How To Find Roof Repair Specialists

A roofing project can be one of the most important — and costly — projects that a homeowner can take on, so why leave such an important job to a contractor that may not be able to do the job well? After all, you need experience and know-how on your side if you want that roof leak repair to be done efficiently — and every second counts when it comes to the roof over your head.

While some home repairs and upgrades may be elective, a roof repair isn’t something that can be put off for long. Not only does your roof protect your home and the people within from exposure to the elements, but it’s also a huge part of the value of your home, and a leaky roof can undermine the equity you’ve built up and jeopardize your home itself if left unaddressed for long enough.

Some may opt for trying to tackle a roof repair with a DIY approach, but you’ll need to call in the professionals for something as important as your roof. Here are some things to keep in mind while shopping for roof repair specialists.

Ask for Referrals

Before you hire that next local roof repair contractor, a good place to kick off your search is to ask family, friends or neighbors for referrals if they’ve had a good experience with a roof repair job. Since the average roof needs replacement or repair every couple decades, odds are your existing network already contains some good referrals to get started. Even if you don’t opt for one of the companies suggested, you’ll get a better sense of the project ahead just by talking about it.

After soliciting some feedback from your network, it’s time to do your research. In addition to verifying contact information, reach out to the Better Business Bureau or look up reviews online. If the company and its roof repair specialists aren’t up to par you’ll surely see many red flags, and you can easily use that information to pare down the list of candidates. If you don’t feel right about a certain contractor, there’s no harm in passing on their services. It’s your home and you should only let companies that have proven they can do the job to work on your roof.

You wouldn’t hire anyone to work inside your home without having a good idea for their capabilities and approach to doing the work, so why skimp on that roof repair job? Instead of going with the first company you find, an important step is to invite those roof repair specialists out to get a quote for the work to be done. It’ll give you a chance to see what kind of budget you’ll have to organize for the project, and it’s also a great way to determine who’s on top of it and who may be in over their heads.

Get the Offer in Writing

If you get any kind of quote or offer for the project, get it in writing. Most reputable roof repair specialists will communicate official offers in writing, and if you’re going off of what you were told over the phone or in passing during an in-person meeting, that offer could end up disappearing much faster than the project itself. Worse yet, you could end up in the middle of a roof repair for your Austin home that you think costs one price but that could end up costing you something else entirely.

What To Ask Your Roofing Contractor in Austin

If you’ve got a problem with your roof, you’ll need to call a roofing contractor to come out to your Austin area home and take a look. After all, a problem with your roof is a serious issue because without a properly functioning roof over your head you’ve hardly got a place to call home at all. Furthermore, what looks like a small issue could come back to bite you if you don’t get it fixed in short order — leaks can cause serious damage to the structure of your roof or even your home, so it’s important to hire the best roofing company in Austin that you can find.

The good news is that a dependable roofing company isn’t hard to track down if you know what to look for. Here are some questions that can help you in your search for a local roofing contractor.

Are you insured, bonded and licensed?

Any roofing contractor in Austin worth their salt will be licensed, bonded and insured with the proper local authorities. Licensing is crucial to be able to legally do the work in the first place, while bonding protects you from any problems during the job and enables you to get your money back if the job isn’t completed. Insurance is the final important piece and protects the company in the case of any accidents or other problems that could derail the project. But don’t just take their word for it — ask to see physical copies of their paperwork so that you can make an educated decision.

Are you a local Austin roofing company?

Some unethical roofing companies may come into the area after a big storm and try to gobble up business away from local Austin roofing contractors. But the real kicker is that they tend to do shoddy work and when they leave town to chase the next storm, you may have no recourse if the work isn’t up to par or if you have an additional need. Picking a local roofing contractor in Austin protects you against going with a national chain and all the frustrations that come with it. The easiest way to check is to ask for their address and phone number, and if you notice that they’re from another part of the state or even outside the state, you’re not dealing with a local roofer.

How long have you been in business?

While it may seem like a silly question, you can tell a lot about a company based on how long it’s been in business. Not only does it give a good indication of how many roofing jobs they have under their belt, but it also speaks to their level of professionalism and that they know what they’re doing when they take on a job. Odds are if that great low price is combined with a newer company that’s only been in business for a couple years — it’s too good to be true. You may think you’re paying less for that cheap roofing contractor in Austin, but after the job you’ll have a roof that may need fixing in short order, or it’ll take much longer and actually cost you more when it’s all said and done.

What kind of warranty do you offer?

Because the roof will be on your home for decades, you’ll want to ensure that the work you’re paying for isn’t going to come back to haunt you as soon as the job’s done. Most reputable roofing contractors in Austin provide warranties against defects in workmanship or materials for at least a few years and sometimes decades or a lifetime. The longer the warranty, the more important it is to identify a company that’s been around so that the company can honor your warranty down the line.