Your roof is one of your home’s most important structural elements and its repair or replacement is an important and often costly home improvement decision. When interviewing potential roofing contractors in Cincinnati it is useful to use a checklist of commonly asked questions as a guide. This way you won’t forget something important and can refer to their responses later. This may be imperative if you are choosing between your top two contractor picks.
Do you have any referrals I may contact?
Contacting homeowners that have worked with the contractor in the past will be one of your most valuable and trustworthy resources. These homeowners have had first hand experience with the company you are potentially going to work with and can give you insight on important factors such as:
- Time Management
- Professionalism
- Budget
- Complaints
- Cleanliness
Probably the most important question to ask a fellow homeowner is if they would hire the roofing contractor again.
Most reliable roofing companies are also listed on Better Business Bureau. This website, along with other online review websites or city specific associations, provide homeowners a good idea of the company and their reliability.
Are you insured?
For your own protection as well for the protection of the contractor’s employees it is best to hire a fully insured roofing contractor in Cincinnati.
How much roofing experience does your company have?
This typically revolves around how many years a company has been in business. A contractor with only a couple of years in business compared to a company with twenty plus years of roofing experience in Cincinnati will differ greatly.
Will your company match competitor’s bids?
With quality roofing in mind, affordability can be a deciding factor on which contractor to hire. Before deciding, it is often a good idea to see if a contractor will match a competitor’s bid if their own bid is slightly higher and affecting your decision.
Will your company be respectful of my home and yard?
Replacing a roof can be a messy job with lots of materials and debris moving around not only on your roof but on your yard, driveway, and sidewalks. Many homeowners take pride in their landscaping and should request their roofing contractors to respect their home and the surrounding areas while workers are present.
As well as being respectful, roofing contractors should also clear your yard and walking paths of nails or other roofing debris on a daily basis to prevent any harm to your family and visitors walking into your home.
What warranties do you offer?
Roofing contractors in Cincinnati should be able to provide you with a list of warranties including the materials used and the contractor’s work. Know the length of the warranties and the process of how to redeem any warranties if needed.
Who will be my main form of contact?
Often times with roofing companies, there will be a main person of contact homeowners can reach out to with any questions or concerns. More than likely this contact will be onsite daily and up to date with the project’s progress, etc.
If any damaged or rotten plywood is found, what will be the costs?
When removing an old roof, sometimes unexpected damaged or rotten plywood may be found. Since roofing contractors can not expect exactly how much of the plywood will be damaged or rotten beforehand, it is hard to include in an estimate. Discuss the different variables and costs with your roofing contractor beforehand so you are not blindsided when an invoice arrives.
This also relates to any other unforeseen issues or problems during your roofing project that may arise.
Will the roofing company obtain all permits?
Any construction work to your home will require a permit. This can be city or state permits, depending on where you live. Reliable roofing contractors in Cincinnati should obtain all roofing permits required on your behalf.
What are your payment terms?
Know the terms and conditions involved with payments and deposits made to the roofing company.
Define a project timeline with your contractor.
Discuss how long your roofing project is expected to take. What will happen if the project goes over a certain number of days promised? This is both so the homeowner knows what to expect and the contractor is held reliable for promises made.
Does your company offer maintenance programs?
Many roofing contractors offer programs to upkeep your roofing maintenance. Inquire about the programs at the beginning of your work with the roofing contractor. You may be able to negotiate a deal on a program after the initial work is complete and form a lasting, trustworthy relationship with the company.
Will tarping and covering be done on a daily basis?
During the timeframe that your roof is being worked on, it will be exposed to the elements. It is important that workers tarp and cover the roof at the end of each work day so that no further damage is incurred.
Conclusion
Interviewing roofing contractors can be intimidating, especially if you are in an emergency situation, creating a list of questions to ask ahead of time will prepare you.
EMA Construction is an experienced, reliable, affordable, and accountable roofing contractor in Cincinnati. We are fully insured and we offer free roof inspections and estimates. To schedule yours, just give us a call at (513) 279-8362 or send us an email today.