Roofs are expensive, and nothing is more irritating than paying good money for repairs or replacements just to find a leak a month later or find out that the work was shoddy at best.
The best way to avoid that is to ensure you’re working with the best roofing contractor possible. You’ll get the results you need, and you’ll save yourself a lot of money and headaches compared to constantly trying to fix little avoidable issues.
Here are our tips to help you choose the best roofing contractor in Charlotte, NC.
1. Qualifications
The first thing you need to look at with any contractor you consider is whether or not they’re properly qualified. The state doesn’t allow just anyone to climb up on a roof and start making structural changes that could potentially destroy someone’s house or create a dangerous situation.
The friend of a friend or that guy in his garage offering a deal that’s too good to be true might seem cheap. That’s the thing, though. It’s too good to be true.
Certification, a dedication to code compliance, and general proof of formal education are all necessary when you let someone work on your roof. This is especially important for major work like a full roof replacement, where even small mistakes can lead to big expenses down the line.
2. Check Online Business Reputation
One of the easiest ways to see if a potential roofer is a good choice is to get on your phone, Google the company, and start reading their reviews or any interesting articles that pop up.
There’s an unfortunate trend in business that you can use to your advantage. Happy customers aren’t the ones who leave reviews the most. It’s hard for a company to get good reviews with stellar service.
However, when someone’s upset, they make sure everyone knows. If you find a fair number of negative reviews or online sources describing poor practices, you know to move on.
Of course, one or two less-than-stellar reviews aren’t automatic evidence of a bad company. Just like 100% glowing reviews aren’t typically the most honest.
You have to use common sense and understand when someone’s being unreasonable, and you should still use a couple of the other methods we’ll be talking about to make sure a bad customer doesn’t steer you away from a good company.
3. Their Previous Results
You can’t argue with results. If a company has been working in your area for a while, they’ve likely done a lot of roofs around you.
Get out there and talk with your social network. See who did their roofs, how they feel about the work, and of course, take a look at the work for yourself.
If one of your neighbors is having roofing problems just a couple of years after they had their roof worked on, you probably don’t want their contractor unless there’s a good explanation.
If they had a great experience and love the results long-term, that’s usually a great sign. That’s the kind of work that suggests your new roof will last long and won’t need attention again anytime soon.
You want to use this in tandem with other methods to avoid taking bad advice, such as hiring a local DIY enthusiast. It’s just another bit of information to help narrow down your options.
4. Call Your Potential Contractors
Just choosing the first contractor you find is not recommended. You probably have a little list of potential contractors who have good reputations you’ve discovered. Well, give each one a call and talk to them about your roofing needs.
This simple phone call is going to give you a lot of information.
First, you’ll get a good idea of how they treat their customers. If the phone rep is unprofessional, you can’t expect much more from the actual team.
You’ll also be able to ask for a rough estimate if you have a good understanding of your roof’s details. This is not going to be accurate until they send a team member out to inspect the roof. So, don’t think the estimated price is set in stone.
However, if you ask how much it costs on average for them to replace the roof on a 1000 square foot home, you can compare those to see who is priced more competitively.
On top of that, you can ask some questions about qualifications, services offered, etc. This information should be on their site, but giving them the opportunity to give you more information directly is always a good idea. Don’t forget to ask whether they offer a variety of financing options to help ease the cost of your roofing project.
5. Get a Quote
Price is not everything. Sometimes, a price can be too good to be true. However, it’s still a major factor that you need to weigh against other parts of their service.
Asking for a quote does not lock you into a commitment. Simply tell them you’re having a roofing problem and want to know how much it will cost, and they’ll almost certainly send someone out to look at it. When the inspector is done, you’ll get a quote.
While they’re there, it’s a good opportunity to ask whether they can also repair or replace your gutters, since this is often needed alongside roofing work and can prevent future water damage.
Don’t automatically pick the lowest price. Make sure you check their reputation, qualifications, etc. Then use price to help you make a decision.
The company that meets all your needs is the one you call back and start making a deal with.
Consider Charlotte’s Number One Roofing Contractor for Your Roofing Needs
Now, we just gave you all the tips you need to find an amazing roofer, and we’re going to give you a head start on following those tips.
Macaw Construction Services is Charlotte’s most trusted name in roofing, and we’ve been serving the Charlotte, NC community for years. A lot of the best-looking roofs you drive by every day are roofs we’ve put together.
We offer transparent service that is customer-driven and designed to give you long-term results. Beyond roofing work, our team handles everything from expert siding repairs and gutter cleaning and replacements to window upgrades and custom-built decks.
We’re the best at what we do, and we’re confident that our tip list will lead you back here. If you’re looking for roofing services in Charlotte, contact us today and let’s schedule your free inspection or consultation to get started!
