10 Tips to Find a Reliable Roofing Contractor Near You

Getting a new roof is either an exciting situation or a very stressful one depending on whether you were looking to get the replacement or repair done. However, regardless of the situation, it’s no cheap investment.

With the average roof replacement costing around $10,000 in the San Diego area, it’s certainly not something you can take lightly.

The most important decision you’ll make when looking at repairs or replacements for your roof is who is doing the job . A good contractor can make the entire process smooth and easy, and a bad contractor can leave you underwhelmed even after thousands of dollars in expenses.

So, how do you find the right one?

Here are ten tips on how to find a roofing contractor .

1: Ask for Friendly References

One of the first steps you should take to find the best roofing contractor in your area is to ask those you’re close to who might have had roofing work done in the past .

This can be friends, family, or even your HOA if you live in an HOA neighborhood.

You should do your own research, but if you trust the people you’re asking, you should get a few references that will narrow down your search to a few options instead of a ton of them.

2: Check the Online Reviews

This is a big one; especially if you don’t have any friends or family who have gotten a roof replaced before.

Go through all the roofing companies in your area, check the star ratings Google or whatever search engine you’re using gives each one, and then make a list of the top 5-10 options with 4 to 5-star ratings .

Once you’ve done that, head to whatever online reviews you can find . Yelp and the BBB are common sources. This will give you a bit of insight into the experience other customers have had.

Be careful, though.

While online reviews are great, some companies find ways to censor their reviews , and some prior customers can be disgruntled for no reason. Try to only heed credible reviews whether they’re good or bad. If it sounds like over-the-top rambling, it probably is. Photo evidence of any claims is also a good thing to look for.

3: Know the Local Requirements

Contractors have to meet a variety of requirements to operate. Any random guy with a hammer and nails can claim to be a good roofer, but the fact is, there are legal requirements, and you only want to hire a roofer that meets those requirements. Handshake deals with random people usually create bad results.

The requirements vary depending on where you are. So, look them up on your state’s website. The information you gather will come into play in our next tip.

4: Pick the Top 3 Options

Once you’ve gone over reviews and found at least three contractors that might be good options, write those down. You’ll probably find your perfect contractor within those options .

Now, take the requirements information you gathered, and check the company’s website. Most contractors will proudly show off their certifications online. If anything is missing, call the contractor to confirm whether they have a specific qualification or not.

5: Get a Consultation

This is a massive investment. So, don’t hire anyone just because their website looks good. Contact all three of your top options, and schedule a consultation. Typically, someone will come out to look at your roof.

This is a key moment . Not only will you get the quote for the job, but you’ll also be able to see how that company conducts itself. Remember, the person coming to your home is a representative of the entire company. Pay attention to their professionalism. If you’re not comfortable around them, scratch them off the list.

6: Compare Quotes

You’ll need to compare quotes from each of the companies you got consultations from. Now, it’s important to note that the lowest price is not always the best. So, don’t immediately go with the cheapest option .

You’ll want to compare the value that each service provides for that price. The highest-priced option might cost significantly more, but it might also have 30 more years of service in the community with a better reputation. Weigh the pros and cons of each option in comparison to the quote provided.

7: Know Your Project

We know that many homeowners aren’t familiar with roofing and might not understand exactly what their roof needs; especially in emergency replacement or repair situations when things happen unexpectedly.

However, if you know exactly what you want done, it will help you find the right contractor.

Contractors usually don’t offer every possible option . Some might not work with metal roofs, some might only use certain types of shingles, and there are various other things that differ between companies. If you know what you want, you can rule out options that don’t offer what you want.

8: Listen to Recommendations and Suggestions

If you’re dealing with a good contractor, they won’t just walk up to your house, look at it for a moment, and make a bid. They’ll conduct an in-depth inspection to ensure they understand the full scope of the project, and then they’ll run everything by you while explaining the situation.

If the representative performing the inspection doesn’t or will not do that, there’s a good chance you want to look for someone else.

9: Ask About Payment Options

Ask each of your options whether they allow for financing, what their rates are for financing, and if there are any other options available . Unless you have the money to pay for the roof upon completion, this can be a financially disruptive project; again, that’s usually a problem when emergency repairs are needed. 

If you’ve been looking forward to it, you likely won’t have to worry about this as much.

Whether or not this matters depends on your situation. So, use your judgment .

10: Check the Contract and Compare it to Necessary Project Requirements

Finally, once you’ve done all of this stuff and narrowed it down to one option, you’ll need to go over a contract . The contractor will write this up once you’ve formally approached them to hire them.

Your contract should outline all the costs, work to be done, and other details such as payment agreements .

Make sure this aligns with what you spoke to the contractor about during the consultation AND what you know about your roof. If it’s not in the contract that they have to insulate it, but you expect them to, don’t sign it. If you see that anything is off or doesn’t match what you agreed to, don’t sign it unless they rectify it.

This is the final step before you schedule a date, and a lot of people get anxious and rush, but it’s important to go over every part of the contract.

Get Your Roofing Done with Dana Logsdon Roofing and Solar