Whether you are considering re-roofing or need roofing contractors to submit a proposal for a building currently under construction, it is a good idea to know as many procedural tips as possible to choose the right professional for your needs. Choosing a top roofing company springfield il can be daunting, but hopefully some of these tips can help you make a good decision!
Some of the key issues we will touch on here are:
- Why it is important to look beyond details such as using the right applicator to install shingles
- How to look at proposals in depth
- Comparing the price of the complete package to its true value
Please note that roofer licensing and insurance are state requirements in Illinois. It is important for a homeowner to have the added security of knowing their property is covered in cases of accident or other problems.
Important Tips to Follow Before Choosing a Roofing Contractor
A good place to start is by asking friends, family, and neighbors if they know of a roofing contractor they’d recommend. Checking out the websites of roofers close to your place of residence is also a shrewd move; neighborhood contractors will respond quickly and give great service to people in their local area.
Once you have a company name, find out how long it has been in business. You should ask for this information if it is not listed on the website, because many businesses can fail in the first three years. Legitimate business premises and an office with a full street address are signs the company is solid.
Select three contractors and ask them to look at your roof and submit an estimate. Be sure to tell them that you are only interviewing three companies for bids and estimates, as this will give them a better idea of how likely they are to be the successful candidate.
Some Essential Interview Questions
- Ask the contractor or their sales representative to provide you with referrals from previous customers. Don’t take the customer statements used on websites as proof, as there is no guarantee that these reviews are from actual customers. Get names and phone numbers instead and call a few in person.
When making the calls be sure to ask questions that could tell you a lot about the company’s performance.
- Was the work completed to schedule?
- Was the contractor open to changes in requirements and transparent with information?
- Was the roofing experience a stress-free one for both parties?
- Would you recommend the contractor to a close family member?
Some roofing contractors display photographs of previous jobs on their websites or brochures. This is a good indication of a person who is proud of their craftsmanship.
- During the interview, ask how long their workmanship warranty lasts. If a contractor is confident in the quality of their workmanship, they will back it up with a warranty of one year or more.
As an example, if you want to re-roof with asphalt shingles, the contractor must have a warranty that backs up their workmanship, and the manufacturer of the asphalt shingles will have one to ensure the quality of their product, too. In this way, both the roofing and the shingles are covered. Remember to read through both of the warranties to check that they have the same longevity and benefits.
- Alongside the due diligence you give to phoning happy customers for references, ask the company to supply you with the phone number of someone who had a complaint. This will help you to get a picture of the way this roofing contractor handles a customer service issue.
You can also give the Springfield, Illinois Better Business Bureau a call at (309) 688-3741 to find out if there are any outstanding complaints against the contractor.
Once you have received estimates from the roofing contractors, listened to their recommendations, and called their references, it is time to start narrowing down the field. By now you will have a fair idea about who you prefer. Select two and ask them to submit a detailed proposal of the planned work.
A detailed proposal is a customer-friendly agreement that outlines the products you can choose during construction. If you favor a particular brand, you can request that the proposal includes it. Other specifications in the agreement can include:
- Prices of different brands for comparative purposes
- Which shingles are best suited for the project (style and color)
- What services are incorporated in the quotation price
- Whether it is possible to change or alter the order once it has been confirmed without financial penalty
- Financing options
It is standard practice for the roofer to include three choices of each product unless otherwise directed.
Reading the Contract
Reading the contract through and understanding all the clauses is essential before signing. Make sure it includes such basics as permits, inspections, and zoning notifications.
When possible, pop over to your neighbors’ houses or put a letter in their mailbox to politely inform them that construction will be happening, as well as which days and how long you expect it to last. This is information that will also be in the proposal.
The occasional builder’s nightmare story warns homeowners to check that the products they specified in the contract are the ones that are actually used and a swap or mistake hasn’t been made. With a seasoned professional roofer, these errors or frauds will not be an issue. A thorough proposal will list the specifics of the products to be used, plus all the construction elements that are needed for the project’s successful completion.
Re-roofing & Roofing Project Checkpoints
Taking the weather into account, remember to have a “no-later-than” clause inserted into the contract. This will protect you from the roofing contractor de-prioritizing your needs if another job comes their way.
Local ordinances can vary, but check to see what the time period is for a right-to-rescind contract cancellation. Sometimes financial emergencies can happen and re-roofing must take a back seat. Keeping in mind that the roofing contractor must also be protected from having the canceled job impact them financially, there is a grace period of a few days between when a contract has been signed and when it can be canceled without penalty.
Your property must be returned to an acceptable state after the work’s completion. Be sure to book a tour around your home with the company supervisor before work commences and make a note of what is in place. When both parties have signed off on this list, then it is time to reap the benefits of a job well done and beautiful roof made to last for many years.