While there are a few diligent homeowners that proactively plan maintenance and upgrades for their roofing, most of the rest of us fall into one of two categories:
- People building a new home
- People who just found out they’d need a roof repair (the hard way)
It goes without saying that roofing isn’t one of the “fun” remodels; it’s most often done out of sheer necessity, which often makes it a financially and emotionally stressful experience. Costs can vary based on the type, size, and location of the home, and that range of costs for roof replacement can be significant.
Some home warranties will cover roof repairs, so be sure to check your policy before moving forward.
The last thing a family needs in that situation is the frustration of a difficult or unreliable contractor. Homeowners should know when and how to hire qualified roofers, looking for professionals who offer warranties and support, and who make customer peace and satisfaction a priority.
Selecting the right product for your home’s needs is crucial. Hard work and knowledge are key qualities in a roofing contractor, and choosing the right contractor can ensure the roof is properly installed or replaced with high-quality products.
When installing a new roof, choosing the right type and size of roofing materials, such as durable asphalt shingles, is essential to protect your property and ensure long-lasting performance. Asphalt roofing is also easy to install, making it a convenient choice for many homeowners.
Why Choosing the Right Roof Repair Contractor Matters
The brief answer is that a reputable roofing contractor will help you complete the project promptly, with fewer errors or unsavory surprises, and at a fair cost.
The wrong contractor might charge you more than it’s worth, provide unsatisfactory work, or result in a “you get what you pay for” style of bargain. Quality roofing products ensure optimal performance and durability, protecting your new roof investment for years to come.
Building a house (or any structure) involves a variety of trades and disciplines. Some are treated as wholly separate, such as plumbing and electrical. These will always require a contractor or subcontractor that’s certified in the trade for any major work.
Other areas of expertise are often folded into the purview of general contractors, who may use a dedicated crew or team for that specific work when possible, but can tackle those tasks directly when necessary. These include foundations, framing, drywall, and painting.
Roofing, however, is a special case. Special licensing isn’t usually required like it is with trades like plumbing. And there is a lot of skill overlap with things like framing. But roofing involves some special materials, and importantly, some unique risks.
There is increased potential for injury on the job when working on a roof. Errors in installation can lead to the need for costly repairs, or even a full roof replacement, as small mistakes may lead to bigger problems down the line.
A thorough inspection is a key step before any repair or replacement, helping to identify issues early and fix them before they escalate.
Professional contractors also offer roof repair services for emergency situations, storm damage, minor damage fixes, and general maintenance, ensuring quick response and quality craftsmanship to restore and protect your home.
In a very real sense, hiring a general contractor for roofing is something that can be done, but in many cases shouldn’t be, unless that contractor has plenty of roofing experience, a solid track record, and the requisite insurance for that kind of project.
Reputable professionals offer warranties and support, using advanced technology to deliver high-performance, durable results. Making customer satisfaction a priority is a hallmark of a trustworthy roofer. Before you choose, take time to learn about the range of products and technologies available, and explore your options to make an informed decision.
How to Search for Local Residential Roofing Contractors
Finding a reputable contractor is an endeavor. Everyone knows someone who’s had a terrible experience. It’s not impossible to find a trustworthy roofing crew, though. It merely may take some legwork. The availability and cost of roofing contractors can vary based on your location, so it’s important to consider local factors when starting your search.
Our recommendation is this: don’t just run a Google search and call it a day. Start your search for professionals with the most dependable sources first, and work down the list.
- Professional referrals
- Direct customer referrals
- Second-hand referrals
- Review aggregators
- Local listings
Professional Referrals
Professional referrals will be your most dependable bet. These are recommendations you get from people in the industry, who can point you to a solid contractor. Know a plumber, tilesetter, or electrician? Ask them their pick for the best roofing crew. Their industry knowledge can be invaluable, and they may be aware of the range of services and support that local contractors offer.
This works well for two big reasons. First, if this professional is someone in your social circle, they care about you getting a fair shake. Second, if they’re not roofers themselves, they don’t have much in the way of conflict of interest (so they don’t care who you use, as long as the end result is positive for you).
Direct Customer Referrals
Direct referrals are your next-best option. These are recommendations you get from people you know personally who hired a contractor for this kind of work. Ask them about their experience, and if they’d recommend the team they picked. Learning from their experiences and the knowledge they gained can help you make a more informed decision.
Most homeowners won’t have the professional contacts or hands-on expertise to take an authoritative stance on the quality of a contractor’s work. Some will be able to point out major green or red flags, but most will be about as knowledgeable as you are.
So what you’re looking for here is customer experience. Were they professional and pleasant to work with? Were there any hidden costs or nasty surprises? Did the crew keep them apprised of changes to the schedule, major hurdles or challenges, and things of that nature? When the job was done, did it feel like money well spent?
Second-Hand Referrals
If no one you know has had work done on their roof, ask your social circle if anyone they know has hired a contractor. It may be that this approach can even circle you back around to professional referrals, depending on who your friends and family can put you in touch with.
Even when the referral is just from another customer, second-hand recommendations are useful for the same reasons as direct referrals. They’re just a bit harder to rely on. You don’t know the individual personally, and don’t know how to weigh their feedback when making your decision (in contrast to people you know well, where you can more accurately gauge how many grains of salt to take their input with).
Review Aggregators
Moving further out, we have fully disconnected sources of information, starting with review sites. Third-party review aggregators are designed to collect and present customer feedback from around the internet in a mostly unbiased manner. Contractors may offer different services, warranties, or support depending on your location, so reviews can help you learn what to expect in your area.
These can be very useful to get a feel for what the most common issues or complaints are, with one contractor or even across the whole market. They can also be used to further vet recommendations you got from the sources mentioned above.
Just be sure to check the site to see if it’s a review aggregator, or just another “pay us and we’ll put you in the list” site. The range of contractor quality and pricing can vary based on location and other factors, so it’s wise to explore multiple sources and learn from the experiences and knowledge shared in reviews and referrals. Which of course leads us to…
Local Listings
Local listings, which includes newspapers and local mailers, a contractor/business’s website, social media listings and pages, and the like.
All of these will be helpful in identifying what options you may have in your area, but they’re the least likely sources to be fully transparent as they have a direct conflict of interest (i.e. they want your business, so they’re less likely to turn you away just because it’s better for you). The services and costs offered by contractors can vary, so be sure to compare a range of options before making a decision.
Key Qualities of the Best Roofing Contractors
Ok, let’s assume you’ve done all that, you have a short list, and you’re ready to start making calls. How do you determine if you can really trust a given contractor? What should you be looking for?
Let’s get the obvious ones out of the way first. Obviously, when comparing contractors and their estimates, these factors will probably already be on your mind:
- Pricing and financial details
- Timeframe/time to completion
- Brand reputation and direct referrals
- Professionalism
You’ll also want to vet your options for the following:
- Licensing, insurance, and other paperwork-related factors
- Expertise and work history (e.g. how long have they been around, and what can they point to as proof of solid work)
- Work safety (are they just hanging out on a roof, or do they take the proper precautions?)
- Transparency in communication (how up-front are they with you about news they know you won’t like to hear, or that will make life less profitable for themselves?)
- The best contractors offer warranties and ongoing support for their work.
- A thorough inspection is essential before any repair, fix, or replacement is performed to ensure all issues are identified and addressed.
Reputable contractors use high-performance, durable products and the latest technology to deliver quality results that last. Their hard work, deep knowledge, and commitment to making customer satisfaction and safety a top priority sets them apart.
Before you choose a contractor, take time to explore your options and learn as much as possible about their products, services, and reputation. This will help you make an informed decision and have peace of mind throughout your project.
Protecting Your Home with the Right Roofing Contractor
Keeping a roof over your head usually means something a little different, but it’s no less critical in this context. A durable roof is essential to protect your home from weather and other hazards. Whether it’s a prudent and proactive upgrade, or some much needed repairs, the last thing you need is an unreliable contractor to come in, take your hard earned capital, and leave you with more roof problems than when you started.
You can search here for the best roofing contractors in your area! And feel free to check us out at Homeowner.org for more on home improvement.
We’re here to be your ultimate resource as a homeowner!
