Introduction
Burlington is consistently ranked as one of Canada’s best communities and best places to raise a family. With plenty of green space, a strong community spirit, great business opportunities, and low crime, the city is an ideal location to establish a local business or a family home.
For both residential and commercial buildings, a robust and well-maintained roof is vital for enduring the extremes of Ontario’s summers and winters. Whether you are a repair, upgrade, or completely new roof, how do you find the best roofing company in Burlington?
How do I choose a reliable roofer?
There are a lot of factors that go into finding a reliable roofer for your commercial or residential property. These are the most important things to think about:
Specific Experience
Different types of roofing all involve very different skills to maintain, repair, and replace. Make sure your roofer has plenty of experience working on the same type of roof that you have to ensure they can complete the project smoothly without any hiccups.
Thorough Inspection
Roofs are rarely completely standardized, and often have quirks to their design or faults you never knew about. As a result, you need a roofer that will thoroughly inspect the project and provide you with clear photos and explanations of every issue. This is true for any work you get done on your property, but especially roofing, as you may not be able to easily access the area and inspect it for yourself.
Get A Detailed Quote
A clear and detailed quote doesn’t just tell you how much a project will cost, it should give you a full breakdown of every cost from labor and materials to waste disposal, site facilities, and equipment hire.
Besides giving you a better understanding of a project’s payment structure, this breakdown will make it easier to understand the cost of changes in scope and budget accordingly.
Don’t Pay Upfront
While some roofers will ask for an initial payment of up to 25% for larger projects, it is certainly not normal for contractors to ask for the full payment upfront. This means they will not have an incentive to get work done in a timely manner, and in the event of a mistake, it could be harder to get the situation resolved satisfactorily.
Talk To Past Customers
If a roofer is confident in the quality of their work, they will be more than happy to provide you with a list of references you can talk to about their previous projects. Besides the property owner’s overall satisfaction with the project, ask about the contractor’s communication style and how any issues during the project were resolved.
Read Their Case Studies and Testimonials
Case studies of past projects can tell you a lot about a roofing contractor, as they provide clear examples of how the company approached a particular problem and resolved it according to their customer’s needs. Look for case studies with plenty of detail about the specific project being tackled, as these can show off the level of expertise a contractor has with a particular type of work and their flexibility in working with their customer. Vague or generic case studies can suggest the contractor approached the project as a by-the-numbers job with less consideration for their client’s preferences and requirements.
Check the Online Reviews
Most roofing contractors will share customer testimonials and previous projects on their website, and while these can be great sources of information, it is a good idea to also check their customer reviews on third-party sites such as TrustedPros or Better Business Bureau to get the full picture.
Besides using the overall ratings to get a sense of a contractor’s quality and professionalism, reading individual reviews, both positive and negative, can tell you a lot about what it is like to work with a particular company.
What are the things I need to consider before selecting a roofing contractor to replace my roof?
Unfortunately, there are more than a few roofing contractors around that are not fully qualified and licensed to work on your property’s roof. You can’t always spot which ones are legitimate at first glance. Here are some tips to help you find a roofer you can have full confidence in:
Find Out About Their Insurance
It is easy for any company to claim they are fully licensed and insured, but you should ask to see evidence of this insurance.
It is important to make sure roofers are covered for any liability issues that might come up during the project. If an uninsured contractor is injured on your property, you might be considered liable to pay them compensation.
A legitimate roofing company will be able to provide you with physical copies of their up-to-date bonding and insurance.
Ask Questions
A great way to tell if a roofing company knows their stuff is to ask them questions about your project or their business. Reputable contractors of any trade will be glad that you care about finding quality contractors, and glad of the opportunity to discuss their business and show their expertise. If they try to dodge your questions or get frustrated by your curiosity, this can be a sign that they don’t want their knowledge and skills to be examined too closely. Even if they are perfectly competent, this kind of approach to communication can make a contractor difficult to work with.
Vague Or Rushed Contracts
The contract you agree with a roofing contractor should clearly outline the project, including all of the little details. Don’t agree to a contract that doesn’t cover everything, as a verbal agreement for how parts of the project will be handled can create misunderstandings and disputes later down the line. Similarly, be wary if a contractor wants you to agree to a contract before you have discussed the project in full detail or had an inspection of the area.
Unforeseen Damages
A common ploy among less reputable contractors is to create or exaggerate damage, structural issues, and other complications to add additional costs to the project. Always get inspections and quotes from several companies to make sure you are getting an accurate assessment of the problem, and what needs to be done to fix it.
Can you negotiate a roofing estimate?
Yes. If you have estimates from multiple contractors detailing the work and costs, this will put you in a better position not just to negotiate the contract, but also to discuss ways to reduce the overall cost of the project. If a contractor has offered you a fair price then they may not be able to budge on the cost of the project, but they might be able to provide some minor upgrades or extra services.
Should I show the roofer my insurance estimate?
Yes, although you are not required by law to do so, it is usually a good idea to show your roofing contractor the insurance estimate after they have inspected the damage and given you their own estimate. Sharing your insurance estimate with your roofer can help you out in several ways:
- If the roofer discovers damage or past work that is not up to code, they can alert your insurance company and get you a better estimate to cover the necessary repairs.
- The insurance estimate gives roofers a better idea of how much of the repairs will be covered, and they can make recommendations to work within your budget.
- Roofing contractors can help you get the money you need from the insurance company, and discuss supplementary payouts with them if needed.
How can I get a new roof with no money?
If your insurance policy doesn’t cover the work you need, you still have options to pay for a new roof, such as by getting a personal loan or home improvement loan from your bank. Alternatively, you can arrange to pay off the cost of your new roof in monthly installments. For example, Custom Contracting offers project financing starting at repayments of just $60 per month, with no down payments.
Conclusion
The roof is one of the most important structural components of any building, making a competent and reliable roofing contractor vital to ensure that repairs are carried out correctly and upgrades add value to your property. Whether you are in need of roofing work or a residential or commercial building, Custom Contracting is one of the most experienced and meticulous roofing contractors in the area. Get in touch today for a free, no-commitment virtual consultation or in-home appointment to discuss your roofing project.
