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The Best 10 Questions to Ask a Roofing Contractor Before Hiring Them

July 20, 2020

Choices are good. No one wants just one option, but choices can also be overwhelming.

In Oklahoma alone, there are 260 endorsed commercial roofing companies. So, how do you choose the right one?

This article will walk you through the best 10 questions to ask a roofer before deciding which commercial roofing company to hire. We will tackle each question one-by-one.

Are you a licensed commercial roofing company in your state?
Do you have the required commercial roofing insurance policies?
Do you provide written estimates?
Are you certified by the manufacturer to install the products on your proposal?
Are you a local commercial roofing company and how long have you been in business?
Are you going to remove my old roof and what are you going to do with the debris?
What will be done if there is inclement weather while my roof is being repaired or replaced?
How long will it take and what is your process for cleanup?
What types of warranties will I have on my roof?
How will I pay you for this project?

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1) Are you a licensed commercial roofing company in your state?

Every state has its own regulations and license requirements, but it is important to make sure the commercial roofing companies you are interested in are in good standing in your state.

In our local market of Oklahoma, all commercial roofing companies have to be registered, in good standing, and commercially endorsed with the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board. You can check out the Oklahoma CIB website to check if a roofing company is following these regulations.

It’s a major red flag if they are not, and our recommendation would be to avoid working with them.

2) Do you have the required commercial roofing insurance policies?

Insurance requirements vary between states, but all commercial roofing companies must maintain adequate insurance under the Workers Compensation Act .

In Oklahoma, General Liability and Workman’s Compensation are required. The minimum requirement for liability insurance for commercial roofing companies is $1,000,000.

When choosing a commercial roofing contractor, you have the right to ask for a copy of their insurance with you listed as a certificate holder.

3) Do you provide written estimates?

Always ask for important documents, like estimates, in written form.

The estimate you are provided will be a contract between you and the commercial roofing company and should be a detailed written estimate with a clear scope of work and list of materials.

The roofer should sit down with you and cover all aspects of the estimate so you have a clear understanding of all that will be done.

ASK QUESTIONS if you do not understand any aspect of the estimate. A great contractor will patiently answer any questions you may have.

4) Are you certified by the manufacturer to install the products on your proposal?

Many manufacturers award certifications to commercial roofing companies who complete in-house and online installation training courses specific to their roofing products.

In most cases, the level of certification is based upon years of demonstrated experience and meeting the quality standards set by the manufacturer.

Think of these certifications like the ultimate third-party review. Customer reviews are helpful—but manufacturer endorsements are like gold. After all, a manufacturer is putting their reputation on the line by certifying a contractor.

5) Are you a local commercial roofing company and how long have you been in business?

These are two key questions to ask a roofer you are considering.

Making sure they are local and established will ensure that if there are any issues later on, they will be there to resolve any problems.

You can also do some homework and research them online.

Do they have a website?

Have you read their reviews?

Are they a local or nationwide company?

6) Are you going to remove my old roof and what are you going to do with the debris?

This is a great question to ask a roofer because the old standard of roof replacement used to be a “layover.” Today, on commercial roofing projects, only two layers of roofing are permitted. Make sure that the commercial roofing companies you are considering are not planning to save money on their end by doing a layover that will not be permitted.

When it comes to removing the old roof materials, most commercial roofing companies use trailers to haul away the debris. Some companies use roll off dumpsters, which are large containers that can sometimes damage driveways and may take longer to be removed.

If this is a concern for you, make sure to ask the roofing company about this and where they plan to place the roll off dumpster.

7) What will be done if there is inclement weather while my roof is being repaired or replaced?

Make sure your roofing contractor has a plan for bad weather. The best roofing contractors only tear off what they are able to re-install that same day.

Ask the roofing contractor about their weather policy. Many contractors will not tear off a roof if there is a 20% or more chance of rain in the forecast. And we all know the weather-person can be wrong at times, so all roofing contractors should have tarps and seam tape with them to quickly ward off unexpected weather.

8) How long will my roof repair or replacement take, and what is your process for cleanup?

Make sure to ask how long your roofing project will take. If you have no reference for length of time, you have no way to know if the roofing contractor is moving at the right pace or too slow.

When the project has been completed, debris from the job, especially nails, can be a big concern. Discuss the company’s clean up process before the project begins so you know exactly what they will be doing to make sure the area surrounding your building is safe.

The best way to ensure that there are no nails left behind is for the roofing company to run a magnet over the entire area.

9) What types of warranties will I have on my roof?

Typically there should be two types of warranties on your new roof.

Commercial manufacturer’s warranties can range from 10-year material warranties to 30-year no dollar limit warranties.

The second type of warranty that should be offered is a workmanship warranty provided by the commercial roofing company.

This covers any defects in installation and workmanship for a period of 2 to 5 years. All reputable commercial roofing companies will offer this type of warranty on commercial installations.

Make sure you are well informed on all warranty information prior to signing any agreement.

10) How will I pay you for this roofing project?

Always ask this question to any roofers you are considering.

Most commercial roofing companies will either request a 50% down payment upon material delivery or they will invoice you 100% after the job is completed.

NEVER pay anything prior to materials arriving and NEVER pay 100% until the job is satisfactorily completed.