Your roof is one of the most important investments you will make in your home. When it comes to something as important as your roof, you never want to cut corners. We know there are many fly-by-night roofing companies out there that promise rock-bottom prices, but the truth is you get what you pay for. From our experience, going with the lowest bidder is a recipe for disaster due to the following reasons we often see: Companies going out of business, performing shoddy workmanship, using second-rate materials, not having the proper license and not being fully insured.
Often times, roofing companies will go out of business and they will not be around to honor the roof replacement workmanship warranty. The Small Business Administration reports that 80% of roofing contractors fail within the first 2 years. More so, 96% are completely out of business within 5 years. Some of the most common reasons roofing companies go out of business are poor customer satisfaction, bad reviews, Better Business Bureau complaints, poor quality work, using second-rate materials, mismanaged finances, inadequate management, poor business planning, and unexpected circumstances. It is crucial to use a trustworthy and experienced roofing company that’s been around a minimum of 5 years to ensure that you minimize the chances of them going out of business.
It is imperative before choosing a roofing contractor, you verify they are fully insured with Workers’ Compensation and General Liability Insurance. It is also a good idea to verify the insurance coverage limits. The last thing you want is to hire a roofing company without the proper insurance. You want to be sure you do not have any financial or legal liability if your property gets damaged or worse, someone gets injured while working on your property. We also recommend you verify the contractor is state and locally licensed. Lastly, it is important to use a roofing company that is manufacturer certified to install your roof system.
Established and reputable roofing companies know what they have to charge for their services to pay the necessary overhead and to make a profit in order to stay in business. Common overhead expenses that reputable and established companies incur are: A local business office, office equipment, employees, phones, utilities, vehicles, licenses, and insurance, taxes, marketing, top quality materials and labor, etc. As you can see, it takes a lot to run an established and reputable business. When a roofing bid is significantly lower than other bids you have received, that is usually a red flag meaning they are cutting corners one or more ways by using inferior materials or workmanship, they are not properly insured, or they are working out of their truck without a local office and staff.
It is very important to do your due diligence and research any company before hiring them. Don’t leave your roof up to chance by making your decision based solely on the lowest bid. Make sure to hire a local, established, and trustworthy roofing company that will always stand behind their work and will be around if you need them. If you are looking for a professional and reliable roofing contractor in Central or North Alabama that is dedicated to providing top-notch roofing services, contact us today and experience our passion for you and this industry first hand!
