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How to select the Right contractor

Buying a new roof is an Important investment.

Before you spend your money, spend some time learning how to evaluate the roofing contractor who may be doing the work. The National Roofing Contractors Association wants to assist you in getting the kind of results you expect—a quality roof at a fair price. You should insist on working with an NRCA-member professional roofing contractor.

NRCA recommends you prequalify roofing contractors to get the job done right the first time.

The following guidelines will help:

DO YOUR RESEARCH

  • Check for a permanent place of business
  • telephone number
  • tax identification number
  • where required, a business license

CHECK THE COVERAGE

  • Insist on seeing copies of the contractor’s liability insurance coverage & workers’ compensation certificates.
  • Make sure the coverages are in effect through the duration of the job.

A PROVEN TRACK RECORD

  • Look for a company with a proven track record that readily offers client references & a list of completed projects.
  • Call these clients to find out whether they were satisfied.

SETTING THE SCOPE

  • Insist on a written proposal & examine it for complete descriptions of the work & specifications.
  • Make sure the proposal includes approximate starting and completion dates and payment procedures.

CHECK THEIR NETWORK

  • Check to see whether the contractor is a member of any local, state, regional or national roofing industry associations, such as NRCA.

CALL YOUR LOCAL BBB

  • Call your local Better Business Bureau to check for any complaints that have been filed.

EXPLANATION OF THE PROCESS

  • Have the contractor explain his or her project supervision and quality-control procedures.
  • Request the name of the person who will be in charge.
  • Ask how many workers will be required & the estimated time of completion.

CHECK THE WARRANTY

  • Carefully read & understand any roofing warranty offered & watch for provisions that would void it.
  • Keep a healthy skepticism about the lowest bid. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember, price is only one criterion for selecting a roofing contractor.