Your roof is a vital part of your home. Whether you’re doing roofing repairs or a full roof replacement, these roofing services deserve quality service to help ensure they last for years to come. Finding a reputable and trusted roofing company can be a challenge, especially given how many companies claim to be professional roofing companies but offer subpar work.
Many homeowners can have hesitations when it comes to choosing a roofing company. In order to help you know what to look for in a professional roofing company, we’ve created a list of characteristics and signs to look for.
What Signs to Look for When Choosing a Quality and Professional Roofing Company
Roofs can have a lifespan of up to 30 years when properly maintained and cared for. Your roof will need to be inspected at least once a year, and it’s recommended that if any roofing repairs are needed, they be done as soon as possible to prevent them from getting worse and costing more. When choosing a roofing contractor, there are many signs to look for that will help you weed out the bad ones and highlight credible and quality professional roofing companies.
Look For Professional Credentials
One of the first elements of a good professional roofing company is its employees’ credentials. To be a registered and certified roofer in Alberta, a professional roofer must have certain certificates.
This includes:
- A registered apprentice
- A certified journeyperson
These two certifications are required by law to ensure the individuals working on your roof have the proper training and knowledge to complete the jobs safely. It’s always recommended that you ask any roofing contractor if their employees are certified and if you like to see their pocket certificates. In Alberta, qualified tradespeople will have government-issued certificates called pocket certifications that certify they have undergone the appropriate training for their respective trades.
Insurance
When you hire a roofing contractor to complete roofing services, you’ll want to ensure that they have the proper insurance coverage. This coverage will not only protect the workers, but also you.
You’ll want to verify that the roofing contractor can prove they have the following insurances:
Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) Coverage: You can verify this by asking to see or getting their WCB number. This insurance helps cover any minor or major injuries that a worker has a possibility of sustaining while they are working on-site.
Liability and Property Damage Insurance: This insurance covers you and the roofing in the event that there is damage that occurs to other people’s property because of the roofing service. It helps protect you from some forms of liable legal action since it is designed to cover all workers on the premises.
You’ll want to avoid roofing companies who cannot provide you with insurance documents and certifications. It’s a good idea to request to see these documents rather than taking someone’s verbal assurances. Any quality, professional roofing company will have no problem being transparent with providing evidence and certifications to you.
Transparent Pricing
Quality roofing companies are able to deliver their services at a reasonable price. Now, depending on the kinds of services you are looking to have completed, you should be wary of companies that quote unreasonably high or low prices. A high quote price does not always equate to premium quality services. On the other hand, contractors that hand out “too good to be true” prices can appear very tempting. However, they usually do subpar work.
A good roofing company will be transparent with their pricing and be able to explain all the work they’ve outlined. You should be able to understand the breakdown of all the services, cost of materials, labour costs, and any other expenses. Some roofing companies may try to confuse homeowners by throwing in unfamiliar roofing terms in an attempt to bill for unnecessary extra services. However, a trustworthy contractor will explain what services are necessary and which ones they recommend that will help you save money in the long run.
Warranties
You’ll want to look for a professional roofing company that offers both warranties on their materials and products, as well as their workmanship. It’s important to make sure you understand your warranty agreements since each one can have a different set of terms and conditions.
Here at A. Clark Roofing and Siding, we only use time-tested, guaranteed product materials and products that have a 30 to 50 warranty, and all of our roofing services come with a 5-year workmanship warranty.
Reviews, Testimonials, and Portfolios
One of the best ways to check a company’s reputation is by going through its Google reviews and seeing what other customers have said previously. Online reviews and testimonials can be a clear indication of how a company treats their customers and what their completed work looks like.
You can also ask the roofing company you are looking at for any testimonials as well as a portfolio of their previous work. Any company that claims to have done numerous jobs and projects should have no problem backing their claims with evidence.
Signs of An Unprofessional Roofing Company
To give you a quick overview of what indicators show an unprofessional roofing company, you’l want to avoid companies that do the following.
- Don’t provide a written contract. Never take a verbal contract in place of a written one.
- Door-to-door contractors who happen to be in your area and offer exaggerated discounts on roofing services.
- Contractors who offer quotes without seeing your home in person.
- Demand a large down payment to buy materials (most reputable contractors maintain charge accounts with their suppliers).
- Refuse to give you a written contract outlining what they will do.
- Cannot confirm a start and end date for their roofing services.
- Cannot verify and certify their insurance papers or worker’s certifications.
Quality Roofing Services From Alberta’s Most Trusted Roofing Company
There are plenty of companies who claim they are the most reliable, trustworthy, and quality roofing company out there. It’s different when they can actually back their claims. Here at A. Clark Roofing and Siding, we have been one of Alberta’s most trusted roofing companies for over 70 years. We have numerous professional certifications and affiliations that have recognized our commitment to service and our customers.
Thousand of homeowners have trusted us with one of the most vital parts of their home for years. We understand the financial investment and functional necessity that is encompassed with roofing services. This is why we offer elements like workmanship warranties on all our roofing services and free quotes that are always designed with transparent pricing.
To learn more about our roofing services or to get a free, no-obligation quote, contact A. Clark Roofing and Siding today!