Finding a Reliable Harrisburg Roofer

The roof over your head is literally your first defense against the outside elements. If your roof is in poor condition you risk serious damage to your whole house and all your belongings. Water leaks from snow and ice can do some serious damage to the entire structure of the building. Left in disrepair the cost of having the damage repaired will only grow over time. If you call a qualified Harrisburg Roofer as soon as you notice a problem you’ll actually be saving money by preventing further damage.

Replacing a roof can be expensive no mater what kind of roof you have. The roofing materials are only a small part of what you’ll pay. The main expense will be for the services of a a Harrisburg Roofer. Roofing is a skilled trade that calls for knowledge in several areas including carpentry, house framing and math. Finding a Roofer is the easy part. You might meet with a few obstacles however, as you seek a competent Harrisburg Roofer.

The Harrisburg Roofer is in Here Somewhere!

You have a number of options when it comes to finding a qualified Harrisburg Roofer. One of the best places to start your search for a Roofer is by asking your family and friends. Find out if someone you know has worked with a Roofer before and if they were pleased with the results. Check out the work first hand. If you get a good feel for what you see and the homeowner is pleased, go ahead and ask for contact info.

Check your phone directory’s yellow pages under “Roofing Contractors” or visit your local home supply center. A qualified Roofer will often leave business cards on a bulletin board supplied as a courtesy by the home centers. Searching for a local directory for a good Harrisburg Roofer via the web is a quick source. Normally it is the professional that goes to the extent of getting listed.

Once you’ve gathered your prospective Roofer’s names, it’s time to do some comparisons. The Better Business Bureau will have helpful information as far as a Roofer with a not so pristine past. Contact the state contractors’ licensing board to assure that the Harrisburg Roofer you have in mind has adequate licensure. If you find there are complaints or questions about the status of any Roofer’s license, you should probably cross him off you list.

The Harrisburg Roofer Interviewing Process

Take some time to talk with each Harrisburg Roofer about your job. The interviewing process is important as you get to know a little of his personality and whether this is a job that he can handle. Good communication between you is of course no guarantee but it certainly is a good start! Past work experience is a great place to start. The number of years of experience, a Roofer has accumulated, will be a deciding factor in whether he is the man for your job. Ask to see a copy of their state contractor’s license and make note of the number. You may need to check this later.

Current and active insurance is also something you must see. This includes general liability and workers compensation. Copies of policies and their carriers’ contact information need to be seen by you. To make certain employees are covered, call the department of workers compensation. In the case of an injury incurred during work on your home, if adequate insurance is not in place the cost to you is far more than you might think. With extensive dollar amounts that could arise it may even cost your home.

Of course you’ll want to ask the Harrisburg Roofer for references from past jobs but don’t depend on these when making your final decision. It’s not in any contractor’s best interest to give you the contact information of a dissatisfied customer. The Better Business Bureau can give you information regarding any complaints made against a Roofer. If you are told that there are complaints, you should ask how they were resolved. A single complaint should not rule out a Roofer but a series of unresolved complaints is a definite sign of problems.

Getting Your Bid from a Harrisburg Roofer

After compiling a list of roofing candidates you can request bids. Ask for a bid from each Roofer you feel comfortable with. Some people say the more bids the better but this is not necessarily true. If a Roofer feels there is too much competition he may simply walk away. In actuality, a well known Roofer could have other clients waiting while you're still in the decision process, thus you may lose a bid from the most qualified Harrisburg Roofer. Choose just a few and then qualify each Roofer from which you’ll ask a bid.

Remember when asking for a bid, you don’t want just a slip of paper with a number on it. You will need a detailed list of the job specifications and the cost for each, plus labor. Each Harrisburg Roofer will need a detailed list of what you want included in their bid and this will enable you to compare each one as they will include the same items. If one bid stands out because of a great difference, you’ll quickly see where that difference is.

You don’t necessarily want the lowest bid, but the highest one isn’t a guarantee of better service or materials either. A fair price and reliable work for it is what we all want. Always question a bid that is unusually low. A certain Roofer may have a variety of reasons for a low bid such as low overhead, fewer employees or a reduced rate on materials and can share those savings with their customers, but you need to be sure this is up front and honest.

Once you’ve selected the Harrisburg Roofer you want for your project, you should ask for a contract.