How to Choose a Roofing Contractor

Your roof is your home’s first line of defence against the elements, so you can’t afford to have the work done to anything less than a professional standard. But how do you choose a roofer when there seems to be so much choice?

Here are a few of the things you should consider when choosing a roofing contractor.

Seek out friend and family recommendations

The recommendation of someone you trust is one of the best places to start when choosing a roofing contractor. Even if your friend or family member had a different type of roofing work done, they will be able to attest to the contractor’s professionalism, tidiness and quality of the work completed. 

Read online reviews

If you don’t know anyone whose opinion you trust and have had roofing work completed, then the next place to look for recommendations is online. Reviews on Google and testimonials on the company websites can give you a good indication of the quality of work you can expect from a particular roofer, as well as their value for money and general attitude when carrying out the work.

Look for someone who is experienced in the kind of roofing work you need

While the above points are great for finding roofers you can trust, some roofing jobs need specialist expertise, so look for roofers that advertise their experience with the specific work you need. 

Slate roofing, for example, is very heavy, and can only be laid on a roof that is equipped to deal with the extra weight. Similarly, leadwork requires specialist experience that some roofers may not have. 

Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true

When choosing a roofing contractor, you need to consider your budget. And while we would all like to get the best price possible for any repairs or renovations on our homes, you should be wary of roofers who advertise prices much lower than those of their competitors for the same work. 

Everyone will have different prices for their services, but very cheap prices may indicate that the roofer is cutting corners somewhere, meaning you will not get the highest quality of work. If something seems too good to be true – it might be!

Look for roofers who are members of a recognised trade organisation

One way you can be confident you are hiring a professional and trustworthy roofing contractor is to look for one who advertises their membership in a recognised trade organisation, such as The National Federation of Roofing Contractors (NFRC). The NFRC vets all its members to ensure high standards of workmanship and sound business practice. Here at Exeter Roofing, for example, we are a member of the NFRC and we are on the National Heritage Roofing Contractors Register.

Choosing a roofing contractor can be a daunting process, after all, whoever you choose will be responsible for ensuring the safety of your home, and most roofing work is no small expense. 

This is why you should take your time to properly research potential roofers and ensure that whoever you are considering has the relevant experience for your roofing work.If you’d like to learn more about what we can offer, you can view our services and get a free quote.