What should I look for in a roofer?
Roofers seem to be everywhere. How can you separate the reliable from the wannabees or has-beens? All roofers are not created equally. It’s your home, so do a little research before committing.
As in all industries, roofing has good and bad apples. A few questions can help you avoid the rotten fruit.
By Brian Fidler
Fidler on the Roof KC
As roofers ourselves, answering this question may seem self-serving. However, we would ask you to put us to the same test. If we fail it, that’s on us.
With that out of the way, what should you look for in a roofer?
They’re honest.
When it comes to your home and roof, you need straight talk, not smoke and mirrors. If the roofer isn’t sure about an answer, it’s OK to say, “I don’t know but I’ll find out.” If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately, sometimes you can’t tell if someone is honest until it’s too late. Be observant and play close attention to your interactions and the contractor’s answers. Someone who’s honest has nothing to hide.
They show up to your appointment and return your calls.
This is a given for us. If no one shows up (or at least calls to say they need to reschedule), this is a bad sign. They don’t have your money yet and you’re already being blown off.
They should under promise and over deliver.
Since you haven’t worked with this roofer yet, you can’t know if they’ll under promise and over deliver. But word of mouth and online ratings can give you a sense of their approach to business.
They should be transparent with their pricing.
A roofer’s pricing “is what it is.” There should be no asterisks, fine print or surprises. The price should be put in writing. If they hesitate, move on.
They may or may not have the lowest price.
If your goal is to get the absolute possible lowest price, no matter the consequences, then all I can say is, “That’s a bad idea.” My philosophy is no one wins in the race to the bottom. The quality and durability of materials and the skill of the workers all degrade quickly when price is the only factor. Of course it must be a factor. But if it’s the deciding factor, you may be returning to your roofer sooner than you think when things fall apart.
They are fully licensed and licensed.
Are they licensed and fully insured for all the things that matter to you? Damage to your home? An injury on the job site? A professional roofer will be happy to provide the evidence.
They’ve received high marks from outside agencies, or at least customers.
Check the ratings of the Better Business Bureau and other groups that rate businesses. In addition, Facebook, Yelp and Google will carry reviews from previous customers. What do they say? In addition, a quality roofer will be happy to provide references.
If these seem like common sense rating factors, it’s because they are. But in a world of fly-by-night contractors, the few roofers who pass these simple tests are the ones worth working with.
Bryan Fidler is business administrator of Fidler on the Roof KC.