Choosing A Roofing Contractor: 6 Questions to Ask

It’s been a long time since you thought about your roof, but in the latest round of storms you’ve noticed a coffee stain in your ceiling and so you investigate your attic space. To your horror you’ve found lots of evidence of leaks and now you think you need a new roof but don’t know where to start.

The first question you ask yourself is “Can my roof be repaired or does my roof need replacement?”

Can my roof be repaired or does it need to be replaced? Ask Trapala Construction!

Stick with me here, and I’ll try to answer that question and also provide you with some tips on how to select a roofing contractor. (And if you are looking for a roofing contractor in Oregon I hope you’ll end up choosing us.)

First you need to find out if the roof is past it’s life expectancy and if it has received storm damage. These two questions must be answered by a qualified roofer. If the roof has experienced storm damage you might be eligible to have it replaced by your homeowners insurance.

Once you know the condition of your roof you can ask your roofer if he thinks it would be able to be repaired. Some roofs are just beyond the point of repair, but some can be saved.

At Trapala Construction LLC we always try to offer options so that homeowners have the ability to make a decision about their roof and aren’t just shoehorned into replacement without considering all the factors.

So how do you decide what roofing contractor to use?

That decision should come down to several factors, so here’s a list to help you decide:

Ask if the company is licensed

This won’t ring true in all areas of the country, but most locales (either city, county or state) require roofing contractors to be licensed. Ask if your contractor has the proper licensing and then verify it with the local licensing board. This can almost always be done online.

(In Oregon, where we are based, the licensing entity is called CCB.)

Ask if the company is bonded and insured

If the company is properly licensed, then chances are they are properly insured and bonded as well. But just ask to make sure.

Ask how long they've been in the roofing business

Sometimes an employee of one roofing company will strike out on their own and start a new company, so a new company shouldn’t necessarily be a strike against a prospective roofing contractor. But, it is important to know how long they’ve been in the industry.

I’ll take a new company with 20 years of experience by the owner, over a five year old company with an owner with no hands on experience.

Ask for references

Even in the age of online reviews, nothing beats talking to previous customers of a contractor to get a feel for how they run their business.

Ask for photos during the estimate phase

Everyone has cameras built into their phones and so this one should be an easy ask, but make sure to ask as they look at the roof.

We never mind providing some photos for a customer, but when they call days later and ask for photos that we have already erased, then it becomes a little harder.

Don't base your decision on price alone

The cost of any home repair is important and will surely factor into the final decision, but more homeowners regret basing their hiring decision on price alone than any other factor.

Get two or three estimates and then if there's a substantial gap between prices make sure to ask both contractors for clarification, just so you know you are making an apples to apples comparison of quotes.

In Conclusion

We’d be happy to take a look at your roof and provide a free inspection and quote. We’ll outline the best replacement options for your roof (if necessary), help you understand what’s needed now versus what can wait, and keep your budget in mind every step of the way. Reach out today, and our reliable team at Trapala Construction will get you started with confidence.