Buying a new roof is an important investment in which much thought and consideration should be given to the contractor who is chosen to perform such work.
There are many fly-by-night companies who claim to be qualified and capable of installing a new roof, however, they often cut corners and take advantage of homeowners’ vulnerability by offering sub-par materials, poor workmanship and warranties that are lacking in clarity and coverage.
The NRCA lists guidelines that homeowners should follow in making an informed and educated decision. They include the following:
Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax id number and business license.
Insist on seeing copies of the contractor’s liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage certificates. Make sure all coverages are in effect during the project.
Look for a company with a proven track record that readily offers client references and a list of completed projects. Call those clients to verify their satisfaction.
Check to see whether to contractor is properly licensed. Call local municipalities to verify active licenses.
Insist on a written proposal and examine it for a complete description of the work and specifications, verifying exactly what is offered, the price and warranty.
Check to see whether the contractor is a member of any state, local, regional or national roofing industry associations, such as the NRCA.
Call the local Better Business Bureau BBB to check for any complaints that may have been filed and get their BBB Rating.
Have the contractor explain his or her project supervision and quality control procedures.
Carefully read and understand any roofing warranty offered and watch for provisions that would void it. Keep a healthy skepticism about the lowest price. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember, price is only one criterion for selecting a roofing contractor. Professionalism and quality workmanship also should weigh heavily on your decision.

Four Seasons Roofing Inc. is a long-standing member of NRCA. NRCA Is a non-profit trade association, and is one of the construction industry’s most respected organizations, providing information and educational resources to contractors and consumer. Call today for a free, no-obligation estimate of your roof 631-249-3377
Content from this article was sourced from the National Roofing Contractors Association website at www.nrca.net