Roofing FAQ

Buying a roof can be one of the most expensive and critical decisions you will make to insure the value, structural integrity, and safety of your home. It is the single most important component of a house that protects you and your family from the outside elements and ensures the longevity of your asset. Quality, integrity and communication are the keys to a successful project. We recommend the following check list to find the right roofing company partner.

• Make sure the roofing company has a permanent address, telephone number and business license. (beware fly by night companies, they cannot honor a warranty and future repairs could increase the cost of the roof exponentially)
• Verify the company is properly licensed and bonded in accordance with state requirements by verifying a contractor on the Labor and Industries website. (if they are not you may be liable for injuries and/or damage caused to and by them while on your property)
• Get proof of liability insurance coverage and worker’s compensation certificates.
• Ensure ALL employees AND subcontractors are covered by Labor and Industries Industrial Insurance
• Ensure that company has been in business for a minimum of 15 years (solvency matters and if they have not weathered an economic storm the likelihood that they will be out of business within a few years is highly probable – your warranty is only good if they remain in business and there is little to no recourse beyond the validity of the company)
• Make sure you have a written proposal that describes the project in detail including an approximate timeframe and payment procedures. (this will eliminate any surprise charges or misunderstanding)
• Make sure you know the price the company will charge for plywood and additional hours in the event dry rot or other issues are discovered. (this can easily add thousands of dollars to the cost of your roof and is a way that some less reputable companies increase costs after they have a contract in hand)
• Ensure that the company fully explains project supervision and quality control procedures.
• Find out the name of the person who will be in charge of the job on-site and how many crew members will be involved.
• Quality and experience matter – make sure the company has ample experience with our unique Pacific Northwest weather, and with a variety of roof types such as low slope, steep slope or any unique features your roof may have. (roofing is a specialty skill and understanding the nuances of each unique attribute of product, roof design, and structure can be the difference between a very good installation and a problematic roof with ongoing issues)
• Read roofing warranties carefully to make sure you understand all the provisions, including any instances in which your warranty could be voided.
• Make sure you clearly discuss the workmanship aspect of the warranty. (this is an often misunderstood and misrepresented aspect of the warranty)
• Explore advantageous financing options and ensure that the company is willing to provide a lien release when the job is paid in full.