What Every Chicagoland Homeowner Should Know Before Hiring a Roofing Company
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- What Every Chicagoland Homeowner Should Know Before Hiring a Roofing Company
- Common Mistakes First-time Homeowners Make
- Ready to Get Your Roofing Done The Right Way?
WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW:
Homeownership experience is easy to take for granted.
Many of us grew up helping our parents or grandparents take care of our childhood homes, so when the time finally comes for us to have a home of our own, we assume we know what to do. Especially with something that seems as simple as hiring a company to take care of a roof that needs maintenance or replacement.
Unfortunately, there are just some things new homeowners are unaware of when making that first purchase. These things are often learned after trial and error, time and time again.
You don’t have to learn from your mistakes the hard way.
Here are key things to look out for when hiring a roofing company for your project, so that you can prevent the loss of your valuable time and money.
Every roofing company must be, above all, licensed and insured
Always make sure that the company you hire or are prospecting has both a general license and worker’s comp insurance.
There is no shame in asking the company to see a copy of their documents. You’re simply doing your due diligence as a homeowner, and no company in good standing should have any problem showing you proof.
If you cannot verify their documentation, or the company refuses to show it, you’ll be glad to have stepped away sooner rather than later.
Always get a written estimate first and don’t be pressured into signing right away
It’s within your right to know an approximation for what you’ll be charged for the project and hold the company you hire liable to it.
This is why written estimates are far better than ones given only verbally. Documented proof in detail can only benefit you down the line, and make sure the quote specifies information about the cost of labor, materials, cleanup, and permits.
Any company pressuring you into signing immediately raises red flags. Take your time looking over estimates, and question why a company would want you to sign under pressure.
Ensure the company has its own workers, not subcontractors
Not all companies that employ subcontractors are unreliable, but they come with their fair share of risks you’ll want to be aware of.
It’s preferable to hire a company with its own trained and insured crew so that both the quality of work is guaranteed and you won’t have to doubt whether one of the crew members is insured or not.
You may be held liable for an uninsured subcontractor getting injured on the job, so make sure to verify who you’re hiring thoroughly before signing. You never know when an emergency can happen.
Manufacturer vs roofer warranties
Understanding warranties isn’t always clear-cut. There are two distinct ones every homeowner should be aware of: material warranties and workmanship warranties.
Warranties from a manufacturer cover the material you purchase, useful for when there is a quality defect. You’ll especially want to pay attention to this one considering Chicagoland weather can quickly become destructive. If materials purchased are low-quality, you will need a replacement at some point.
Contractor workmanship warranties, on the other hand, only cover the labor of the installer itself (ie: the service you are hiring them for). This warranty is often only valid for as long as the company is still operating.
Some manufacturers offer both material and workmanship warranties, which can be useful in the case of a contractor going out of business. Still, warranties vary from company to company, so review the details of each one carefully.
COMMON MISTAKES:
Even if you think you have your bases covered with the pointers above, it’s natural that some mistakes can still be made. As a first-time homeowner, you’re going to want to look out for the following:
Using synthetic underlayment instead of felt
Homeowners often find this decision to be a small one; after all, the cost between each one isn’t as extreme, so what real difference could there be?
The reality is that synthetic underlayment is of much higher quality and durability than felt. That slightly higher upfront cost reflects the fact that synthetic is stronger, easier to install, and moisture-resistant.
Felt is often considered the “traditional” choice and seen often in older homes, but its lower cost comes at the price of low durability.
Not checking how long the company has been around
Remember the tip from earlier about the difference between manufacturer versus workmanship warranties? A company’s years in service can often hint toward which of the warranties to take.
Some roofers scout out homeowners after a major storm, and later disappear after you’ve taken a chance on them. Checking a company’s background and years in service helps prevent this from happening to you.
The longer a company has been around, the better, and it’s more likely that you’ll be able to find real reviews from other homeowners that used their roofing services.
GET ROOFING DONE THE RIGHT WAY:
It can be difficult to tell which steps to take when hiring a roofing company for the first time. A reliable company should be trustworthy and help guide you with your best interests in mind, not only their own.
That’s why we at Elite Works Exteriors are committed to serving our clients the best quality roofing in the Chicagoland area. It’s not enough to just do a roofing job. It’s about getting it done right.
If you’ve been thinking about getting your roofing project finally started, you’re in good company.