Here are some questions you can use to make sure the roofing contractors are giving you a fair and accurate estimate.
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Will You Take My Old Roof Off?
If they are trying to shingle over your old roof, rather than removing the old roof, then this is not the company for your job. You always need the old roof to be removed.
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Do You Have General Liability Insurance?
What if the workers damage your house somehow? Do they have the liability insurance to cover the costs of such damage?
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Do You Pay for Workers’ Comp?
Workers’ comp insurance is now required by law, but it is worth asking anyhow, just to make sure.
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Do You Have Your License?
Different states have different requirements and codes for roof work. If you are in Cincinnati, you want to make sure your roofing company is licensed in Ohio, and therefore familiar with Ohio’s specific codes.
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How Will You Protect My Gutters as You Do This Work?
Hopefully they use standoffs or ladder stabilizers, which can mean less weight on your gutters, and therefore far less potential damage. If they are not using ladder stabilizers or standoffs, do they have another way to protect those delicate gutters?
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Will You Put in Edge Metal (or Drip Edge)?
These are pieces of aluminum that most roofers put under the shingles. Edge metal helps direct the rainwater straight into the gutters. Using edge metal – also called drip edge – will help protect your fascia. Most roof installers will use this automatically, but you want to make sure they do.
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Do You Dispose of the Trash Created During the Job?
Getting rid of your old roof creates a lot of waste – drip edge, nails, plywood, old shingles, and more. Anyone working in roofing and home siding should bring a container to collect this refuse, and then dispose of it. As the homeowner, you should not need to deal with this huge amount of trash.
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Can You Give Me a Written Estimate?
Get. It. In. Writing. Be sure to have them give you a detailed estimate, on paper, and make sure this estimate includes the cost of removing your previous roof.
