There are nearly 75,000 roofing companies across the United States.
Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home. It keeps you safe and protected from inclement weather, like snow and ice or rain and storms. A well-maintained roof should last up to 30 years, but you need a good roofing contractor to keep it in good shape.
If you need to have your residential or commercial roof inspected, repaired, or replaced, this post is for you. Today, we’re going to help you find the best roofing contractors in your town by giving you 5 key tips for hiring the right one.
Getting the best roof contractors for your roof is all about understanding your needs and what your options are. Keep reading, and we’ll clear it all up for you in a clear and concise manner.
1. Check Online Customer Reviews
The first thing you should do when investigating local roofing contractors is to check online listing sites for ratings and reviews. Residential and commercial roofing contractors live and die by the strength of their reputation. The best way to get a sense of a company’s reputation is by looking at customer reviews and ratings.
Narrow down your selection to the companies with the top average rating and the most customer reviews. A company with 100 reviews and a 4.5 average rating is probably more trustworthy than a company with a perfect 5-star rating but only 10 reviews.
You can dig a bit deeper by reading some of the customer reviews. This should give you a better sense of how each contractor goes about their business, how they treat their customers, and the overall quality of the work. If there are any glaring issues, you’ll find out from their former customers.
2. Licenses and Insurance are Important
Once you’ve selected a few roofing contractors to look into further, you can start looking at their company websites. There are a few things you should be looking for when you visit a roofer’s website, the first being their certifications.
Any roofing contractor, whether they’re focused on residential or commercial roofs, should be licensed. In Illinois, you actually need a contractor’s license, as well as an industrial license to work on roofs. For residential roofs, a limited license will suffice, but to work on commercial roofs as well, you need an unlimited one.
Having these licenses will assure you that the roofing contractor you hire is actually qualified to do the work. At Freeman Exteriors, we’re licensed contractors and an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, so you can trust us to handle all of your roofing needs.
When a contractor applies for their roofing license, they’ll also need to provide proof of insurance. Both workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance are essential to providing quality service.
Roofing can be a dangerous job, so it’s important that a contractor has workers’ compensation insurance for the employees. In the event that any damage occurs to your property, the contractor’s general liability insurance policy will cover the costs, so you always have peace of mind.
3. Get Multiple Quotes
No matter what you’re having done to your roof, it’s important to have a sense of the cost before the work begins. It’s important to get multiple quotes from the different contractors you speak to, so you can decide which one best fits your budget.
It’s probably every homeowner’s instinct to choose the most affordable option, but that’s why you need a detailed quote. You need to find out what materials they’ll use and how much the labor itself costs.
The best move is to stay away from contractors that seem suspiciously cheap and try not to go too far over your budget. By getting multiple quotes, you’ll get a better sense of what the average roofing cost should be.
We always give detailed, itemized quotes that give you an accurate depiction of what you’re going to pay for your roofing job. In addition, we make our services more affordable by offering 6 and 12-month financing options. Money shouldn’t prevent you from having a safe and secure roof.
4. Experience Matters
How long a contractor has been in business is another way to separate the good from the very good. The more experience a particular roofer has, the more confidence you can have in them to diagnose problems and fix them without issue.
We have over 30 years of roofing experience in Danville, Champaign, and the surrounding areas. During that time, we’ve seen just about everything there is to see when it comes to roof repairs and replacement. Our knowledge and expertise mean that no job is too big for us.
5. Warranties Bring Peace of Mind
One of the last things you should ask about before hiring a roofing contractor is whether or not they offer warranties. There should always be a warranty on the products that they use, but also on the service itself.
If shingles start falling off or you find a leak in your roof after a contractor has finished the work, you shouldn’t be on the hook for it. A warranty guarantees that the contractor will come back and fix the problem or replace the faulty product free of charge.
A contractor that has service warranties is one that has confidence in their own work. At Freeman Exteriors, we value our reputation as one of the top roofing contractors in the Champaign area. For that reason, we always make a point to discuss warranties with our customers before any job.
Not All Roofing Contractors Are Created the Same
These are a few things to look out for when hiring roofing contractors. Not all services are equal, so it’s important to do your due diligence to find the best one for your needs.
If you’re in Champaign, IL, the best option for all of your roofing needs is Freeman Exteriors. With decades of roofing experience and a stellar reputation, we can help you with any roofing project. Contact us today to get a free consultation.
