We turned to our highly experienced contractors for the answer! Today we’ll dive into the top key questions that you may want to pose to your roofing contractors when they stop by for an inspection.
Your Roof Inspection In Greeley, CO: What Will They Look For?
During a typical inspection, you can expect the contractors to spend at least 45 minutes inspecting various parts of your roof. The inspection will typically include a ground-level inspection, an examination from the top of your roof, and an inspection of your attic space. Your roofer will be looking for signs of damage, such as:
- Damaged, loose, or missing shingles
- Mold or mossy growths on your roof
- Structural concerns (sagging areas, rotting wood, etc.)
- Instances of water damage
- Cracks or holes in your roof
- And the presence of moisture in your attic
The contractors will then present their findings to you and take the time to discuss them in detail. During this conversation you will have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
Your List Of Must-Ask Questions For Your Roofer In Greeley
You may have contacted a contractor to come inspect your roof, but that doesn’t mean you’re obligated to hire them. Instead, you should view that inspection as a job interview. It’s the perfect time to learn everything you need to know about that contractor and to ensure they’re a good fit for the job.
The following 5 questions are a great starting point for your interview. However, you should develop your own shortlist of must-ask questions as well. This will help ensure no detail is overlooked and that nothing is left to chance.
Can I See Your Business License?
This should be the first question of your interview! You should never work with a contractor that lacks a legitimate license. That license helps ensure that your roofing contractor is legitimate and has the necessary skills to fulfill your project. It is basically a way to help protect you as a consumer from shady or dishonest businesses.
We should note that the city of Greeley does not technically require contractors to have a license for roofing projects. However, contractors still need to have a business license with the state of Colorado. That small piece of paper can make a huge difference on your roofing project.
Can You Show Me Proof Of Your Insurance Policies?
For a moment, just imagine that you’re working with uninsured contractors (without your knowledge). What would happen if something went wrong during the roofing project? If one of the roofers injures themself on your property, you may be held financially liable for their mistake. Doesn’t that sound like a nightmare?
To avoid those kinds of unexpected expenses, verify that your roofers in Greeley have insurance. Of course, roofing contractors need a wide variety of insurance policies for their business, such as commercial property insurance, a business owners policy, and so on (Embroker). You just need to make sure they have both workman’s compensation and general liability policies in place. Those policies will help keep your home and wallet protected.
Do We Need A Building Permit For This Project? If So, Will You Be The One To Get It?
Not every roofing project will require a roofing permit. However, in Greeley a roofing permit is required if the roofing is over 200 square feet total. Your roofer should be able to provide a clear answer for this question following their inspection.
Don’t forget to ask if the contractor will pull the permit for you though! As a homeowner, you should never be asked by your contractor to go acquire the permit for your project. It would be a clear red flag if they pose that request to you. It could signal that they have outstanding violations with the city, they don’t have insurance, or that their business is not reputable.
Your roofer in Greeley should handle the whole permitting process for you. And the permit costs should be included in the roofing estimate that they provide you with following the inspection. If they’re trying to pass this responsibility onto you, it’s likely the best choice is to look elsewhere for roofing services.
What Did You Find During Your Inspection?
Reputable roofing contractors will walk you through every detail of their inspection. They will touch on the areas they visited, the areas they didn’t, pressing concerns, and minor issues. In short, their findings should be incredibly thorough. To ensure no detail was overlooked, you may want to ask additional questions, such as:
- Did you find shingle granules in my gutters?
- How did the flashing look around my chimney?
- Do you believe there is inadequate ventilation in my attic space?
- Did you spot any water damage on my fascia or soffit boards?
It is likely that you’ll ask multiple contractors for a roof inspection in Greeley, CO. Compare the findings from each contractor against one another. If one fails to report issues that others brought to your attention, you might want to remove them from your shortlist.
How Will The Payment Be Handled?
If your roofing contractor is asking for an entire cash payment upfront, take them off your list immediately. You should never pay for a roofing job upfront. That request is a big red flag that suggests the company is not legitimate. Just imagine if they botch the roofing job, but you have already paid them upfront.
Reputable contractors may ask for a deposit upfront. However, the full amount should not be paid until the job is completed to your satisfaction. Your initial deposit should not exceed one third of the total cost of the roofing project.
If you submitted an insurance claim with your provider to cover the roofing expenses, you’ll have to cover the payment of the roofing project. Assuming your claim is approved, your provider will then send you a check to reimburse you for the repairs.
Schedule Your FREE Inspection With A Top Roofer In Greeley
Customer service is one of our top priorities at Ethos. When we stop by a roofing inspection, our contractors will take the time to thoroughly discuss all of their findings and provide detailed answers to all of your questions. We live and breath all things roofing, so we are always happy to talk with you about anything regarding your roofing system. We’ll go the extra mile to ensure that nothing is left unclear to you.
Contact Ethos Roofing & Restoration today to schedule your FREE roof inspection in Greeley, CO.