Homeowners shopping for to replace or even repair their roof find themselves in a vulnerable position. Roofers will hear things like, “I don’t know what it looks like up there. I’m afraid of heights.” Or “You tell me. You’re the expert.” The wrong roofer will see this as an opportunity to cash in. You can almost see the dollar signs scrolling across their eyeballs like an old Scrooge McDuck cartoon.
Maybe you don’t know everything you need to know about roof installation (Heck, you haven’t read all of our articles yet!) and you suspect that there might be a need for some work on your roof. Just googling “Roofers near me” can be a dangerous game. Please don’t just call the first name you find online or some random company you may have heard of in a commercial. If you follow just a few of these steps, it will greatly increase your chances of finding a roofer that can get the job done right.
1. See how long they have been in business
This is an important question to ask and verify. A roofer may close up shop and open on the other side of town under a different name to distance themselves from negative reviews. It is not uncommon for roofing companies to come and go quickly. Their warranty is no good if they aren’t in business next year. Look for someone who has been around for 8-10 years. This will also make it easier to find reliable reviews and a dependable warranty.
2. Read reviews on Google, Facebook, BBB, Yelp, etc.
Most review sites (Facebook, Yelp, Google, BBB, etc.) use a 5 star rating system. Look for a company with at least 4 stars. They should also have at least 10 reviews between the various sites. If they have 5 stars but only 2 reviews, it’s still a shot in the dark. Another important thing to remember here is to actually read the reviews. 4.2 or 4.7 doesn’t tell the whole story. Listen to people’s experiences and see what they liked or didn’t like about the company and it’s employees.
3. Ask about their warranties.
Most legitimate roofing companies will offer some kind of labor warranty. This is separate from the shingle manufacturer’s warranty, it is their personal warranty. Get it in writing. Make sure you understand what it covers and what it doesn’t cover. For reference, you can check out our warranties here.
4. Use someone within your network
We all have a network, people we know and trust. Ask around. Someone within your network has used a roofer and had a good experience.
5. Ask for references
Even if they came from within your network of trusted friends, it is still a good practice to ask for a couple references. Not all roofers can handle all types of roofing or gutter work. Make sure this roofer can handle your specific needs by requesting references who had the same issue you are having. Call these people to ask about their experience and if they would recommend them for your situation.
Obviously, we would love it if you chose New Heights as your trustworthy roofing company. But more importantly, we want you to find the roofer best suited for the job at hand and to feel confident in your decision. If there are any questions we can answer to help, we are always here.