Finding the right roofer for your home is like choosing a babysitter for your children: you want to find someone who is trustworthy, reliable, and pays attention to detail! If you’re not familiar with roof work, it can be difficult to think of the right questions to ask when scoping out different contractors. Here are some important questions to ask before signing a roofing contract.
When looking for a professional roofer, it’s vital to find someone who is not just located near you but has a business license for the state you live in. IBEX Roof serves cities in both Washington and Oregon, which means we have separate business licenses for each state. Never just accept someone’s word for it, either! Always ask for proof of paperwork.
Once again, it’s crucial to ask for proof of insurance when hiring a roofer. First, ask for proof of a roofer’s worker’s compensation certificate. This protects you, the homeowner, in case one of your roofers is hurt on the job. Furthermore, your roofer should have worker’s comp for all employees. Second, ask for proof of bond and liability insurance. This will protect you in case your roofer doesn’t complete the job. It also protects you if there is damage to your home during roof work. Every state has different requirements but should always show the amount of the bond. Never pay a roofer a down payment that is larger than their bond before they start a job!
This goes hand in hand with ensuring that everyone is qualified and insured to work on your roof. Some roofers may hire subcontractors to help with a roofing job. However, this is dangerous for the homeowner, because subcontractors are outside hires that are not necessarily covered by the roofer you hired. That means they may not be insured or have the proper licenses to work on your home. Again, always ask for proof of worker’s comp for everyone who will be working on your home.
In the internet age, it’s pretty easy to look up reviews for everyone. It’s also appropriate to ask potential roofing contractors to provide their own references. IBEX Roof has a list of both professional and customer references. You can also find reviews about our work on a variety of third-party websites, including Yelp, HomeAdvisor, Houzz, and Facebook. While you don’t need to ask everyone in your network for a reference, having a couple of referrals before signing a roofing contract always helps with peace of mind!
Permits are not always required depending on the type of roof work you’re getting. However, your roofer should know local laws and requirements for certain jobs. If your area or county requires it, IBEX Roof will handle the permitting.
It’s standard to receive an estimated quote of your roof work before signing a contract. In fact, some homeowners might shop around to get different quotes from different contractors. We will estimate the cost of materials and labors to get your roof work done after we inspect your roof. Occasionally, there might be some rot damage that we were unable to see during the initial inspection. If we have to replace additional plywood underneath your roof, then your estimate might change, although not dramatically. Another reason your estimated quote might slightly change is to include tax.
A new roof is a big investment that sometimes homeowners are not fully prepared to pay when they need it. Many roofers will offer financing options if you are unable to pay in full. As mentioned above, always ask your roofer for proof of bond and never pay a down payment that is larger than their bond. IBEX Roof offers different financing specials, so please ask us what your options are so we can accommodate your budget! For customers who do decide to pay in full, we ask for three separate payments: a down payment, a percentage the day we start, and the rest upon completion.
Warranties will vary between different roofers, so don’t forget to ask what your warranty covers before signing a contract! Your warranty will also vary based on the materials on your roof and the work being done. If you have any issues at all with an IBEX Roof, please call us at the office and we will be happy to help!
Make sure you know what happens after your roof work is done before signing a roofing contract. Most roofers will take on the responsibility of properly disposing of old material and trash from your roof. Feel free to ask about a roofer’s cleanup process like how they protect your landscaping or what tools they use to sweep for stray nails. IBEX Roof believes that cleanup is a huge part of the roofing process. We do our best to stay proactive during every project to ensure the surroundings of your home so that it stays safe and looks neat. Instead of a big, metal dumpster, we opt to use a dumpster trailer to protect your driveway from getting scratched up. At the end of every project, we use two different types of metal sweepers to catch any other nails and metal pieces. If a space is too small for our metal sweepers to reach, we’ll go in with our own hands to double-check!
Lastly, you can ask your roofer if there’s anything you should do in preparation for a roofing project. If you are getting a full-on roof replacement, you may want to clear your driveway, make arrangements for pets and kids, and protect any belongings in your attic. We may also ask you to point out accessible electrical outlets in case we need to plug-in any tools.
There are many questions you can and should ask a roofer before signing a roofing contract. IBEX Roof strives to be upfront and on the same page as our customers because we don’t want your roof to feel like a hassle or a chore. Feel free to call our office at 360-218-3108 to ask us any questions you have. And to get a free estimate for your next roofing project, fill out our online form today!
