When the rains come, many homeowners find themselves with a roof problem that is an emergency. In these situations, people can be impatient and need to get it fixed immediately. Who can blame them? When it’s raining INSIDE your home, you need a fix NOW.
Fortunately, most roof contractors have a temporary solution (usually tarps) to at least slow or stop any ongoing damage that can be applied quickly. While most homeowners are satisfied with this, until a proper repair can be performed, others are more impatient and elect to find someone who will agree to do it quicker or cheaper.
This is when mistakes can be made. Everyone wants to get their roof fixed quickly, but it’s better to keep a cool head and don’t rush to hire just anyone willing to take a hammer to your roof.
It’s OK to look for alternatives if your preferred contractor is unavailable but take your time. Research thoroughly and make sure the roofer you hire is legitimate with a proven record of quality service. Failure to do so could cost you dearly.
You don’t have to be afraid when it’s time to fix your roof. Avoiding scary roof contractors and the problems they bring is easy if you follow these tips:
Avoid The Drive-by/Fly-By-Night Roofers
These guys descend on cities and towns right after a major storm and quickly talk people into hiring them to replace or fix their roofs. Unfortunately, most of the time they this “quickness” involves carelessly “slapping” the roof on (if they go that far), not taking into consideration critical factors such as workmanship and quality or even caring about compliance with manufacturers warranties. After all, when the job is done, what do they care what happens after they are gone?
Choosing an established, local roofer will help insure that the job is done right and the company will be around if future problems occur.
Ask Questions If You Are Suspicious
Some roofers will tell you the roof can be completed “in no time” or just a day or 2 but then the project hasn’t begun or ends up dragging on for days, weeks, even months, while the roofer waits for materials or for workers who are working on other roofs. You hired them to get the job done quickly, what happened?
The best roof contractors will adhere to the schedule they lay out for you and stay no longer than what is necessary to fix your roof. If your roof contractor is taking much more time than they scheduled, or they don’t start in the agreed time-frame, don’t be afraid to ask them what the problem is. If the answer seems shady, contact another contractor and have them verify the information. Avoid contractors with lots of complaints about scheduling and time on the job!
You can fire your roofer if they aren’t holding up their end of the bargain, don’t be afraid to do so if you need to!
What Warranties & Guarantees Do They Offer?
A lot of these “independent roofers” and door to door salespeople offer a “concrete guarantee”, once they leave your concrete driveway, the guarantee expires. Even with a warranty on the roofing products themselves, these may be voided if installed incorrectly. You need a workmanship warranty.
Without a workmanship warranty poor installation can void many roofing material warranties leaving you out of luck if a problem occurs. If the roofer you’re evaluating doesn’t offer a workmanship warranty or you’re not sure if they’ll be around to honor it, be wary, there are too many great roof contractors out their to take chances like that.
For more tips on avoiding roofing nightmares and finding the right roof contractor see our page DO YOUR HOMEWORK!.
Bottom line, when you have to wait a bit until you roof is repaired when these guys come knocking with all kinds of promises to get it done now, be suspicious, do your homework, and compare their offers to local, established contractors like Atlanta Roofing Specialists, and if anything seems out of line or suspicious, don’t be afraid to say no!
Do a little homework before you hire your next contractor, it could save your from having your own roofing nightmare story to tell.
In Metro Atlanta call Atlanta Roofing Specialists at 770-419-2222 for a free estimate and avoid making your roof problem into a roof nightmare!
