The right residential roofing contractor will take care of much more than your roof.
If you want to install a roof, you should hire a roofer. If you need someone who will help you protect the people and things under your roof, you should hire a roofing contractor.
Crystal Anderson owns AGC Contracting of Maryland Heights, MO, and she fully understands what lies under a roof. Finding hidden leaks, simplifying insurance tangles, and doing other companies’ warranty work are all part of a normal day for Crystal. The contractor that you hire should offer a similar range of services.
Licensed Roofing Contractor as Problem Solver
Before the work starts, your contractor should take the time to find out what is wrong with your roof and then discuss the repairs with you. “We provide free roof analyses for all of our customers to determine where the issues started”, says Crystal, who then explained the variety of things that could cause a roof to leak.
Sometimes that starting point could be leaky chimney flashing. Other times it might be an old roof that needs replacement. If you don’t know why your roof is leaking, though, you won’t be able to make an informed decision about how to fix it, or whether you can afford it. A good contractor will work with you to come up with a solid roof that you can afford to live under. “We always want to find the best solution for every situation,” says Crystal.
Roofing Repair Contractors as Advocates
Sometimes you already know what the problem is, but your insurance adjuster might disagree. Crystal dealt with one egregious incident when a house was severely storm damaged. The owner’s insurance company, however, claimed that there was no noticeable damage. The claim was honored and the roof was eventually fixed, but only after Crystal’s company intervened.
Finding a contractor who is willing to work with your insurance company can be invaluable. Crystal speaks from experience when she says, “Homeowners do need assistance with insurance claims from a professional. Most homeowners do not have the expertise, or even the vocabulary, to discuss storm damage issues with our insurance adjusters.”
The Residential Roofing Contractor as a Safety Net
Most roofers really want to do a good job on your home. Occasionally, though, mistakes are made. Will your contractor be around in three years if the roof springs a leak? “We always recommend that a homeowner research the company,” says Crystal, “before they spend their hard earned money on a large project.”
Part of that homework would be checking a company’s Better Business Bureau rating, making sure they have the proper licensing, and looking at work they have done in the past. AGC has completed many jobs which should have been warranted by a company which is no longer in business, Crystal says.
Local Roofing Contractor as Good Neighbor
A trickier thing to check is whether a roofing contractor is invested in your community. Just having its company name on the back of a Little League jersey is not a testament to its work quality. What community involvement can tell you, though, is whether a company intends to be in business and be a part of your community for years to come.
Crystal shared one last experience. She once had a situation where a woman with medical problems needed work done on her home in order to remain independent. After several funding option had been researched and failed, Crystal’s company donated the labor and materials to do the job. Thanks to some problem solving and a little compassion, there is now a lady in Florissant who can stay in her home. Now, imagine how a company like this treats its paying customers!
Finding a contractor who handles roofing jobs is as easy as opening the phone book. Finding a problem solver, advocate, safety net and good neighbor who also happens to handle roofing is a bit harder, but is well worth the effort.
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