Getting a new roof is not a cheap thing, at least done properly. And you want it to be done properly, so you want the right contractor. We know sometimes that can be a tough choice, so if you’re not sure, ask them these questions. If a contractor gets nervous because you know your stuff, they might not be the contractor you want to hire.
Verify insurance before anything else
Request actual certificates of insurance instead of taking their word for it. Ensure they carry two types of insurance specifically: general liability and worker’s compensation insurance. The former protects your property should something go wrong while the latter protects the crew in case someone is injured while working on your roof.
Do not stop at just requesting a certificate, either. Reach out to the insurance company that provided the document to ensure their policy is still in effect. Contractors using uninsured workers will offer you old certificates of insurance and hope you don’t follow up on them. If an uninsured worker is injured on your property, you’re the one who pays most of the bill.
Licensing, permits, and local codes
Request the contractor’s license number and cross-check it with your state licensing board. This easy step informs you about the currency of the license, any filed complaints, and if the license covers the category of work for which the contractor has been hired.
It is the responsibility of the contractor to secure building permits for most roof replacement projects. To save time, some companies avoid this prerequisite. If you eventually experience an inspection when selling your home and it exposes the absence of a permit, or if an insurance company refuses your claim due to non-code-compliance regarding the roof, the shortcuts taken by your contractor now impact you directly.
Codes can vary quite a lot among regions. People hiring a professional Roof replacement Concord CA must ensure that the contractor they hire is aware of the specific Title 24 cool roof policies of Contra Costa County. These policies will determine the choice of materials and the ventilation planning. What one county readily accepts, another may not.
Ask what’s actually in the estimate
A detailed professional estimate is essential. It’s not sufficient to say “tear-off and reroof” and leave it at that. Specifics are needed on each and every building component: underlayment type, flashing materials, cost of ½ inch CDX plywood per sheet, waste disposal costs, and permit costs. If you don’t see those line items, they haven’t been factored in and you can be sure you’ll see them later as a “surprise”.
The type of underlayment used on your deck/moisture barrier has a greater impact than most homeowners realize. Synthetic underlayment provides better moisture protection than traditional felt and represents the best value upgrade in the roofing industry. Ice and water shield in valleys, around chimneys, and at the eaves is optional on the Gulf Coast but NOT in most parts of the US. These self-sealing waterproof barriers are the only measure that protects you when shingles fail or get lifted in a storm and low bid competitors see them as upgrades they can skip. If they don’t mention it, they aren’t using it.
Who’s actually running your job site
This is a common question that many contractors are not prepared to answer. We can rephrase it as follows: Will there be a dedicated foreman or project manager present each day? Who should you contact directly with any questions or concerns during the project? Some firms will send a salesperson out with a promise of oversight, but then turn the job over to a rotating cast of subs with no one on site who knows the job except whatever poor soul drew the short straw that week. This is not necessarily a disqualifier, but if they say their office is your point of contact, you will want to weigh those kinds of risks.
What happens when they find rot
Tear-offs reveal what’s underneath, and sometimes the roof deck – the plywood sheathing the shingles sit on – is damaged. Dry rot, water intrusion, and delamination are common. What you want to know before the job starts is how this gets handled.
Ask for a flat rate per sheet for deck replacement, agreed to in writing before work begins. A contractor who won’t commit to a number ahead of time is positioning themselves to charge whatever they want once the old shingles are gone and you have no leverage.
Understanding the warranties
A roofing replacement encompasses two types of warranties that cover different issues. The manufacturer’s warranty deals with any inherent defects in the shingles themselves. Meanwhile, the workmanship warranty addresses any installation mistakes and is backed by the contractor.
It is advisable to ask how long the contractor guarantees their work – and five to ten years is typically the minimum you’d expect to hear. Additionally, find out whether the manufacturer’s warranty would pay for an entire system replacement or for prorated materials only. It would be a substantial difference.
Manufacturer certifications such as GAF Master Elite or Owens Corning Preferred Contractor status mean the company has met training requirements and is authorized to offer extended system warranties. They are not just badges for advertising and really require verifying installation quality.
Nail cleanup and property protection
These may seem like minor concerns, but not when your dog gets a nail in its paw, or you get a flat tire from a nail the contractors didn’t bother to clean up on the road in front of your house, or the nails find their way into your expensive new landscaping. Ask if they’ll use magnetic sweepers to pick up the nails. The right answer is yes.
