Your roof is a critical part of your home and definitely one of the most important factors that protects you, your family, and your valuables from the outside elements. If you have a defective or poorly installed roof, you risk a range of damages to the inside of your home as well as the structure of your home itself. It is very important to make sure that you select a South Florida Roofing Contractor with a solid reputation for roofing in Gables by the Sea, FL and who understands the type of roofing system for the South Florida climate you live in.
Follow these Tips for Selecting A Great Roofing Contractor
- Check with the Better Business Bureau or the local Chamber of Commerce to get a list of their recommended roofing contractors. User review sites like Yelp can also be helpful. You can be assured these businesses have been researched and reviewed to make sure they have met all licensing and insurance compliance and have a high degree of customer satisfaction.
- Ask the potential roofing contractor you are interviewing if they have insurance and the proper licenses for Miami-Dade County and South Florida. You do not want to hire someone who could be a risk to you and perform sub-standard work without a license to back it. You want to be assured that they can finish the job satisfactorily.
- Speak to the actual roofers (the workers) of your project and make sure you are comfortable with them. A roofing project usually takes the better part of a week, if not longer, so if you are not comfortable with the people who will be working on your roofing project, you will worry about them while they are on your property.
- Make sure you can review the complete written proposal for your project. There is nothing worse than getting an estimate for a job, planning on budgeting, and then having your contractor come to you with a much higher invoice once the work has been completed. To save on future headaches, agree on a price before the project even gets started, and get EVERYTHING in writing.
- The last thing you will want to do before committing to a contractor is to find out about the types of warranties that the roofing companies are offering. Not only do you want to make sure that there is a warranty on the roofing materials, you also want to make sure the contractor’s work has a warranty on it as well. If the contractor did not do a good job, you do not want to pay them or someone else to fix their errors a few years down the road. Poorly installed roofs can result in costly and disruptive roof repairs that could have been avoided with a warranty (and by choosing the right contractor).
What is a Roofing Contractor, Exactly?
What is a roofing contractor? A roofing contractor is someone who is licensed to perform a complete roofing project – such as a residential or commercial flat roof. In exchange for completing the undertaking, the contractor receives compensation that includes things like insurance, warranties, and payroll for the laborers performing the installation. This is where the term contractor was coined, relating to someone completing a contract in exchange for compensation.
If the roofing contractor cannot finish the assignment, there might be circumstances where they will hire subcontractors to help with completing the assignment. This is more common with sizable construction project sites such as churches, shopping centers, warehouses, and other large buildings. Subcontractors may likewise be used when work is performed on residential homes. Examples would include chimney mending, debris disposal, and all-metal flashing, among other things that may be necessary for the roof installation but require different kinds of work.
The ideal roofing contractor is someone who utilizes a minimum of subcontractors. By using fewer subcontractors, there are fewer gaps in accountability and a less complicated hierarchy on the jobsite. Another advantage of utilizing fewer subcontractors is that the project may presumably cost less with fewer teams on site. These savings are normally passed along to the customer.
Roofing is a Specialized Skill
Roofing is a very specialized skill. Few general contractors engage with roofing because it necessitates a team of roofers who are comfortable working on a roof and are able to function in the all-powerful sun while performing specific and detailed work. This is why roofs are normally completed separately from the rest of a house on a new construction build.
A roof is an integral part of any building structure – be it a theater, bungalow, warehouse, or office tower. This makes it more crucial for a property owner or property manager to obtain the most competent and experienced contractor.
Roofs are exposed to the elements all of the time, 24/7. One extreme is the harsh sunshine, while frozen winter snow lies on the other extreme – and many roofs in northern parts of the United States go through both each year. In South Florida, the constant heat and humidity take a toll on roofs. If a modest blemish or worn down condition is perceived by a property owner, then a roofing contractor should be called out to make sure that the roof can be renovated so that the whole roof does not have to be replaced in the near future.
Selecting a Roofing Contractor
When choosing a roofing contractor, caution is the operative word.
The greatest way to acquire a roofing contractor is to use one for a small repair or for roof maintenance.
