After having hired a roofer, there are a lot of things you should think about in order to ensure that the repair job will be well done. Ideally, you should create a checklist of what you want in a contractor before you hire someone.
However, all is not lost if you’ve already made your choice. Simply ask the contractor to speak with you openly about their plans, and make suggestions along the way as needed.
Getting your metal roof repairs is extremely important for the comfort and safety of your home, so let’s have a look at what you should be watching out for to make sure the job is done right.
Ask the Contractor for References
This is crucial for your safety, as well as for ensuring that you’re getting quality work done. First of all, getting a reference that you can check yourself will let you know how trustworthy the company is.
The last thing you need is to hire a group of people that will end up stealing from your house. Additionally, the reference will speak of how well the individuals work. If their former clients are happy with the job, it’s a sign they’ll be great to work with.
Problems can arise at any point, and you can always learn something from every issue that goes wrong. If something went wrong after the repair, was the contractor willing to come back and fix the issue or not? This is the type of information you should be looking to gain from a reference.
Don’t Go by Word of Mouth: Get It All Written Down
When discussing the terms of the job with your contractor, make sure that everything is written down in a contract. This is especially important if something goes wrong, so that the people you hired won’t end up making terms up along the way.
However, even if everything goes according to plan, you might end up having to pay more than you initially agreed. Having it all written down in a contract will prevent that from happening. Additionally, it will prevent many other inconveniences on your side.
Where Is Your Money Going?
This is extremely important to check. Ask your contractor for a breakdown of how the payment you’ll be making will be used. A part of it will be used for paying the people who will be completing the job.
However, the biggest portion of it should be used for the purchase of materials. Copper, aluminium or steel can get pretty expensive, and this is why the majority of your payment should go into their purchase.
If this is not the case, it’s a big red flag for you. You might be overcharged for the job, and in this case, your best bet is to go with another contractor.
Another thing that might be happening is that the materials used are not of the highest quality. Again, this is quite problematic, because you should aim for getting a repair that will last as long as possible.
Have the Professionals Check the Base Before Proceeding
Most roofing contractors will do this without you asking. However, asking about it will ensure you that this has been done, while also letting you know more about your roof’s situation.
Your roof’s underlayment should be both leak-free and solid. If there are any areas of mildew, or soft spots on the sheeting of the roof, it’s a problem.
Repairing the actual roof without taking care of these issues first will essentially be a waste of your money. If this is the case, get your underlayment replaced first, and then proceed.
Check the Materials Used
You should ask your contractor about what materials they’re planning to use. Before you do that, however, you should know a few things about these materials.
Steel is the most common choice when it comes to metal roofs because it’s the most durable, and also costs less generally speaking. However, steel has to be coated with zinc or an acrylic top coating, otherwise it will corrode.
If your roof has more complex designs, the material most likely to be used is aluminium. Being lighter, it’s also easier to work with.
However, it’s also more expensive, and despite the fact that it doesn’t corrode, it’s usually coated with epoxy. This is in order to make its appearance more pleasant.
Keeping in mind these checklist items will ensure that the repair job will be the best one possible. The quality with which the work is performed is crucial, and so is the safety of your home. As such, keeping these things in mind will lead you to results that will last.
