Choosing the best roofing contractor in Killeen is crucial to ensuring a successful outcome and protecting your investment. To help you make an informed decision, here is a list of 10 essential topics to discuss with any roofing contractor before hiring them:
1. Manufacturer Designations and Certifications:
Inquire about the manufacturer designations and certifications held by the roofer. These designations, such as being a GAF Master Elite Contractor or a TAMKO Mastercraft Pro, are awarded to roofing contractors that demonstrate expertise, quality workmanship and adherence to industry standards. There are very few roofing contractors in Killeen that hold these types of industry designations.
2. Property Protection During Installation:
Ask how the roofing contractor plans to protect your property during the installation process. Look for assurances that measures will be taken to safeguard landscaping, driveways, and other vulnerable areas from damage caused by debris, equipment, or foot traffic. A few of the best roofers in Central Texas have begun adopting practices that we have offered since day-1 — for example, use products like the Catch-All Landscaping Protection System and offering services like hiring a 3rd Party Nail Sweeper. Even still, this is the exception to the rule. A good contractor will do a great job for you, an exceptional contractor will go above and beyond to leave your property better than how they found it.
3. Warranty Coverage:
Not all warranties are created equal. In general there are 2 types of warranties when you purchase a new roof. The first being a product warranty offered by the manufacturer; the second being a workmanship warranty offered by the contractor. Every shingle manufacturer offers an out-of-the-package warranty. These warranties only cover the shingles themselves from manufacturer defects and major quality control issues. This coverage is also depreciated based on the age of shingle when the defect is discovered. It also does not include the cost of labor to replace the defective shingles with a new shingles. As for workmanship warranties, it is important to ask your contractor what their workmanship warranty is. The best contractors are able to offer extended warranties that are backed by major shingle manufacturers like GAF. Ask your contractor about the warranties they offer and whether or not the warranty is backed by the manufacturer. Look for comprehensive warranties that cover both materials and labor to provide long-term protection and peace of mind for your investment. These types of better warranties are available only from contractors who have the highest designation from the manufacturer such as GAF Master Elite or TAMKO Mastercraft Pro.
4. Permits and Code Upgrades:
Ask if the roofer pulls city permits for every job and installs necessary code upgrades to ensure compliance with local building codes in Killeen and regulations. This helps to ensure roofing contractors install your roof correctly and don’t cut corners, so some roofing contractors will ignore this crucial step and avoid the necessary inspections required by the City of Killeen. By ensuring they pull the necessary permits, you have more peace of mind that your roof is installed correctly and meets all safety and structural requirements.
5. Insurance Claims Process:
Inquire about how this roofing contractor works with insurance companies to ensure customers get the coverage they deserve. Look for a roofing contractor in Killeen who has experience navigating the insurance claims process and can advocate on your behalf to maximize your benefits and streamline the claims process. Most roofers don’t even have the proper pricing software to speak the insurance company’s language. So be sure to ask them how they handle discrepancies or disagreements on scope with your carrier. How they handle this question will tell you a lot about them, their reputation with carriers and what kind of results you can expect.
6. What kind of insurance does the roofing contractor carry:
Many roofers carry at least some General Liability Insurance, but not all do. Also, most roofing contractors don’t have Worker’s Compensation Coverage, and even if they do, it only covers their employees. Why is this significant you might ask? Well most roofing contractors in Killeen (and most of Texas for that matter) have a work force made up of entirely independent contractors. Even if they do have employees, those people likely sit behind a desk and are not the ones on your roof. Roam Roof & Solar is different than others because all of our Roofing Specialists and Project Managers are actual employees – which are covered in case something terrible happens.
7. Designated Project Manager:
Ask if the roofer assigns a designated project manager to oversee your roofing project from start to finish. It is highly likely that your roofing contractor in Killeen expects their salesperson to also oversee and manage your project. Unfortunately, salespeople make terrible project managers. They are poorly trained, busy trying to find “new business” and by “checking in periodically” will not be able to provide you the same quality and commitment to excellence as a dedicated, on-site Project Manager.
8. Payment Schedule:
Inquire about the payment schedule and terms of payment. Look for transparency and flexibility in payment options to accommodate your budget and preferences while ensuring fair and timely compensation for the roofer’s services. If you are replacing your roof as part of an insurance claim, ensure the roofing contractor is familiar with the laws pertaining to insurance claims, and are following the law. Your roofing contractor will ultimately be representing you with your carrier by submitting invoices and claims related paperwork, and unfortunately, people are often looped into insurance fraud unwillingly and unsuspectingly. That being said, ignorance doesn’t absolve you from culpability.
9. Proper attic ventilation:
Any professionally trained roofer should be able to calculate your home’s ventilation needs and tailor their products and services to ensure your roof functions as intended. Unfortunately, 9 out of 10 homes in Killeen are improperly ventilated. It’s a wild statistic, but its true. This is largely due to ignorance amongst new construction builders and roofing contractors and a lack of code-enforcement from city inspectors. Improper ventilation doesn’t seem like a pressing issue during a new construction build or inspection when compared to electrical and plumbing systems but in-fact improper ventilation can lead to heat and moisture build-up in the attic causing all types of issues to accumulate over time including premature degradation of your shingles, undue wear and tear on your HVAC system, mold/mildew, increased energy costs, and more. You may be asking yourself, “If this is such a systemic problem, why does it still continue with almost every new home being built?” It’s a simple answer: home builders and new-construction roofers are primarily concerned about issues that will present within the 1-year workmanship warranty offered; and ventilation issues don’t typically present until years after that warranty is expired. On a final note: Never allow a contractor to mix ventilation types on your roof. And if they don’t know what that means, don’t hire them.
10. Recommended upgrades:
Bad contractors often the mindset “If it ain’t don’t fix it,” but often times when your roof is being replaced that is the ideal time to upgrade components that will have a huge impact on the longevity of the roofing system. Things like new skylights, new chimney flashing, better quality shingles, leak barrier around penetrations or in areas vulnerable to ice dams, impact resistant options, better ventilation, sealing the roof deck, extended warranties, etc., should all be discussed prior to choosing a roofing contractor for your project. When the shingles are torn off is the best time to install these items and a good contractor will make recommendations and tell you your options ahead of time.
By discussing these essential topics, you can confidently evaluate potential roofers and choose the best roofing company for your roofing project in Killeen. Don’t settle for anything less than excellence when it comes to protecting your home or business – choose a roofing contractor who is knowledgeable, experienced, and committed to delivering quality results. At Roam Roof & Solar, we are committed to providing world class customer service and ultimately the best roofing experience to our clients in Killeen. If you have any questions or concerns about your roof, please give us a call today!
