Tips for Choosing the Best Northern Virginia Roofer

Your home is likely the single biggest investment you have ever made, and the roof is directly responsible for protecting that investment. If it’s time for a new roof, you must find a reliable, trustworthy, and competent roofing company to install your new roof. The job is simply too important to take shortcuts on. 

However, many homeowners feel out of their depth when it comes to deciding which company to trust. Therefore we have put together a short guide to help you out.

 

Step One: Start A List

One of the first mistakes we see people make is to call the first roofing company mentioned. While you might get lucky (referrals are an excellent way to find a contractor) you will feel much more assured in your decision if you start a list and then work to weed out the duds.

As mentioned, referrals are a great start for your list. You can also check Yelp! or the Better Business Bureau for the top-rated roofing companies.

Once you have 10 or 15 names, then you can move onto the next step.

 

Step Two: Do Your Research

Nowadays, this step can easily be completed online, but if you prefer to get a feel for each operation, you can phone each office and ask:

  • What is your insurance coverage? It must cover any accidental damage to your property.
  • What are your roofing credentials? Reliable roofing companies are generally certified, not only through trade associations, but by manufacturer contractor programs.
  • What roofing materials do you use? Style Roofing only uses the top-name brands. We won’t risk the integrity of your roof with off-brand shingles. Make sure you know and trust the names they use.
  • What is your warranty like? Many companies only warranty roofs for five years, but Style Roofing warranties them for ten.

You will also want to call each company for a list of references. Even if you only call the references for your top three companies, you will gain valuable information from this step.

 

Step Three: Call To Set Up an Estimate

Once you have called the references and heard what they have to say, you can now call up each of your top contenders and set up a meeting for an estimate.

Do not settle for a square footage quote. That is only useful for budgeting purposes. With an estimate, a roofer will come out to your house, examine your roof, ask about your needs, and provide you with a written estimate. There should be separate listings for the cost of underlayment, flashing, and any other materials necessary.

They will probably also inspect your roof and your ventilation. A good roofer is very conscientious and knows that a number of important upgrades are easiest to do when the roof is off, like installing extra insulation in the attic space, and will suggest these changes with a full explanation of why they are necessary for you.

 

Step 4: Choose, but Don’t Let Your Guard Down

Once you have chosen a contractor from your range of estimates, you must sit down with them and create a work order. This work order will outline the exact materials that will be used, what will be done, and what schedule will be kept, along with the exact cost and the terms of payment.

It should also outline the responsibilities that the contractor undertakes, like supervising the roofing crew at all times, cleaning up the property at the end of every day and at the end of the job, what steps will be taken to prevent damage to your property, and who will dispose of the waste. The terms of the warranty should also be included.

If a thorough inspection wasn’t done with the estimate, it must be done now. The roofer will check out the deck, attic, flashing and any roof penetrations so that nothing is missed from the work order.

If you follow these steps, your experience with your roofing team should be pleasant and painless.

If you’re looking to replace your roof, give Style Roofing a call! We come highly recommend by over 5,000 satisfied customers and our warranty is the best in the business.

 

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