Selecting The Right Roofing Contractor

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roofing-contractor

Buying a new roof system is an important investment. Before you spend your money, spend some time learning how to evaluate the roofing
contractor who may be doing the work. The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) wants to assist you in getting the kind of
results you expect—a quality roof system at a fair price. You should insist on working with an NRCA-member professional roofing contractor.

All roofing contractors are not alike, and NRCA recommends you prequalify roofing contractors to get the job done right the first time. The
following guidelines will help in your decision:
• Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax identification number and, where required, a business license.
• Insist on seeing copies of the contractor’s liability insurance coverage and workers’ compensation certificates. Make sure the coverages
are in effect through the duration of the job. (Note: U.S. workers’ compensation laws vary by state. Consult your state’s laws
to determine workers’ compensation insurance requirements.)
• Look for a company with a proven track record that readily offers client references and a list of completed projects. Call these
clients to find out whether they were satisfied.
• Check to see whether the contractor is properly licensed and/or bonded. Call your state’s licensing board for your state’s specific
requirements (where applicable).
• Insist on a written proposal and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and specifications, including approximate starting
and completion dates and payment procedures.
• Check to see whether the contractor is a member of any local, state, regional or national roofing industry associations, such as
NRCA.
• Call your local Better Business Bureau to check for any complaints that have been filed.
• Have the contractor explain his or her project supervision and quality-control procedures. Request the name of the person who will
be in charge, how many workers will be required and the estimated time of completion.
• Carefully read and understand any roofing warranty offered and watch for provisions that would void it. Keep a healthy skepticism
about the lowest bid. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Remember, price is only one criterion for selecting a roofing
contractor. Professionalism and quality workmanship also should weigh heavily on your decision.

NRCA, a nonprofit trade association, is one of the construction industry’s most respected organizations and the voice and leading authority
in the roofing industry for information, education, technology and advocacy.

NRCA offers a service to help consumers locate NRCA-member professional roofing contractors in specific geographic areas. NRCA’s website
allows roofing consumers to search for roofing contractors by ZIP code, type of roof system and radius; it also provides a wide range of
information and services to help building owners and homeowners make informed decisions about replacing and maintaining their roof
systems. This information can be obtained from NRCA’s website at www.nrca.net