Hiring a Roofing Company | What Homeowner Need to Know

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Choosing the right roofers for residential roof repair is often overwhelming for homeowners. While you want to invest in experienced contractors, you also don’t want to overpay a roof repair company either! Finding a trustworthy roofer is especially difficult, as anyone can build a flashy website that promises reliable work. How can you choose the right contractor from all those you see online?

Your first step in finding a reliable roofer is to ask friends and family for recommendations. Check online reviews of potential companies, and schedule a few price quotes. Ensure a roofer is licensed and insured, and review his or her guarantee.

These are some of the basics when it comes to choosing a reputable roofing company near you. However, there is obviously much more to the process! Knowing a bit more about how to choose a reliable roofer can ensure you’re happy with your contractor.

Consider a few added details about what to look for when hiring a roofer for your home. You can then discuss these details with a potential roofing company as needed, and make the best decision for repairs and re-roofing on your property.

How Do I Choose a Reliable Roofer?

Before you hire a contractor and especially before you give one a down payment, consider a few added tips on ensuring you opt for the most reliable, skilled roofer for your property! Make sure to ask a lot of questions before hiring a roofer.

• Get at least three different quotes from three different companies. This will give you a better idea of comparable rates for needed repairs or new roof installation.
• While you don’t want to overpay for roofing work, don’t choose your contractor based on price alone. An inexperienced contractor or one who cuts corners might underbid competitors just to attract more business! Skilled contractors know their worth and quote repair jobs accordingly.
• Research the materials a roofer offers to use. Check on the reliability and reviews of various brand name shingles and tiles. Note that off-brand materials with limited guarantees are often cheaper but won’t last as long as higher-quality options.
• Never agree to anything that isn’t in writing! A reputable roofer will put every detail of your needed work on paper. This includes all their fees and charges, and when any payments are due.
• A roofer should also note when a job will begin and end. He or she might also include penalties for jobs that go well past an expected deadline.
• Reputable roofers typically offer free inspections and repair quotes. If a company doesn’t offer a free inspection, this might indicate that they’re not successful enough to cover that cost!
• Ensure your roofer also provides a warranty for materials and labor. This warranty or guarantee should also be in writing, and available for review before you agree to any work.
• Check that a company is licensed and insured. A reliable roofer should be happy to provide you with a copy of their insurance policy and business license number.
• Always check online reviews of any potential contractor. This includes sites specific to contractors such as Houzz and Angie’s List, as well as Google.

Homeowners should also pay attention to anything they might simply feel is a “red flag.” For example, if a roofer makes you uncomfortable with undue pressure to hire them, they’re probably not a good choice! Reputable contractors know that potential clients might need to prepare and budget for repairs as costly as roofing.

Roofers should also be happy to answer all your questions before any work begins. He or she should also help you choose new roofing materials, if needed. Experienced roofers should explain pros and cons of various materials while helping you stay within your home improvement budget.

How Much Do Roofers Charge Per Square?

Roofers typically charge per square, meaning 100 square feet of a roof’s surface. A 2400-square-foot roof would then need 24 squares of material for reroofing. Most roofers charge between $3.50 and $5.50 per square for repairs or new roof installation.

While this is a good “ballpark” figure, roofers might increase their final estimate based on certain factors. For example, you might see added charges for any of the following:

• There is more work involved in cutting roofing materials for roofs with skylights, dormers, and other peaks or obstructions.
• Roofers need to take extra precautions when working on very steep roofs. They might tack on certain fees or increase their prices to compensate for that extra work.
• Getting materials to a home that’s difficult to access means more work and added time for a roofer!
• Roofers often hire more workers for overly large properties, to reduce their total time on the roof. In turn, they might increase their quote to compensate for those extra workers.

Most roofers will also charge more for higher-quality materials. While this increases your repair or new roof installation costs, those materials can save you money over time! Low-quality materials degrade faster than other shingles and tiles. In turn, you’ll probably need to schedule repairs and re-roofing more often when you choose those cheaper options. 

High-quality roofing materials not only last longer but also offer added interior insulation and protection against water damage. Many also look more attractive than cheaper alternatives! Quality roofing materials, even at a higher price, can be the better long-term investment for your home.

Should I Stay Home During Roof Replacement?

A roofer will usually need to access the home’s interior for an inspection. He or she will typically check the attic or upper stories, looking for signs of leaks and cracks. However, they will typically patch any such cracks from the exterior roofing surface, not from inside the house.

This means that roofers don’t typically need a homeowner to let them inside during repairs or reroofing services. As long as a roofer can safely access the roof itself, you don’t need to be home during repairs.

Homeowners might also note that roofing creates heavy, distracting vibrations and lots of loud noises! These distractions can make it uncomfortable to be home during roof repair work, even if you stay indoors. Children and pets might also find roofing work upsetting and uncomfortable.

It’s also vital that homeowners, children, pets, and everyone stay out of the way of roofers during their work! Roofing typically means lots of dangerous debris falling from the roof and scattered along the lawn. For your own comfort and safety, consider taking the family and pets out of the house during roofing work.

How Do Roofers Go to the Bathroom?

If you don’t need to be home during roofing services you might ask, how do roofers go to the bathroom? Roofing contractors should never use a homeowner’s bathroom or other facilities. Coming into the home means tracking dust and other debris all over your floors and other surfaces! Homeowners should also not need to worry about cleaning up after visiting contractors.

Instead, a reputable roofing company will rent a portable toilet for their workers. These “porta potties” are fully contained, meaning they don’t flush into a drain or onto your lawn. A rental service will deliver the toilets and empty their waste tanks as needed.

Contractors also should bring their own lunches, water, and other such refreshments. They should also have their own tools! Roofers should also respect your property and not walk across your lawn any more than necessary. If you have specific questions about their activities during your needed roofing services, don’t hesitate to ask them directly.

What Do I Need to Know to Replace My Roof?

The more information you can give to a roofing contractor, the easier their job! If they know the roof’s age, if there are added layers to the roof, and other such factors, they can more readily note needed repairs.

Roofers should also be alerted to any indications of roofing damage that you’ve noticed personally. This might include water stains on interior ceilings or shingle granules and roofing nails in a home’s gutters.

However, a well-qualified roofing contractor will start every project with a full-scale roof inspection. He or she should examine every nook and corner of that roof, looking for damage. An experienced roofer can also typically gauge a roof’s age during an inspection.

In other words, don’t assume that you need to research your home’s roof before calling a contractor! Share any information you know, but their inspection will offer all the details they need to prepare a proper quote.

What Time of Year Is Best to Replace a Roof?

The best time to replace a roof is when you know this work is needed! It’s never recommended that a homeowner put off needed roof repairs or new roof installation. The longer you ignore cracks, leaks, and other issues, the more extensive they become.

However, many roofers won’t work in wintertime and especially if the weather in the area is often extreme. Rainy weather and high winds can also interfere with roofing work. In tropical areas, you might need to put your needed roofing work off until after summertime or any stormy season.

If you’re looking to save money on roofing, ask your roofer if he or she offers discounts throughout the year. If work is slow during certain seasons, they might lower their prices to help “drum up” business.

On the other hand, many roofers are extremely busy after storms move through an area. In turn, they might charge a premium for emergency roof repair or during the months after a stormy season.

When Is It Time for Roof Repair?

If you’re like many homeowners, you put off repairs simply because you don’t know it’s time to call a roofer! Even if a homeowner could safely inspect a roof, it’s easy to overlook damaged flashing, worn shingles, and other issues. To ensure you’re keeping your home’s roof in good condition, note some signs it’s time to call a roofer:

• Note if you can see sunlight through an attic ceiling or ceilings along upper floors.
• Roof vents let heat and humidity out of the upper levels of a home. If you notice a hot and humid upper story or attic, this can indicate damaged or blocked vents. That trapped humidity can risk roof damage.
• Buckled or wavy roof surfaces often indicate damaged shingles.
• Sagging roof sections need immediate repairs! This can indicate damaged framing and the risk of a roof buckling or caving in.
• Water stains along ceilings usually indicate a leak somewhere! Plumbing leaks can mean water stains but that moisture can also be seeping in through a damaged roof. If you’ve ruled out plumbing issues in your home, have the roof checked for leaks.
• Damaged and old shingles might “shed” granules, which then end up in gutters or along the lawn near the house. Shingles might also pull away from the roof framing, losing nails as they do. If you notice shingle granules or nails anywhere along the property, call a roofer!
• Roofs are a major component of your home’s insulation. A damaged roof lets out heating and cooling while letting in outside heat and cold. If you notice a hot and humid interior or cold drafts in wintertime, this can indicate a damaged roof.
• How old is the home’s roof? If it’s more than 10 years old and you haven’t scheduled a recent inspection, it’s time to call a roofer! The older a roof gets, the more likely it is that the materials are degraded.

Homeowners should also schedule needed repairs and new roof installation if you’re thinking of putting your home on the market! While you might think it’s pointless to invest in a new roof for a home you might sell, remember that buyers aren’t likely to appreciate a house with a dilapidated, damaged roof. They also won’t appreciate any secondary damage resulting from a leaky roof. Water stains on ceilings, mold and other issues are likely to drive buyers away.

On the other hand, a home with a relatively new roof or one in good condition will attract more buyers. Prospective buyers are also typically willing to pay more for a home with a solid roof overhead. To ensure your home sells quickly and for maximum dollars, schedule roof repair when needed.

Worcester Roofing Pros is happy to bring you this information about choosing roofers for your property. Hopefully, you found it helpful! If you’re in the market for expert repairs or a new roof installation, call our experienced Worcester roof repair contractors. We offer FREE inspections and quotes and stand behind every project with a full guarantee. To get started, fill out our contact form or just give us a call.