Research The Company
Whether you choose a roofing company based on a google search or a friend’s recommendation, make sure you do your research. It’s usually a good idea to get multiple estimates, but either way, don’t hire a company without looking into their reputation and past work/service.
Look at their google reviews and social media pages. There’s a lot of “companies” in the roofing industry, and it usually just takes a small amount of digging to identify the sketchy ones.
Is the company local? Do they have verified reviews on google? Can you see that they’ve done quality work?
Another important detail to research is the nature of the company. In other words, are they a roofing company or are they a general contractor service that sometimes does roofing? In most cases, the difference in quality is significant. Getting a new roof is expensive, and even if you’re getting money from an insurance claim, you will absolutely regret spending it on poor quality workmanship. When it comes to protecting your home, you don’t want to take shortcuts.
Ensure Your New Roof Is Code Compliant
The states of Kentucky and Indiana impose relatively lax regulations on roofing companies. It’s fairly easy for roofers to get away with cutting corners, so you need to be vigilant. Regardless of state regulations, there are international standards for roof systems. Homeowners should be aware of these standards (International Roofing Code 2018), so they can ensure their new roof is up to code. Code isn’t just about obeying the law; it’s about ensuring your new roof system will last and perform at an optimal level.
For example, code requires that all valleys (where two roof slopes meet) be equipped with special ice and water underlayment. Ice and water is also required along the gutter lines of all steep slopes with a pitch of eight or higher. If you look at a roof after it rains or snows, these areas are the last to dry up. You need ice and water to protect your home in these areas over time. If the roofing company you hire disregards this roofing code, then your roof system is going to fail long before it should.
Shingle Quality
When you get an estimate, make sure you know the details about the proposed shingle. All shingles are not created equally. Don’t settle for quotes with general labels like “dimensional shingle.” Make sure you know the specific shingle. Which brand is being proposed? Which specific shingle? Is it a standard asphalt shingle or is it a class 4 wind and hail impact rated shingle? How does the shingle handle algae and discoloration? Don’t sign onto something without knowing exactly what you’re getting.
Warranties
Roofing companies will typically offer a couple different warranties. The first warranty you need to look for is a workmanship warranty. Is the roofing company willing to back the quality of their work? Will they be accountable for any mistakes they could make.?No roofing company is perfect, so this is where warranties come into play.
At Evergreen, we offer a five year workmanship warranty with all of our new roof systems. Typically, any workmanship related issue will appear within the first year of the new roof’s life. We guarantee the quality of our work up to five years, so we can give our customers peace of mind.
In addition to our workmanship warranty, we purchase a manufacturer’s warranty for our customers. This enables us to hold the shingle company responsible for the product we’re using. If the shingles we put on, or any of the products in the new roof system, are defective or don’t perform as advertised, the manufacturer is held accountable. The manufacturer warranty we give our customers provides coverage for FIFTY years. During this time period, our customers can get their roof replaced at no cost.
A Detailed scope of work
When you get a quote for a new roof, you should be able to understand exactly what you’re getting. Don’t settle for estimates that you don’t understand. A good estimate should lay out everything the roofing company is proposing. From tear off, to installation and clean up, make sure you know all the details.
I already noted the importance of knowing the details when it comes to new shingles, but a new roof includes a whole lot more. Are they replacing the flashing? What kind of underlayment are they using? Where are they installing ice and water shield? What if decking needs to be replaced? Paying attention to the details will help you make sure you don’t settle for any work that cuts corners.
Overall, the main themes of a quality roofing company and a quality estimate are details and up front, clear communication. Don’t sign on and settle for anything less. At Evergreen, we pride ourselves on being a company that obsesses over details. When you work with us, you know exactly what you’re getting.
If you’d like to schedule a detailed estimate appointment, you can do so here.