Whether you are the owner of one small ranch style home, or the proprietor of numerous large properties, one thing about owning properties is inevitable. Eventually the roof will need to be replaced on your building(s). While this is something that the hard-core do-it-yourselfer could possibly do on his own, chances are that you will be hiring a roofing contractor to do the job for you.
Everyone would like to get the best deal possible when it comes to home or building repairs, but the best deal does not necessarily mean the cheapest price. You will also need to consider the quality of the work being done, the time frame in which it can be completed, and the reputation that the business has with its previous clients.
When looking for roofing contractors, word-of-mouth is usually a reliable way to go. Your neighbors and family members have all probably had to have a roof replaced at one time or another during their years of homeownership. Ask them what they thought of the contractor they used.
Good questions to ask include: "Did you feel that the business sent a professional crew out to do the work?" "How long did it take the crew to complete the job?", and "How has the roof weathered through the years?" You will also want to find out if the person thought that they received a good value for their money.
So, now that you have some roofing contractors in mind, you will want to compare the materials they use, the length of time it will take to finish the project, and the total cost involved. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples.
If one quote includes the tear off of your existing shingles, repair of any damaged USB board, new tar paper, new drip edge, and 30 year guaranteed architectural shingles, then you will want to make sure that the other contractor's quotes include those same items.
As you can see, choosing a roofing contractor involves a lot more than price. Choosing the lowest quote only gets you the cheapest price, not necessarily the very best deal. The lowest priced contractor may very well have the best deal for you, but to ensure that, you must compare the other aspects of his quote. You must also make sure that all businesses giving you a quote are licensed, insured, and have adequate experience to complete the project at hand.
The average life span of a roof is about fifteen years depending on the type of material used and the weather it is exposed to. At some point every home owner will face the daunting task of replacing it on their home and it can seem like an off putting job to find a professional roofer to get it done. One of the most important factors to consider that will have an impact on both the cost and the finished appearance will be the roofing contractor that is selected to do the job. Since the replacement should last a good fifteen years and the cost can be slightly high it is imperative to select a competent and professional roofer to do the job right the first time.
One method to find a contractor that is highly recommended is to utilize a consumer based web site that post the consumer reviews of a business with a degree of accountability by not posting reviews that are submitted anonymously. Finding at least three contractors should be easy after reviewing their consumer ratings and then selecting the top contenders to interview. A contractor can help guide the homeowner in the next part of the process of replacing or repairing the roof by helping with material selection based on the consumer budget and needs.
The material used will have an impact on the overall cost of repairing or replacing the roof as will the pitch and by doing a little research on the type of materials available you can understand your options better. A few different types of material to consider for roofing materials include asphalt composite shingles which are cheap but not overall attractive since they tend to have a flat look to them and slate roofing which is more expensive but also more attractive.
For the home owner wanting to be ecologically responsible there is rubber slate or faux slate which is a composite of recycled materials. Metal roofs have also begun to grow a bit in popularity due to the fact that they have a long lifetime of easy no maintenance care but this is a selection that can require the roofing contractor to have special knowledge to install correctly.
What ever roofer you end up going with will be a great asset to selecting materials and keeping the price within your budget. And of course after the roofing contractor does what should be a wonderful job after your research and selection process, make sure to post a positive review on the same consumer web site so the roofer can be around to replace the roof again in fifteen years.
