Hiring a Roofing Contractor
Hiring a Roofer can be Complicated, but it’s Not Impossible
When you are considering hiring a roofing contractor, there are many things to look out for. By using some common sense and a little investigative know-how, you can avoid some of the issues common to most bad experiences.
Within this article we will provide many of the questions you need to ask, and some of the best moves to make to ensure that your roofing experience is a good one.
We are insured. Most roofing contractors will carry insurance that will cover any accidental damage they may inflict on your property, as well as employees who may be working on your project.
Many licensing agencies will require certain levels of insurance based on the projects they take on. A good contractor carries a current insurance policy that can be verified with a phone call to the agent.
We’ve been in business over 15 years. A general rule of thumb is that the longer a contractor has been in business, the better they are. But this is not always the case.
Oftentimes a contractor who is just starting their business is a talented installer who decided to go out on their own. So while length of time in business can be helpful, you will need to decide if you are comfortable with someone who is just starting out.
We have references available upon request. Past customer experiences are a great way to learn more about a roofing contractor. If they have a long list of great testimonials, you are more likely to be happy with their services.
If you are happy with the service you receive, take the time to write a testimonial for the contractor. They will greatly appreciate it.
We encourage you to go online and read our Google reviews. It is becoming much easier to find reviews of companies online, and roofing contractors are no exception. Doing a bit of research on a company in advance can save you a great deal of headache in the future.
Ask For Photos of Past Projects
Ask to see photos of past projects, whether they are on their website or simply on their phone. This is a great way to see what they have done in the past, and to ensure that they have actually completed the projects they have undertaken.
Use Common Sense
Putting some thought into your decision in advance can save you a great deal of difficulty in the future. You should hire a company who meets your expectations and with whom you are comfortable.
Cheaper is Not Better
Contractors who offer a price that is substantially lower should be given a great deal of scrutiny. Make sure that they are going to be installing the same quality products, and doing it in the same way. Money is only saved by cutting corners, not carrying insurance or a license and can often have a profound effect on the outcome of your project.
What Type of Roof Work Do You Need?
GREEN ROOFING
(click + to learn more)
COOL ROOFING
Cool roofing is a roof that reflects sunlight and heat away from the building on which it is installed. The roof itself stays cooler and keeps the heat from radiating into the structure.
Air conditioning equipment does not have to work as hard, and has the potential to significantly impact your electric bills.
Think of how a white t-shirt keeps you cooler in summer, while a dark shirt will absorb heat and keep you hotter.
Are all Cool Roofs White?
Not all cool roofs are white or light colors. While a white roof reflects both visible and near infrared light, they are a more popular product, but there are membranes with darker pigment that are designed to reflect only the non-visible portion as well. Keep in mind that a white roof membrane will remain cooler than a pigmented roof and result in more reflection.
Will I Save Money on Electricity?
Saving money on your electric bill with cool roofing will depend on a few factors. Small roofs on tall buildings have less of an effect on energy savings than a large roof on a one story building. The more roof you have protecting your building, the more effective a cool roof can be.
Reduce Thermal Shock and Extend Roof Life:
Thermal shock occurs as the sun heats the roofing membrane during the day, and the rapid cooling in the evening. This causes your roof to expand and contract and will reduce the life of the roof itself. Thermal shock is greatly reduced with a cool roof membrane by reducing the expansion and contraction that happens daily.
ROOF GARDENS
Versico Garden Roofs
Versico has positioned itself as one of the top single-ply roofing system suppliers in the U.S. by focusing its efforts on quality products and exceptional service. Versico was instrumental in the development of today’s leading technologies in the commercial roofing industry.
With nearly 30 years of experience in the single-ply roofing field, Versico is able to offer you time tested, proven solutions for your roofing and waterproofing needs. This trend continues with the introduction of Versico’s comprehensive line of roof garden products. Versico’s roof gardens provide building owners with a wide variety of vegetative roofing options. The single-source roof garden options provide numerous benefits, including:
• Maximized property value
• Improved storm water management
• Increased air and water purification
• Superior sound insulation
• Energy efficiency
• Extended roof life
• Added aesthetic value
• Possible federal, state and local tax incentives
Keep Cool on a 90º Day
Reduces Urban Heat Island Effects
Heat islands can occur in large cities where much of the vegetation has been removed and replaced with roads and structures. In such urban areas, studies indicate that weather patterns can be altered by the presence of developed space.
Roads and building rooftops absorb a significant amount of heat during the day which, in turn, is radiated back into the atmosphere, causing further warming. Roof gardens help insulate and shade buildings, and the plants on green roofs transpire, thereby cooling the atmosphere around them.
Carlisle’s Roof Garden Systems
Carlisle’s Roof Garden Systems provide a variety of waterproofing options with a full line of accessories to ensure a high-performance system for virtually any type of application or building type.
We offer both traditional, planted-in-place Roof Garden options as well as a diverse line of modular systems. Our vegetative options vary based on project location to ensure that every Carlisle Roof Garden features plant varieties suitable for the climate while offering customers a multitude of options for customizing their rooftop to their own tastes and needs.
Advantages of Roof Gardens
- Storm water run-off management
- Reduces urban heat island effects
- Adds valuable/useable space providing economic benefits
- Reduces rooftop noise infiltration by up to 40dB
- Energy efficiency year-round
- Air and water purification
Firestone Skyscape
Alternative systems: 21st-century approaches
The new Firestone EnviroReady™ Roofing System and Warranty lets building owners install a high quality conventional roof today and upgrade it with green roofing technology tomorrow.
Firestone’s Red Shield warranty keeps new EPDM or TPO systems “enviro-ready” for responsible upgrades for up to 7 years after initial installation. This exclusive program covers inspections before and after installation of new green upgrades.
One such upgrade is garden roofing, which moves the green advantages of vegetation to the top of the building. Firestone facilitates this innovative solution by manufacturing the EPDM and TPO membranes that give the system a durable, reliable foundation.
As a result, installation and maintenance also become easier and more cost-effective. Similarly, PV panels offer solar-energy solutions for small- and large-scale construction. Our EPDM and TPO membranes also come with the traditional assurances that only a leading roofing manufacturer can offer.
SOLAR ROOFING
Certainteed Powermax Solar Roofing
PowerMax® – Rooftop power…Curbside appeal…And the most beautiful bottom line in solar power.
PowerMax® combines sleek aesthetics and innovative Copper-Indium-Selenium (CIS) thin film technology for the most efficient cost-to-power ratio in the industry.
Benefits on Your Roof
PowerMax® Premium Class Photovoltaic modules are designed to hug rooflines with stylish, jet-black panel arrays that produce world record efficiency with respect to other thin film solar technologies in installed-power-per-area generation capacity.
- Highly efficient with half the energy payback time of conventional crystalline technology
- Outstanding performance, even in low light and partial shade
- Sensational curb appeal with sleek black finish, tightly mitered corners and concealed mounting clamps
- Robust construction and high snow load capacity (113 lbs. per sq. ft.)
- Class C fire rating
- Ease of installation provided by built-in mounting lip
Benefits in Your Bill… and In Your World
PowerMax performs… with significant energy savings, reduced carbon emissions, and the highest electricity conversion efficiency for thin film solar modules in the world.
That means it will generate some or all of the electricity your home uses during the day, plus more when your home isn’t drawing on it. And if you don’t use all the electricity your roof makes, the excess power flows back through your meter into the power grid, causing your electric bill to go down even further.
And all that power generated through sunlight is power that coal, oil or nuclear energy doesn’t have to work for.
METAL ROOFING
Metal Roofing provides the beauty and longevity that your home needs. At Mastercraft Roofing & Construction, we can custom fabricate your panels so that your roof is literally made to specifically fit your roof perfectly.
Colors to Match:
We know that choosing a roof color can be difficult, but the experts at Mastercraft Roofing & Construction will be happy to walk you through the process to ensure that you get a new roof that compliments the aesthetics of your home or office and provides the protection you desire. We offer a myriad of colors and styles that will add beauty and functionality that will last for many years to come.
Longevity is Built In:
Metal roofs are known for their ability to withstand high winds and other damage, and when installed properly metal roofing is one of the longest lasting systems available.
Panels Built On-Site:
We have the equipment to form your roof panels at your location in almost any style and will quite literally manufacture your roof next to your home so that the process is fast and accurate. This reduces waste and the time it takes to make panels specifically designed to fit your home.
A Great Investment:
The long life cycle of metal roofing means that your investment will probably cost you less money over time than traditional roof systems. Be sure to ask your sales representative to explain how your new roof will save you money.
Free Metal Roof Estimate:
We will be happy to provide you with a no-obligation estimate on your new metal roof and explain the options we offer that will add the finishing touches to your home.
Get a Free Estimate
SHINGLE ROOFING
Certainteed Shingle Styles/Colors
What’s your roof protecting? Your family. Your possessions. The integrity of your house. All under one roof. All protected by the same investment. When you choose Certainteed Shingles, you make the decision that assures the beauty, durability and security of your home for generations.
Certainteed takes roofing to a higher level. Shingles are engineered to outperform ordinary roofing in every category, keeping you comfortable, your home protected and your peace-of-mind intact for years to come with a transferable warranty that’s a leader in the industry.
GAF Shingle Styles and Colors
GAF offers you many great lifetime shingle choices including Timberline Shingles with advanced protection technology. They’re the #1 selling shingles in North America!
Advanced Protection Technology results in superior protection for your home, while reducing the use of precious natural resources. That’s better for your home – and better for the environment.
Atlas Shingle Styles and Colors
Atlas shingles, as well as their limited warranties, are available in a variety of levels to accomodate each individual homeowner. Atlas limited warranties for asphalt shingles range from 30 Years on GlassMaster 3-Tabs up to a Lifetime Limited Warranty on the Pinnacle and StormMaster product lines.
Atlas also offers homeowners the option to upgrade to the Atlas Signature Select® Roofing System where you will receive increased premium protection coverage for your roof when you choose to install qualifying Atlas shingle accessories and underlayments. If you are interested in the best warranty for your new roof, ask us about Atlas Signature Select.
Owens Corning Shingles
Since 1977, Owens Corning has been a leading manufacturer of shingles and accessories for the residential roofing market. Though best known for our PINK® Fiberglas insulation, Owens Corning is also a leader in the roofing market.
Since Owens Corning invented glass fiber during the 1970s, it has become the material standard for shingles, and is used by most shingle manufacturers. The fiberglass composition of roof shingles plays an important role in protecting homes from moisture and other weather-related elements.
Tamko Shingle Styles and Colors
As consumer lifestyles change priorities continue to shift, one thing remains constant. Tamko is always there – working to address the needs of roofers and homeowners.
Every day, Tamko is dedicated to providing products that add installation speed and convenience, enhance energy efficiency and provide more color and design options.
IKO Shingle Styles and Colors
Founded in 1951, IKO began as a small manufacturing plant in industrial Calgary. A family-owned enterprise, we made waterproofing materials the old-fashioned way: by soaking kraft paper with asphalt and by applying asphalt to paper-based felt.
There was an immediate demand for our products. With the post-World War II building boom, young families flocked to the suburbs to fulfill their dream of homeownership. We knew they deserved the very best roofing materials so just two years after opening, we introduced rolled roofing and later, asphalt shingles.
Customers loved our high-quality shingles. We expanded across Canada, continuously investing in our employees and technology to improve our products and modernize our business. By the late 1970’s, our operations extended throughout Europe and the U.S.
Pabco Shingles
PABCO® Roofing Products began manufacturing premium asphalt shingles in Tacoma, Washington in 1984. PABCO quickly earned a reputation for producing quality products and providing excellent customer service. Our product offerings have expanded over the years – including Paramount® Advantage, Paramount®, and Cascade™, which was awarded U.S. Patent No. D589, 172S for its unique design – but our commitment to quality has remained, and is one of our core values.
PABCO Roofing is a division of PABCO® Building Products, LLC, which includes PABCO® Gypsum and PABCO® Paper. Building Excellence through Our People, Meaningful Relationships, and Superior Quality is the shared vision of the sister companies.
PABCO Gypsum manufactures a full line of commercial and residential wallboard products and PABCO Paper manufactures industrial paper for various uses, including gypsum liner, corrugated boxes, tubes, cores, and pink bakery boxes. These diverse offerings demonstrate PABCO’s commitment to innovation and using our resources to deliver the quality products that our customers desire.
Get a Free Estimate
Dakota Boyle
Steve Pinaz
Kevin G Gleason
Michael Robertson
Rob Connor
Howard Pearlman
ROOFING EDUCATION
Why Does My Roof Leak Long After The Rain Ends?
When it rains, a ponding area on your roof will fill with...
Roofing Around Equipment
Roofing Around Rooftop Equipment: If your building has rooftop equipment such as...
Does My Roof Have Hail Damage?
Hail damaged roofs present in many different ways. Obviously if your home...
Proper Roof Drainage
Improper Roof Drainage and Structural Damage: Improper drainage from your roof can...