We all get to the point in our lives where we have to make decisions about big investments. When you own a home, besides buying it, fixing or replacing the roof is going to be a big investment that you make on your house, and it needs to be handled with care. If you hire the wrong person or company, you could possibly be in for a world of trouble and regret the decision. However if you hire the right contractor, you can rest assure that your investment will be well spent and your home will be protected.
To begin this process you will need to find competent roofers by figuring out what type of work and or job you need done. Before you start to get in touch with any of the roofing companies, make sure you have the correct information on hand about what you want the professional contractor to do. If you have the type of roof where there are 3 or more layers of roof materials on the house, you will probably need to tear it completely off. Since we are in Philadelphia, there could a possibility of having ice damns in the winter time. You are going to want to make certain you are dealing with a contractor who knows how to handle the situation of insulation and roof ventilation elements. If you need to fix the gutter system, make sure you make a note of it.
When looking for professional roofing contractors in Philadelphia, it is good to start off by asking your coworkers, family, friends, and even your neighbors. If you are new to the area, ask your insurance agent or go check out the chamber of commerce. People advertise all types of different services there. If you run into other contractors such as plumbers, landscapers, and other professions like that, it is a good idea to ask them if they know somebody as well. A lot of them work together, and you are sure to find somebody if you ask them.
Once you create a list of all the potential contractors you want to use, start spending some time trying to contact them. When you contact somebody and end up having to leave a message, make a note of how long it take them to contact you back. If you takes more than 24 hours, you probably will not want to do business with this company or person.
Here is a list of helpful information to ask for when talking to contractors:
- Customer references
- Their insurance
- Workers comp covrage
- How long they have been in business
- Warranties or guarantees
- Find out if they are licensed and bonded
- Are they aware of their online reviews
- Are they aware of any third Party Reviews
Make sure you do not choose the cheapest roofing contractor, but make sure you choose the best one. Doing good research pays off in the long run, when you find the right person that will be considerate of your home and your budget.
Rick Dempsey - Retired Home Contractor and now writer for North Jersey Roofing Companies