HOW TO SELECT A ROOFING CONTRACTOR

“Over 1.1 Million Complaints and Lawsuits Were Filed Against Contractors Last Year Alone…Up 62%.” The Wall Street Journal

1. Bank Financial Stability & Character Letter:
   This signed document from the bank will show you the financial stability and the bank’s judgment of character of the company you are considering. Insist on seeing this letter so that you know that you are dealing with a residential roof replacement company that is stable and financially sound.
2. General Liability Insurance Certificate – Not “Self-Insured”:
   You need to know if your contractor carries general liability insurance for both commercial and residential projects. A sizable contractor will carry no less than $100,000 … and usually around $2,000,000 of coverage. If your contractor’s insurance policy can’t cover potential damages, then the contractor would be personally liable. If he cannot cover the damages himself, you will again have no legal recourse and will end up paying for the repairs or even a new roof yourself. *Over three-fourths of roofing companies do not carry proper insurance coverage to protect you against losses.
3. Current References Reviews:
   All reputable roofers carry pre-printed lists of references…. that includes customers from 1 to 5 years ago, as well as customers from the previous month.
4. There’s Only 2 Circumstances Where You Should Give Cash Up Front…. And Only 2:
   Reputable roofing contractors will not need cash up front for 99% of all jobs they do. The only circumstances that would make it necessary are if you special order non-returnable roofing materials, or insurance does not cover your repairs and you have questionable credit. Be careful of residential roof replacement contractors who ask for money up front, especially if your roof is standard wood, composition, or tile shingles. This is the number one area of fraud among contractors.
5. Trade Association Certificates of Standing:
   Belonging to trade associations implies some quality and ethical integrity on the part of the contractor. Associations like the National Roofing Contractor Association and the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas are common associations.
6. A Certified Contractor Status Letter:
   A roofer should be able to produce a certificate stating that he is qualified according to certain standards. There is no national (or local) governing board. The roofer should also be able to produce a list of what those standards are.
7. Use Only Certified Installers on Your Roof:
   Make sure that your contractor is certified by one of the manufacturers.
8. Compliance to Manufacturer Installation Guidelines:
   Ask for their certification for technical competency in using the product they are going to apply on your roof. There are several different types of roofs … and not all contractors are proficient in all of them.
9. Quality Inspection Checklist and Walk Through:
   Ask to review their Quality Inspection Checklist. A Certified Inspector should be provided at the completion of the job to review the installation checklist. This walk through should occur prior to making any payment.