How to Shop Around for a Roof Repair Company
Tuesday, May 18th, 2010
Owning a home means that there are always projects to do around the house for maintenance and repair. Roof replacement and repair is often times a larger expense than other home projects. Since a brand new roof can be destroyed in a matter of seconds during a hurricane or other volatile weather system, homeowners may find themselves needing a roofer sooner than expected. The phone book and local classified ads are an easy way to find a roofer, but it’s no guarantee that you’re getting the best price or service. A roofing estimate from different companies will give you a better idea about cost and the services offered for that cost from different roofing businesses.
Get Recommendations and Schedule an Estimate
Talking with friends and family is a great way to get recommendations for roofers. You can also ask neighbors who have recently had roof repairs who they used and what they thought of the service. The next option is to call a few businesses found in the phone book. Schedule estimates with both large and small companies to get the best idea on prices.
The newspaper’s local classifieds section is another place to find roofers. Newer roofers and those with a smaller marketing budget may put work wanted ads in the paper as opposed to a large flashy ad in the phonebook or on a billboard. Just because a company is smaller doesn’t mean the work lacks quality.
Discuss the Extent of Damage and Services Needed for Repair
When a roofer shows up to provide a Roofing Estimate, the first thing he’ll need to know is what the problem is and how it happened. He’ll then evaluate the roof and figure out exactly what needs to be replaced or repaired. Water damage, structural damages, and shingle work are areas all included in the estimate.
The roofer will measure the roof and use those measurements to estimate how much supplies are needed and the average cost of those supplies. The size of the roof and the extent of damage will also affect how long the roofer will need to finish the job, so he will calculate labor costs into his estimate. Any extra fees, such as trash collection and dumping, will also go into the estimate.
Ask for a Hard Copy of the Estimate
You can get a general idea of the estimate verbally and then negotiate costs before he provides a written estimate. Some fees to negotiate include insurance deductibles, cheaper supplies such as edging, and disposal costs if you agree to cleanup and dispose of the materials yourself.
A jumping off point for negotiations includes another company’s estimate. In order to stay competitive and not lose out on a job, a roofer may be willing to match another roofer’s estimate or lower their initial estimate to make it more competitive.
A verbal estimate does not hold up in a court of law. A roofer must give you a written, hard copy estimate in order for it to be a contractual agreement. Once all of the negotiations are over and both you and the roofer are happy with the final roofing estimate, he should give you an official written estimate. You can fall back on this should costs rise considerably during the job. Never work with a roofer who refuses to provide a written contract.