When it comes to roofing, there are essentially two kinds of roofing contractors – licensed roofers and unlicensed ones. Licensed roofers will strike the right cord immediately, maintain a good line of communication throughout the entirety of your roofing project and deliver the best results. However, an unlicensed roofer will offer you a proposal that sounds too good to be true, with an incredibly quick completion period at a meagre price. The odds are, you’ll be tempted to opt for the latter option.

Knowing how to find a reputable roofer could be the difference between you paying for a job well done or paying extra later for maintenance work because of a below average job. To help you save time and money and possibly the roof over your head, here are a few mistakes to avoid when hiring a roofer.

Inadequate research

Several unlicensed contractors will offer you a substantially lower rate than is standard practice. You must be wary of such roofers, as they will leave you with shoddy work at bets. Not only will you be dissatisfied with the results of their work, but you may also even have to pay the price of hiring them later when you realise you’ll need additional maintenance work. Choosing a roofer starts with doing your research. Don’t settle for the first contractor that comes along. If your neighbours or people in your community have recently gotten some roofing work done, speak to them about their experience with their contractor. With the right roofing contractor, you will have a seamless and hassle-free experience.

No references
You must ask for referrals for any type of work you wish to get done with roofing. Sit down with your contractor and get a list of as many as they can provide. But don’t stop with that. Make sure you call everyone on that list and ask whatever questions you have in mind. Reputed roofing contractors will be proud of their work and have nothing to hide, and hence, will willingly give you several references to increase their credibility. You’ll immediately know that you must exercise caution if your roofer has few your no references to provide.

Not enquiring about materials used
Another way unlicensed roofing contractors hoodwink homebuyers is by using inferior materials. When choosing a roofer, you must be wary when they give you a low quote as this could mean they are using lower quality materials. This could issues for you in the long run as cheaper roofing materials could lead to disappointing and dangerous results, which you will be able to tell in a matter of months.

Lack of proper planning
A competent and experienced roofing contractor will always be well prepared. That’s the first step to knowing how to select a roofer. A licensed and reliable roofer will hand you a comprehensive roofing plan before beginning any work. A good roofing plan will help you avoid delays and costly changes later on. The lack of a plan, however, can significantly raise your final cost, in addition to producing substandard results, which defeats the purpose of hiring a contractor in the first place.

Not settling for pricing ahead
The final price depends on the kind of work that needs to be done, the materials used, the number of crewmembers, etc. If a roofer is asking for a substantial amount of money up front, that is bound to raise a red flag. To avoid this, make sure you settle on the price before you sign the contract. Don’t get floored by a lower estimate. Many a time, unlicensed roofers will lure homebuyers in with a low estimate, only to deliver subpar results. Not only will this affect the aesthetics of your home, but can potentially cause structural damage later on as well. Before a choosing a roofer and finalising, have them thoroughly inspect your roof and draw out a plan and a detailed estimate along with a contract.

Paying too much upfront
Many homeowners are victims of unscrupulous roofing contractors who demand exorbitant amounts of money as down payment. When choosing a roofer, remember that the standard rate is 10% of the final price. However, be sure to do your research for a specific number, depending on your state’s licensing board. A licensed roofer will not as more than the necessary amount for down payment, and an unlicensed one will charge you extra for a minimal amount of work.

Keep these points in mind if you’re looking for mistakes to avoid when hiring a roofing contractor. If you have roofing maintenance that requires assistance, reach out to the professionals at Dura Roof.