Your old roof is looking well-worn, and it’s time to stop patching up the hole and invest in a new roof. However, as you look at a roof replacement, what do you need to consider? Asking your contractor the right questions can make you more informed and yield a better roofing choice for your home. 

1. Can You Ask Questions?

You know you’ve found a gem of a contractor when you find a roofing contractor who is amenable to being asked questions and who acts as a roofing educator as well as an estimator and installer. If you have a lot of questions, check to see: 

• Whether the person can come into your home, where they can look at any potential damage indoors as well and tell you about what they have seen on and under the roof.  Ask the person what they have seen. According to Consumer Reports, “they are trained to assess damage and make recommendations on materials, and they’re equipped with proper safety gear.” 
• Whether that person will be available for questions after the estimate has been prepared.
• What they will estimate per square foot, and whether they can explain the cost breakdown.

2. Who Will Install My Roof?

When you’re getting a new roof, you want to make sure that you’re getting a roof installed by professionals. If the person who’s doing the estimate is not the one who will be installing your roof, find out who is doing the installation and what credentials they have. Look for a company that provides very experienced installers who will install your roof right the first time around.

3. Do You Have an Opinion About Roof Color?

While it’s not the most important decision for your structure, your roof color can successfully complement your home and the homes in your neighborhood, or it can make your home look off. Your roofing contractor has worked with many different homes and can give you an indication of the color schemes that would work best on your home.

4. Are There Any Benefits to Adding Algae Protection? 

Some shingles today incorporate algae and moss protection in addition to the regular shingle. This reduces the amount of algae that grows on your roof. When you’re in a rainy climate and you don’t want to see plants growing on your roof, this can be a good option, as washing and scrubbing your roof can lead to damage over time. 

5. What Else Do I Need to Do to Protect My Roof?

While your roofing contractor assesses your current roof, ask if there is anything else you can do to be proactive about having a strong, long-lasting roof. For instance, you might want to add gutter covers to your roof in order to stop your gutters from backing up and causing roof damage. You could also prune the trees around your roof. Your contractor has seen many roofs and will be able to give you advice to ensure the longevity of your new roof. 

6. What Is Your Warranty? 

While you don’t want anything to go wrong with your roof, it does happen. If it does, you want to be prepared. According to Time, “some roofers don’t worry much about customer satisfaction since replacing a roof is a once-every-few-decades job, which means they don’t have to count on repeat business.” Talk with your roofing contractor about the warranty for installation and for the product itself. Make sure that you’re covered for a long time so that you don’t need to worry if your roof leaks in a few years. Problems don’t always show up right away.

At Harry Helmet, we’re here to help you create the best possible home. From roof replacement to gutter covers, we’ll help you ensure that your home is running smoothly.  Contact us today to learn more about our roof and gutter products and schedule a free estimate today.

Written by Del Thebaud