Consumer Facts
• Seven Questions Everyone Should Ask A Contractor 
• Evaluating A Contract
• Details, Details!
 
Seven Questions Everyone Should Ask A Contractor
Today, there are many companies that claim they can handle your roofing needs. At APEX Roofing, Inc. we have built a solid reputation over the years through building with excellence. We believe with every project, that it should be done "The Right Way, The First Time." The following is a list of seven questions that every home owner should ask when working with a roofing company.
1. What is the full name and address of the company?
Getting the complete address of the company can be an important factor in determining a company's time in business. If a post office box is given, ask for a full street address as well.
Try to hire a contractor that has an office nearby. The likelihood of quicker service is greater if the company is based near your home.
2. Does the company carry insurance?
A contractor should carry comprehensive liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance to protect you in the event of a roofing accident. This can be verified by asking to see the contractor's certificates of insurance (worker's compensation and general liability). Let the contractor know you want current certificates sent to you by the insurer before the job is started.
Contractors may also carry other kinds of insurance including health, life and auto insurance. Bland assurances of insurance coverage may refer to these. Don't be confused. Ask for proof of general liability and workers' compensation coverage for roofing projects.
Worker Accidents. Be aware that if a worker is injured on your property, the homeowner might be held liable for all costs unless the employee is covered by workers' compensation insurance. Hospital bills for serious accidents can be extraordinarily expensive.
Contractors who carry insuranceand follow safety guidelines on fall prevention endure higher job overhead costs. These expenses could be the cause of price variations between contractors who follow the standards versus those who ignore them.
Uninsured Contractors. Roofers who do not carry insurance will most likely be cheaper to hire as they do not have the large insurance premiums to pay. Workers' compensation premiums can increase wage costs from about 20% to as much as 100%, depending on the state.

There are a variety of reasons why full insurance may not be carried by a contractor, such as:

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Not a full-time contractor

Operates as a partnership or self-employed without employees

New in the business

Can't afford insurance premiums

Doesn't stand behind work

It is up to you to determine if it is worth the risk to hire a contractor who does not carry insurance.
3. Is the company an accredited or licensed contractor?
When you pose this question, you are, in effect, asking if the contractor is licensed by your state and/or city.
Not all states require contractors to be licensed. If your state does license contractors, then he might have had to pass a written examination in his specialty, although few licenses make this a requirement. A number of cities also require professional licensing. Check with your local licensing authority for details.
A contractor may also answer this question by telling you he has a business license. However, a business license is a tax requirement only and is not directly relevant to the contractor's competence.
Several roofing manufacturers offer a variety of programs to professional contractors that establish their credentials as a knowledgeable roofing company. Homeowners can view a contractor's credentials as another indicator of their degree of knowledge, professionalism, and dedication to the roofing trade.
4. How long has the company been in business?
Needless to say, longer is usually better. Under three years may signal an unstable business or one low on the learning curve.
On the other hand, everybody has to start some time. References will be helpful to double check any business, and are especially important when dealing with a new business. A newer business may have a great future but it is only reasonable to be more careful when considering its referrals. The failure rate of small businesses in the first three years is very high.
5. Will the company provide referrals or references from previous jobs?
• Ask for photos of completed work, if available. Keep in mind, however, that many roofers will not have photos.
• Request a list of 10 names and phone numbers of recent customers (last 12 months). It is not necessary to check all 10, but you will be able to pick randomly from the list those you do call.
6. What is the company's workmanship warranty?
Typically, contractor workmanship warranties are for one year or more. Longer warranties arre not necessarily more valuable than shorter warranties. The length of the warranty is less important than the intent and ability of the roofer to stand behind his warranty. That is best evaluated using customer referrals. Ask his customers specifically for information about these four things: 1) Did he perform his work on a timely basis? 2) Was he responsive when asked for information and changes? 3) Did he act as if he cared about the customers interests? And finally, 4) would you call the company trustworthy?
The roofer will warrant his workmanship. The manufacturer, on the other hand, warranties the roofing materials against the defects in manufacturing. Thus, two warranties will cover the shingle roof system. Understand them both. Ask for a copy of the manufacturer's warranty pertaining to the specific shingle products you are considering.
Usually, problems of either workmanship or material show up very quickly. Therefore, the near-term warranty given by the contractor or manufacturer is more important than the warranty coverage during the later years of the warranty.
Even if problems of workmanship arise after the workmanship warranty has lapsed, a reliable contractor usually will want to stand behind his work.
7. What is the company's track record for solving customer complaints?
• Try to find out how your contractor handles problems when they do arise. Request a referral from a job that involved a complaint.
• Ask the contractor if he has ever lost a job-related court case.
• Ask if the contractor's license has ever been suspended & revoked and why.
Also, in talking to the appropriate authorities, such as the Better Business Bureau and licensing departments, find out if any complaints have been filed against the contractors who you have interviewed. Many contractors in business for any length of time have been involved in a dispute. Ask how the dispute was resolved, to test your contractor's reputation.
 
Evaluating A Contract
 
Before you get to this stage, you will have received from the roofer either a job proposal or an estimate. Estimates and proposals can be very different approaches to your project.
What is an Estimate?
To simplify, an estimate will typically offer a single price, a generically described product, a color and no options. This is traditional and legitimate. But it isn't consumer-friendly.
What is a Proposal?
Simply put, a proposal is a tenative agreement for a project. It offers a choice of products by brand name, prices, services and even designs. Many other provisions may also be included such as change order conditions and financing options. The homeowner should expect three product choices. These could be presented in the typical range of good, better and best.
Appropriate product literature and samples should also be offered. In conclusion.
 
Details, Details!
 
Most contracts for roofing work are simple and straightforward. The larger or more experienced contractors may have longer, more detailed contracts. Regardless of the form of agreement, you should read all of the specific items in the contract carefully.
Misunderstandings are more often the cause contract disagreement rather than actual dishonesty or incompetence.
It is in your best interest that certain items which are important to you be stated in writing in the contract. The following are some of the basics that should be covered:
Compliance with local codes or ordinances

Will they be observed? Are permit costs included? Who will obtain the permit? What about provisions for posing zone notices? Have inspections been planned?
Product choices
Have you been offered a choice of shingles? Are they identified by brand and manufacturer name? Is there a clear reference to the warranty which will cover the shingles to be applied? Is the manufacturer's name for the color of the shingle you are buying stated in the contract? Do you understand the difference in the aesthetics from one shingle to another (including not only color but also texture, style, construction, reinforcement and UL ratings)?
Scheduling
Start and stop dates are difficult to pin down due to the unpredictability of the weather. But you can control exceptions.
For instance, negotiate a "no-later-than" clause. Be reasonable, but do make it clear that these terms will be inforced if necessary. If early completion is important, offer an award for completion by and early date in addition to a no-later-than clause. NOTE: Some state laws require an no-later-than clause.
Right-To-Rescind
This clause establishes a time period in which the homeowner can cancel the contract without penalty. Some states require such a clause in contracts. Check with your local authorities.
Three days is usually the time period given for a right-to-rescind without penalty. If the homeowner cancels the job after the right-to-rescind period ahs elapsed, then the contractor may request a certain dollar percentage value of the contract in return.
Manufacturer's warranty specifications
Confirm that the Agreement states that all workmanship will conform to the requirements of the manufacturer's warranty and installation instructions. Especially take note that this includes ventilation requirements, fastener requirements, low slope installation terms and ice damage protection. All such terms are normally found on the shingle packaging, or will be found on manufacturer's literature available from suppliers.
Contractor's workmanship warranty
Make sure this is clearly noted in the contract.
Clean-up
Call for a daily clean-up of the premises. This becomes very important if shingle tear-off is necessary.
Payment Terms
Schedule, terms and method of payment should be written out fully with no room for misunderstandings.
Preliminary Inspection
Finally, agree to an inspection before the job with the job supervisor. Establish the condition of the property before any work is done. Take special care to list the conditions of landscaping and equipment located under or near the roof eaves. Do not be unreasonable on your expectations. It is not possible to reroof a house without some damage to landscaping. Discuss and agree on what is reasonable.