By: Tom Ingram, Coastal Windows & Exteriors
Ladies and Gentlemen, spring has finally arrived! Many of us New Englanders have never been so thrilled to experience the joys of spring. Saturday baseball games, green grass, blooming flowers, and a cool spring breeze show we’ve weathered one of New England’s worst storms. However, like thousands of Massachusetts homeowners, after enjoying hot dogs and drinks at the ballpark, you return to a home damaged by record-breaking snowfall.
Ice dams have caused massive amounts of damage to the interiors and exteriors of many homes in the North East. In a perfect world, being able devote hours of your time researching companies and meeting with them to decide which contractor best suits you would be amazing. I highly doubt that one would make a wrong decision if that was the case. The fact is, most people lack time to carefully choose a roofing company that protects their home; moreover, urgent snow damage forces rushed, risky decisions.
Now you may be wondering ‘why is picking a roofing contractor such a scary thought?’ According to the Better Business Bureau, “Construction and Remodeling Services” ranks in the Top 1% of most customer complaints received!
Do you know which of the many construction projects rank the highest complaints for the entire industry? You guessed it, ROOFING! Don’t get me wrong, when a new roof goes onto a home, it almost always looks amazing. However, one in three Angie’s List members who took an online poll and had roofing work done say they had an issue with their contractor or developed a roofing problem down the line. Nearly 70% of those who took the poll stated that “shoddy work” was the problem. Others reported issues like price gouging, lack of insurance or licensing, or contractors taking their money and running; therefore, Attorney Generals warn consumers yearly about roofing scams. Are you scared yet?
Now that I have your attention, the question is: how do you avoid becoming a statistic by choosing the right roofing contractor? After all, a new roof protects a costly asset and can cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. It’s a huge investment and should be (although in most cases it isn’t) a one-time investment. I’d say that a pretty big deal!
Simple Tips for Finding the Right Massachusetts Roofing Contractor:
1.Get a Reference
One of the hardest parts in choosing a contractor is trusting they will do a great job; therefore, ask friends and neighbors for trusted recommendations. Simply put, ask if they’ve had their roof done. If so, questions that you may want to ask are: Were they happy with the job that the contractor did? What was the experience like? Would they work with the contractor again?
<p><p>Just think about it: would you choose a chain restaurant with constant TV ads, or would you prefer the local spot your friends rave about Monday? Why should choosing a contractor being any different?
If you are new to a community and do not have this avenue, look on trusted websites. Companies like GAF have what’s called GAF Master Elite Roofing Contractors. These are contractors that the manufacture GAF trusts to install a manufacture backed lifetime warranty (only 2% of roofing contractors in the nation qualify for this!). Another trusted resource is Angie’s List which has the Super Service Award only give to companies which have maintained “A” ratings for customer reviews.
2. Do Your Research
If you have identified at least three qualified roofers, you should start to investigate each of these roofing contractors. Contacting your local chamber of commerce is a quick and easy way to check to see if there are any outstanding complaints filed against the company in question. When investigating these companies, you also want to make sure that they are fully licensed and insured. In the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a roofer is not mandated to be insured before they get their license. God forbid someone were to fall off of the roof in any circumstance, but if a worker were fall off of your roof and the contractor was not insured, guess who’s covering their workman’s compensation? YOU!
3. Meet with the Prospective Contractors
Now that your list of prospects is narrowed down, have them meet with you. Feel out the personality of the contractor. The contractor should be excited to meet your needs to provide you with an excellent service. Also, make sure you make a list of questions that are your greatest concerns when it comes to the roofing process. Any reliable contractor should be able to answer all of your questions without hesitation. I understand that speaking with an expert in a field you may know little about can feel intimidating.
Do not hesitate to ask questions that could ease you through the selection process. If it’s important for you to know an answer, just ask the question! A reputable MA roofing contractor should be able to professionally ease your concerns with an answer. You may want to ask questions like: Which materials are being used on the roof, and why? Have you done other jobs in the area I can look at? Do you have references that wouldn’t mind speaking with me personally? What weather proofing prevention methods will you use besides the basic shingle application? How long will this project take? How many workers will you need for a project like this? What kind of warranty will you receive when the project is finished?
4. Get the Work in Writing!
Work should never begin without a signed contract that clearly details all aspects of your new roofing system project. A contractor promises specialty work, protect yourself by getting it in writing. If the contractor lacks proper documents, then you must request an addendum or work order specifying your unique job details; therefore, trust is key. If the contractor’s spoken word is so strong, they shouldn’t have any issue putting it in writing. A reputable Massachusetts roofing contractor should always request every job detail in writing to protect both the homeowner and himself as a business.This will make the process as smooth and painless as possible.
5. Good Roofing isn’t Cheap, Cheap Roofers aren’t Good
Sticker shock is a big problem in the roofing industry. This happens because the industry has changed significantly in the past 20 years. With that change, products are becoming more expensive. Research and development have made many advancements that can provide you with a better looking, longer lasting roof. Manufacturers improve the quality of products and refine the methods used to install them. This is a far cry from nailing shingles down as a summer job.
Doing a quality roof in this day and age is not a cheap remodeling project. Great contractors nowadays install pricey roofing systems because, therefore, they can proudly put their name on the work. Also it keeps their cost down because of the rare service calls that come along with these new roofing systems. That said, if a contractor offers a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is. If a contractor bids significantly lower than others, then he is most certainly sacrificing quality, materials, or workmanship on your project.
<p>Craftsmanship/labor (hiring day laborers or under-qualified workers for installation for cheaper wages), Product (not replacing all old products like flashing or using extremely cheap products that are not suitable for a long lasting roofing system), or Warranty (changes license number often so warranties do not exist for those problems you’ll see down the line). Without getting technical in the multiple graphs you’ll see on websites, remodeling magazines and relator publications, simply ask yourself: What is the value of my home?
Do I think paying amount of dollars for this roof is giving me the peace of mind that it will protect my number one investment? After all, you’re not just gambling with your money, you’re also gambling with your home and everything that the roof should protect inside your home. Spring finally has given us the sigh of relief we’ve all needed – days of clear skies, near perfect weather and the satisfaction of driving with your windows down listening to your favorite tunes. Winter has finally left; however, she left her mark on Massachusetts homeowners. Spring has sprung, and roofing season has begun! When choosing your roofing contractor in Massachusetts take these steps to ensure you make the right choice. Above all else, trust your intuition.
Good Luck!
Resources:
www.angieslist.com/articles/roo-rip-beware-scams-shoddy-contactors.htm
www.gaf.com/roofing/residential.htm
