How to Select a Contractor

Learn How to Evaluate a Roofing Contractor

Buying a new roof system or having a roof repaired is an important investment. Before you spend your money, spend time learning how to evaluate roofing contractors. You should insist on working with a professional roofing contractor. Kirkey Roofing Inc wants to assist you in getting the kind of results you expect – a quality roof system at a fair price. All roofing contractors are not alike, and we recommend that you pre-qualify roofing contractors to get the job done right the first time and to provide continued service throughout the life of your roof. The following guidelines will help you select a professional:

• Check License
  Check to see if the roofing contractor is properly licensed or bonded. Florida has specific licensing requirements. The Department of Professional Regulation or Licensing Board will have this information at www.MyFloridaLicense.com.
• Check Insurance
  Don’t hesitate to ask a roofing contractor for proof of insurance. In fact, insist on seeing copies of his liability coverage and workers’ compensation certificates. Make sure the coverages are in effect through the duration of the job. Many building and homeowners have been dragged into litigation involving uninsured roofing contractors. Also, if a contractor is not properly insured, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property. Many contractors are tempted to have minimal coverage or eliminate it all together by hiring subcontractors since it is one of the highest costs associated with roofing, so ask for a list of covered employees.
• Check Complaints
  Contact your local Better Business Bureau or Department of Professional Regulation to check for possible complaints filed against the contractor.
• Check Stability
  Be suspicious of any contractor who asks for money up-front or for payment in cash. Homeowners have found out the hard way that when they pay up front they are really paying the payroll and materials for the company’s last job, which tells a lot about companies stability. Cash payments or checks made out directly to the owner are often an indicator that a contractor is not reporting income. If he’s willing to take the risk to cheat Uncle Sam, do you think he would cheat you?
• Check "Deal"
  Keep a healthy skepticism about the lowest bid. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many fly-by-night contractors’ below-cost bids seem attractive, but these contractors often are uninsured and perform substandard work. Remember, price is only one of the criteria for selecting a roofing contractor. Professionalism, experience and quality workmanship should weigh heavily in your decision.
• Check Safety
  Choose a company committed to worker safety and education. Ask the contractor what type of safety training he provides for his workers.
• Check Credit
  Make sure the contractor is financially stable. A professional roofing contractor can provide credit references from suppliers upon request.
• Check References
  Look for a company with a proven track record that offers client references and a list of completed projects. Call these clients to find out whether they were satisfied.
• Check Details
  Insist on a detailed, written proposal and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and specifications, including payment procedures. Be on the lookout for additional charges – many roofers will add flashing, metal, vents, disposal costs, etc. to the figure.
• Check Supervision
  Have the contractor explain his project supervision and quality-control procedures. Request the name of the person who will be in charge of your project, how many workers will be required and estimated completion time.
• Check Certifications
  Have the contractor list the roofing manufacturers with which his firm is a licensed or approved applicator. Most roof systems require special application expertise to achieve lasting quality. Installation can make or break your roof – insist on trained and certified installers. The best roofing contractor is only as good as the workers who install the roof system.
• Check Location
  Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax identification number and, where applicable, a business license.

Over the years many property owners have asked Kirkey Roofing Inc to help them fix a roofing problem caused by unqualified and sometimes unethical roofing contractors. You can imagine what happened when their new roof didn’t function properly. These people were pulling their hair out when they realized their new roof needed to be repaired. To make matters worse the contractor that did the job was nowhere to be found. Many of these property owners chose a contractor because he quoted a low price. Imagine how they felt after paying us thousands of dollars to fix what the previous roofing company failed to do correctly. The headaches of a poor installation will last far longer than the thrill of a special deal! Once you have all of your estimates together, we would love the opportunity to go over them with you. We have found that a lot of times people think they are getting the same system we offer but once we look at their other proposals, we find that it is not. Even if you decide not to go with our company we want to make sure that you are getting the best roof for your money.

If you would like to request a FREE copy of the contractor comparison chart, contact us.