Roof repairs can be a major financial commitment. Installing a new roof is even more so. You need to know how to find the best local roofing contractor to address these problems. Anything less will lead to further payments down the line, and the hassle of finding a better roofing company.
How many horror stories have you heard from family and friends about cowboy roofing contractors? It may start, “it took longer than we felt it should have, but at least it’s over,” and then within a year, move onto “well, we’ve got the same problem as before, but now we have another one, too.”
At Liberty Roofworks, we hate to hear this kind of story. It gives our industry a bad name and means that someone is doing a disservice to the Charlotte, NC area that we’ve served for almost 2 decades. This is why we’ve put together a guide to help you learn how to tell if a roofing company is worth your time and money.
By following these 8 rules of how to find out if a roofing company is trustworthy, you’ll be able to make a confident decision when it comes to roof repairs or installation.
1. Work With a Local Roofing Contractor With a Proven History in Your Area
Buy local isn’t just the best rule for grocery shopping. It’s the best way to find a roofing company that you can trust to do the job properly and for a fair price because a local company relies on you for its reputation.
The Customer Should Be The Top Priority
Large businesses with branches across the U.S. will never deliver the same kind of quality assurance as a local contractor. They can make their profits back elsewhere if one job goes south, and you can never trust that you’re their no. 1 priority. You can guarantee that you’re not: expansion is more important to these services than proving to be the best local roofing solution.
Local Expertise Means High-Quality Solutions
Moreover, you’ll never get the same level of local expertise from a roofing company that doesn’t know your area. One-size-fits-all doesn’t work in the United States, and a company that looks to keep its material costs low and its service area as wide as possible will never provide bespoke roofing solutions that suit your local climate.
For the best results, work with a roofing contractor that has served the Charlotte, NC area for many years. Choose a family-owned business that lives in the area and understands everything about the climate of North Carolina and how your roofing solutions can best resist the local weather. Buying local is the most important choice you can make when choosing the best roofing contractor in Charlotte, NC.
2. Find a Roofing Contractor with Consistent Pricing and Verifiable Contact Details
Unfortunately, it’s all too common for substandard contractors to move into town when they see demand and get out straight afterward. This process follows these steps:
- A local area is hit by a freak weather event such as a heavy storm.
- The company moves into town and offers quick roofing solutions at a lower price than trusted companies in the area.
- Customers panic about the damage done to their homes and enlist the cheapest service available.
- The company provides a slipshod job that fixes the damage for a short amount of time.
- The company leaves town, moving on to the next business hotspot.
- Their customers are left needing further roof repairs and find they can’t contact the original company for support.
It’s difficult to choose clearly when you’re panicked about storm damage to your home. This is what these companies prey on. However, the best way to get high-quality roof repair after a storm in Charlotte, NC is to use a trusted local provider that displays its contact details and has a verifiable history in the area.
3. Ask Questions: Why Should You Trust a Roofing Contractor?
Another easy way to tell whether you’re dealing with one of the best local roofing contractors in Charlotte, NC is if they’re willing to talk to you. You have every right to ask questions as a customer — and you should ask questions. This is a great way to tell the good from the bad.
A bad contractor will hope that you don’t know what questions to ask and will dance around vague questions. Have a list prepared. You can draw ideas from this guide! The list could include:
- How long have you worked in the area?
- Can I see all your contractors’ licenses?
- What local references can you provide me with?
- What warranty do you provide, and can I see it?
- Who is your insurer, and what are the insurance terms? Can I contact them if necessary?
Remember that the best roofing companies in Charlotte, NC want to talk to you. You’re the customer: they don’t exist without you! Whenever a roofing company tries to fob you off, don’t tell yourself “I suppose they’re busy, I’m sure their work will be fine”. A business that is too busy for its customers shouldn’t be a business.
Any quality roofing contractor will be delighted to answer your questions and will be able to provide all the information you request. They will understand that being able to prove this to you means that you’re more likely to recommend them, and this matters to local businesses.
4. Ensure That Your Roofing Contractor is Properly Regulated
Add all of these to your list of questions. If your roofing contractor can’t show you the following documents, it’s time to look elsewhere.
License
Is your contractor registered with the appropriate authorities? The state issues various licenses for roof repairs and installation, so make sure the company you’re working with is licensed to perform the work described.
Insurance
Ask to see the company’s insurance policy and go through it with them. Ask them to show you the parts that apply to the work they’re doing for you and see if it matches up. This includes vehicle insurance.
Bonds
A bond is a type of insurance that means you won’t be left out of pocket if a company can’t complete a job. A bonding company only offers this service to companies it considers trustworthy, so any good contractor should be able to show you the paperwork.
5. Check Out Local Customer Reviews
We noted that it’s worth finding out how long a company has been in business in your area, and whether it considers your area its highest priority. The problem is that people sometimes lie and assume you won’t do your research. This means that you should do your research.
If a company has no customer reviews, why not? We’re not just talking about Google: businesses have acquired customer reviews since long before the internet was a thing. Your roofing contractor should be able to refer to you to a substantial history of positive customer reviews from people whose identities you can verify.
Remember: while it’s good to have a solid history of references, the most recent are the most valid.
6. Ask for a Portfolio of References
If you’re working with a high-quality roofing contractor, they’ll be willing to show you a portfolio of work they’ve done in the Charlotte, NC area over the 6 months or so. This means providing you with references (recent customers) so you can visit and check the work, and hear from satisfied customers what makes this company worth dealing with. Unlike online references, this isn’t anonymous and so is more trustworthy.
7. What Warranty Options Does Your Roofing Contractor Offer?
Discuss warranty options with your roofing contractor before you engage their services. Most contractors will provide a warranty, but this could be as little as a couple of years. We think you’ll agree that it’s reasonable to expect roof repairs to last this long — or ideally, much longer.
The best option is a lifetime warranty. If this isn’t possible, go with the company that provides the longest warranty. 25 years is a good second-best option, depending on the type of roof you have installed.
8. Is Your Roofing Contractor Certified By Top Shingle Manufacturers?
Top shingle manufacturers like to work with the best local roofing companies in Charlotte, NC, and other areas. They’ll provide certification to these companies because they want their shingles to be associated with the best local roofing services.
If the contractor you’re speaking to doesn’t have this certification, ask why not? There could be a good reason, in which case they’ll be able to provide it. However, the best roofing services in your area are likely certified by a top shingle manufacturer, so trust this as a seal of quality.
Conclusion
Liberty Roofworks has been an established roofing contractor in the Charlotte, NC area for almost 20 years. We love to speak with our customers and are happy to answer any questions you may have. All our contractors are certified professionals, and we make it our mission to provide you with the highest quality solutions at the most reasonable price.
Learn more about our company and the services we can offer you by getting in touch today.