contractor. Code Red Roofers is your local and reliable roofing contractor. Call us today at 1-844-4CODERED to schedule your FREE site visit. You can relax knowing your roofing project will be handled with professionalism from start to finish.