Many homeowners are not sure what questions to ask their Tucson roofing contractor when they set the appointment or when the contractor inspects the roof. That is understandable. Most people don’t feel knowledgeable about roofing and don’t want to seem ignorant, and plenty of folks would simply rather not ask anything at all.

It helps to see the roof inspection as a sort of interview. That interview should give you a feel for whether the roof coating contractor knows what they are talking about and whether they are trustworthy. Here are a few good questions everyone should ask of their roofing company.

Licensing Is The First Question To Ask Your Tucson Roofing Contractor

Hiring a non-licensed contractor is dangerous. If something goes wrong and the contractor leaves without finishing, or leaves with your money, you may never see him or her again. Most often it will be your loss.

Hiring a licensed contractor gives the homeowner some protection, because the contractor is on file with the state and is liable if they do poor work, do something illegal, or don’t do the work prescribed in the contract. In Arizona, a homeowner can contact the Registrar of Contractors and file a claim, and may be able to recover some or all of the money lost. So the first question to ask your Tucson roofing company is about their license.

Ask About The Warranty For The Work

It is always important to ask any contractor about the warranty they give for their work. Contractors legally must provide at least a two-year warranty on any work they complete, and that warranty starts the day the work is finished.

Depending on the scope, roofing contractors may provide longer warranties. A roof coating warranty may only run two years, but a warranty on a new roof should be longer, such as five years. Different scopes of work will result in different warranty terms, so always ask your Tucson roofing company about the warranty they provide.

Ask The Roofing Company To Provide Photo Evidence

One of the best protections a homeowner has is to ask for photo evidence of the claims a roofer is making. The photos should clearly show the problems the contractor intends to repair. If a roofing contractor is not willing to provide multiple photos showing those problems, be skeptical.

There are numerous roofing companies in Tucson that lie, cheat, and steal to get work, and many of them fail to provide photos. Ask to see the photos immediately after the estimator gets down from the roof. If a contractor is not willing to show evidence of their claims, be very careful going forward. You can see the kind of documentation we mean in our photo gallery.

Ask The Roofing Contractor To Provide A Detailed Estimate

When a contractor provides a detailed estimate, it usually shows they are not hiding anything. Every detailed estimate should spell out the exact work to be performed, the name and quantity of the materials they will use, the time frame in which they expect to complete the work, and if possible a step-by-step overview of the process they will follow.

Remember, as a homeowner you are paying the bill and you have every right to know exactly what is being done to your home. Expect a detailed contract, and if it is not given, ask for one. Leaving key details out of a contract allows the contractor to skip steps or even use low-grade materials. If they are not willing to provide a detailed contract, move on to a contractor who will. If an estimate feels off, it is always fair to get a second opinion.

Ask If A Down Payment For Services Is Expected

Another question to ask your Tucson roofing contractor is what down payment is expected. At DSR Roofing we do not ask for down payments on most roof repair jobs. We may ask for 10% up front on roof replacement jobs, but that is usually where our request for a down payment ends.

Many small roofing contractors ask for 50% up front. That is a sizeable amount of money, so be very careful before you write a check. And before you write it, CHECK THEIR LICENSE. This cannot be overstated. If the company is properly licensed, bonded, and insured, and everything is up to date, you will at least have some protection should they leave with the money.

One way to size up a contractor is to ask whether you can provide the down payment the day the work starts. That is a reasonable request. You may get some push back, because they may have to order supplies first. If that is the case, offer 25% up front and 25% the day the work starts. That should cover most of the materials they need to order.

Ask Whether Workers Are Employees or Sub-Contractors

Unfortunately, many roofing companies run sub-contractors. This allows the company to 1099 the subs and avoid significant taxes and workers compensation bills. The only legal way to hire sub-contractors is if the subs are properly licensed to do the work.

If the subs are licensed, ask for their license number as well as the roofing company’s license, so that if there are problems you can hold both accountable. It is not wise to have non-licensed sub-contractors working on your property.

At DSR Roofing we only have employees, so the buck stops with us. That also lets us stay completely in control of how and when a job gets completed, which is not always the case with subs. Subs are not always bad, but it is important to ask the key questions so you know exactly who is working on your roof. You can meet our team before you ever schedule an appointment.

Ask About The Roofing Company’s Call-Back Procedures

Sometimes after a roof is worked on, it leaks. That is simply the nature of the business. One way to make sure you will be taken care of is to ask the Tucson roofing company about their emergency roof repair services and their call-back procedures. Make sure the company has a thorough system in place to handle call-backs.

Ask These Questions Before You Hire

These are just a few of the questions you should ask your Tucson roofing contractor when they inspect and estimate your roof repairs. Every roofing company is asked these questions on a daily basis, so if there is any hesitation or inconsistency in the answers, it is worth digging deeper into whether that company is the right fit for your roof. Our post on choosing a roof coating company covers a few more things to look for.

We at DSR Roofing believe a homeowner should be completely comfortable with the contractor they hire to work on their home. Give us a call at 520-444-5218 or contact us, and we will answer all of these questions and any others you may have about your roof and our process.