“what fun this is” said the lady of the house after the beer smelling, dirty jeans, tar covered roofer gave his sales-pitch on why she should hire him to do her roof. Nobody enjoys hiring a contractor to do a project on their home and roofers seem to be the worse of the bunch to hire. Allot of roofers have less than a positive reputation in the remodel industry and choosing the right one for you is can be tricky. Getting estimates from roofing contractors can be a challenge, some have prices sky high and some down so low that the customer cannot figure out what they are getting for their money. Some contractors play games with numbers, gimmicks only to jack things up during the job later with surprises. Dry rot charges and extra roof layers can be some what estimated but make sure to have the hourly rate per man in writing on the contract.. Some contractors use products that may be lesser grades and again you the customer is left trying to figure out the puzzle. One thing that is also common is your contractor going out of business. Who do you call if something goes wrong? Who do you call?

Lets start with how you choose a contractor for a bid. This will require a little homework if you do not know or trust anyone in the business.

	Seek only a licensed contractor to work on your house.
	Check contractor's license number by calling The state license board, for California call (800) 321-2752.
	Get the contractors insurance information.
	Choose contractors you know and trust.
	Ask your neighbors who did their roof and if they were happy with the job.

   Now it is time to call and make an appointment. If the contractor is on time that is a good thing. This means he respects your time and keeps a good schedule. This is an important test as to how the job will run. A good schedule during the roofing process is important since there are many things that must happen. The tear off followed by delivery of material and installation corresponding with timely inspections. If one gets delayed the whole job can drag out for days. In the winter months this is not a good thing.

Next, does the contractor assess your needs and is he prepared to offer you a variety of products with a price range to fit your budget?

Can he provide financing? 

Does he explain in detail how the project will be done?

Will sub-contractors be used on this job? It is common to have sub-contractors that do specialty trades like material deliveries, gutter work or tear offs. If yes, make sure they have the proper license, training and insurance while on your property. All workers and suppliers on your job have rights and could lien your property if not paid by the prime contractor. Protect yourself by asking for a lien release from them before final payment is made.

As the proposal moves along are you comfortable with the contractor? Does he explain about warranties both Material and Craftsmanship?

Ask how long his company has been in business and where his place of business is located?

When reviewing the contract does it spell out what the scope of work will be in a clear and understandable way?

Does you contractor get a building permit and schedule the proper inspection?

Finally, ask questions. Don’t let the contractor bully you around with strange words and odd terms. Remember you are the boss. They work for you.

The bottom line is, feel comfortable with the contractor. Do your homework before you call. Sometimes it is worth paying a little more get the value you and your family deserve. It is always better to do it right the first time than using the cheapest contractor and finding out you made a mistake. Yes, it is a hassle choosing a contractor but an even more hassle if you don’t ask the right questions and choose the wrong contractor.

This is a link too an updating page with a roofing picture and comments regarding it.

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