So you are faced with replacing your roof !!

Oof.  That’s a LOT of money, isn’t it?

And there are plenty of contractors suddenly popping up all around you, just looking to relieve you of the cash.

What to do?  Who to choose?

Here are a few questions that demand must-have answers.  We made it easy for you.

1. Is the company a professional roofing contractor? What makes a professional company?

First of all, you want to find a roofing company that has adequate insurance.  This signifies they are serious about being in business, they are not a pop-up company.  Ask for a copy of the roofing company’s insurance.

2. Where does the roofing contractor buy their material?

If a roofing contractor says, “I buy for everybody,” you should be concerned.  A good roofing contractor has a purchasing account with their main supplier.  If a contractor has been in business for any length of time, the contractor should have an established credit history with their local supplier.  For instance, Tejas Roofing has had an account with ABC Supply for many, many years.

3. Does the roofing contractor have experience working with your insurance provider?

Ask if the contractor has experience working with your particular insurance company.  Sometimes making it through the insurance process can be stressful and you want someone who is experienced in dealing with that whole process and who is willing to help you.

4. Is the contractor long-time locally owned?

This is extremely important, because you want a contractor who understands the local climate in order to choose the best roofing materials for your area.  Also, you want to be sure the contractor is around if there are any issues in the future.  Look for a well-established local contractor who stands by his/her work.

5. How long have the crews worked for this roofing company?

This question will have some very telling answers.  Your roof will only be as good as the crew that installs it. If the crew has worked for the roofing company for many years, this signifies stability as well as craftsmanship.  After all, what company would continue with a crew that is not good at the work?  Be very skeptical of companies that pick up their crews at Home Depot each morning.

6. Is the roofing contractor asking for money up front?

Never pay any first payment up front until the materials are on your property and the crew is ready and on the job. And never EVER pay for the whole project before the work is finalized and you are happy with the work.

7. What is the product the roofing company is proposing for your roof?

There are several good product lines of roofing shingles that will be proposed to you.  How do you tell them apart?  For one, look at the warranties offered by the manufacturer.  Shingle warranties are materials only.  Each type of shingle will have a different length of warranty.  A Master Elite contractor has the availability of providing enhanced warranties.  One of the best manufacturers is GAF Roofing Systems, and they have bumper-to-bumper warranties.

8.What should the roofing company check before quoting a price for my new roof?

The company should look at the whole roofing system usually with a satellite measurement of your roof, which will be 99% accurate.  A beginning quote can be made directly from that measurement.  If you feel the basic quote is within range of your budget, then the roofing company will send a crew to “walk the roof”  for a fully accurate quote. Be sure to get what is called a “Change Order” if additional service or materials are added in the middle of the project.

9.I’ve been told it’s better to hand-nail than it is to use a nail gun. Is that true?

This is absolutely false.  However, that being said, you need to know if the people USING the nail gun are professionals.  There should be SIX nails per shingle.  An experienced crew knows how to set their nail gun to the correct pressure.

10. Do I need felt under the shingles?

The old organic products were standard.  Today, there are better products on the market.

11. What do I need to know about something called “flashing?”

Flashings are the metal strips that are used around anything that protrudes through the roof (vents or chimney) or used in the corners where a part of a roof connects to another part of the roof.  If the flashing does not extend far enough, there will be leaks.

12.  Do I have adequate ventilation?

Proper ventilation will extend the life of your roof, as well as aid in the cooling of your home.  A roof should have one square foot of net ventilation for every 150 square feet of attic floor space.   Each ventilation device must be fastened or secured to the roof deck to resist wind pressures.

13.  Can I install new shingles over an old roof?

No.  This would add too much weight on the walls of your house and insurance will not cover this type of installation.