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How to pick a Tacoma roofing company

It’s never an easy task to find a Tacoma roofing company. There are an abundance of contractors that serve the area, and finding the right one requires a lot of due diligence. Making sure you pick a reliable and reputable company will not only ensure that your job is done with quality, but that your property will be protected while the work is being done. We’ve put together our top tips for narrowing down a Tacoma roofing company.

Review their social media pages
Review Their Social Media Pages

If you ask any roofing company what they think of their business and their quality of work, there’s no doubt that they’re going to say they’re the best. With social media, real customers can post reviews about their experience with that company you’re researching.

Nowadays, the majority of roofing companies have a social media page, whether it’s Yelp or Facebook. Prior to making the first step in contacting a Tacoma roofing company, you can read reviews from past customers to gain insights into whether the company is reliable and puts in quality work.

Find out if they are licensed and insured

Before moving forward with any Tacoma roofing company, you want to make sure that whoever you choose has both your home and their company protected. Specifically, there are three credentials you need to inquire about and confirm they have.

License: The first credential you need to inquire about is whether the company is licensed. Companies spend hundreds and sometimes even up to thousands of dollars to maintain their contractor license. Serious companies will also do everything they can to protect it, and hiring a licensed company gives you an advantage. If a job isn’t completed to standards, you have the ability to report the company, and that company may risk losing their license.

In addition, having a license is especially important because Washington state requires all roofing contractors to be registered with the Department of Labor and Industries. You can verify if a company is legally registered in Washington State with an up-to-date license by using the Department of Labor and Industry’s online verify tool.

General liability insurance: Even the most reputable roofing company has accidents because anything could go wrong with home repairs, which is why the second credential you need to inquire about is general liability insurance. For example, if an employee accidentally dents your gutter or damages the flowers in your garden while on the job then the company will be responsible for covering for that damage.

When you’re inquiring about general liability insurance, make sure the company gives you a copy of their liability policy—don’t just simply take their word for it. Don’t also forget to ask them for the exact amount they’re covered for to make sure that they’re not lowballing their policy.

Workers’ comp coverage: The last credential to inquire about is workers’ comp cover, which covers the company’s employees. If any employee injures their arm on the job, and the company doesn’t have workers’ comp coverage then you may be liable for covering that employee’s medical costs because the injury was incurred on your property.

There are some companies that will either opt out of or are stingy with their workers’ comp coverage, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. If a company is willing to take chances on their employees’ well-being then there’s a good chance that they’re willing to take chances on the quality of their roofing job.

Pay attention their communication style

Are they responding to your phone call or email in a timely manner? Did they send you the documents you asked them to send?

If you answer no to any of these then that’s a big red flag. You want to work with a company that values and prioritizes communication. If a company is unresponsive or doesn’t follow through after your initial contact with them then imagine how they’ll approach the roofing job. You’ll want to work with a company that is responsive and communicative because roofing is a big job, and there are many moving parts involved.

Ask them how they’ll protect your property
Ask Them How They’ll Protect Your Property

The next step in picking a Tacoma roofing company is to inquire about the measures they will take to keep your property protected from any damage.

Gutter protection: When a company is doing a roofing job, employees simply can’t lay heavy ladders against gutters, as gutters aren’t meant to take on that extra weight. Doing so could lead to dents and damages to the gutter. Confirm that the company will use stabilizers or something similar to protect your gutters.

Landscape protection: You’ve put in a lot of work to maintain a beautiful landscape, so you want to make sure that it stays protected during the job. The key is to ask very specific questions. Here is a list of some of the questions to ask:

  • Where will you store heavy equipment such as ladders?
  • Where will old shingles and refuse go?
  • What will you do if an employee damages the landscaping such as trees or flower bed?
  • Will the deck and patio be covered during the job?
  • Will you bring a container for refuse?

The answers you want to hear is that equipment will be stored on non-grassy areas. Your landscaping, deck, and patio will be covered as needed. Any refuse will be placed on a tarp then deposited in a container or they will go straight into the container from the roof. In addition, companies should also bring their own container so that you won’t be responsible for hauling it off yourself.

Ask them what will happen if it rains
Ask Them What Will Happen If It Rains

Whatever the season, rain is inevitable in Tacoma. Since your roof is your home’s frontline defense against the weather, you’ll want to make sure the company has a plan to protect the interior of your home while it’s vulnerable during a roofing job. For example, an irresponsible company will use plastic sheeting to cover your roof, while a responsible company will use tarp or underlayment.

Another thing to keep in mind is that rain sometimes doesn’t last for just one day. Here are questions to ask to make sure the company has you covered during extensive rain:

  • Will the company send someone by every few days to make sure the covering is still protecting the home?
  • Will someone come by to further secure the covering if a windstorm is approaching?
  • Do you have a 24-hour emergency line in case the covering becomes loose?

Finding a Tacoma roofing company isn’t a daunting process when you know what to look for. Make sure the company puts out quality work, is communicative, is licensed with the necessary credentials, and has plans in place to protect your property—rain or shine.

If you’re looking for a Tacoma roofing company, give us a call at [company_phone] or fill out our contact form.

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