Many factors affect the longevity of your roof, including local environmental and climactic conditions, quality of materials and application, maintenance practices, and roof design. While many issues can be repaired, age, excessive wear, or damage discovered during a routine roof inspection, are all clues your roof needs replacing. Regardless of the scope of the work required, hiring a professional roofing contractor can give you peace of mind, knowing the job will be done right. Asking the right questions before deciding who to hire, is the best way to ensure the right fit, and customer satisfaction; here's why. 

Protect Yourself

Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home, keeping out the elements and protecting everything inside. When you're ready to hire a roofing contractor, do your homework, starting with obtaining a minimum of three bids. While you may be tempted to stop there and go with the lowest price, that can wind up costing you more in the long run. Remember: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Money Isn't Everything

Price is just one of a number of factors to consider before choosing your contractor; the more information you have to work with, the easier your decision. Hiring a fly-by-night company, an unlicensed or inexperienced contractor, or failing to get a written estimate, can all have disastrous consequences. Asking the right questions of any roofing contractor prior to signing on the dotted line can prevent most issues. Treat the hiring process as you would any interview, asking in-depth questions such as:

1. Do you have 3 recent, local references? Call each one with a list of prepared questions, including their level of satisfaction with the job done, whether the contractor was easy to communicate with, and whether they would hire them again. 

2. What are your credentials? Ask to see proof of the contractor's licensing, bonding and insurance, and check to see that both are up to date and valid. 

3. How long have you been in business? Fly by night, or shady contractors generally don't last. A company that has established roots in the community, and spent time building a solid reputation, is worth your consideration. 

Not sure what to ask a roofing contractor before you hire? Download our free guide "Questions to Ask When Choosing a Roofing Company", for a comprehensive list to make your decision process a lot easier.