Questions to Ask a Roofer Before You Sign Anything

After a storm, or after the first ceiling stain, the phone fills with roofers who all sound alike. Everyone is licensed, everyone is experienced, everyone does quality work. The questions below are meant to tell them apart. None of them are rude, and a good contractor will be glad you asked.

Is the licence real, and does it match the name on the estimate?

Minnesota licenses building contractors, and the state lets you look up a licence number online. Ask for the number, then look it up yourself and make sure the name on the licence matches the name on the estimate and the truck. Austad Construction, for example, works under Minnesota Building Contractor licence BC320318. A contractor who dodges the question, or gives you a number belonging to someone else, has told you most of what you need to know.

What insurance do they carry, and can you see it?

Roofing is dangerous work. If a worker is hurt on your property and the contractor has no workers' compensation coverage, the claim can land at your door. If a crew damages your house, general liability is what pays for it. Austad carries both liability and workers' compensation insurance. Ask any contractor for a certificate of insurance and have your agent confirm that it is current. A photo of a certificate from three years ago is not enough.

Who is certified by the manufacturer?

Shingle and membrane manufacturers run certification programs for installers, and the strongest warranties are tied to them. A decal on a truck is not proof. Austad is a GAF Master Select Roofing Contractor and is certified with Owens Corning, Firestone, Carlisle, Boral and Fabral. Whoever you hire, ask which manufacturer program they are in, then check the manufacturer's own contractor directory instead of taking the claim at face value.

Who is giving you the estimate, and will they be on the job?

The person who walks your roof and writes the estimate should be someone who understands how the work gets done. One homeowner, Mark O., got four bids for a flat roof replacement. Austad's was right in the middle, but he chose Austad because the estimator, the business owner himself, gave the most thorough explanation of how the work should be done. The job came in on schedule. A price tells you what it will cost. An explanation tells you whether the contractor understands the roof.

What does the warranty cover, and will they be around to honor it?

There are usually two warranties. The manufacturer covers the materials, and the contractor covers the workmanship. Ask for both in writing and ask what voids them. Another homeowner, Scot J., wrote that after getting four estimates he picked Austad partly because it had the best warranty and was the most likely to still be in business to honor it. That last part is worth thinking about. A long warranty from a company that disappears is worth nothing. Austad has been in business since 1997, and extended warranties are available.

Can you talk to someone in your neighborhood?

References are most useful when they live near you, because you can drive by and look at the roof. Austad keeps references on file by neighborhood, and you can read what customers have written on the reviews page of this site. One of them, Lori F., wrote that her neighbors were impressed with the roof and with the workers. Ask every contractor how clean they leave a yard, and ask the reference the same thing.

Before you sign, ask for the paperwork below, and compare two or three estimates side by side. The cheapest bid is not always the right one, and the most expensive is not always the best, but a vague one is almost always a problem.

• The contractor's licence number and a certificate of insurance
• A written scope that names the materials by manufacturer and product line
• What happens to the old roofing, the decking and the flashings
• Start and finish dates, and what happens if weather delays the work
• Payment terms and accepted methods (Austad takes cash, check, MasterCard, Visa and American Express)
• Both warranties, in writing, with what is and isn't covered

Austad Construction offers free estimates, free hail damage inspections and free commercial roof inspections, and answers calls and emails the same business day. The shop is at 182A Ryan Ln in Little Canada. Call (651) 482-0070 and bring your list of questions.