Finding a Reliable Albuquerque Roofer

The roof over your head is literally your first defense against the outside elements. If your roof is in poor condition you risk serious damage to your whole house and all your belongings. Water can seep in, damaging the structure of the roof, walls and ceilings. Left in disrepair the cost of having the damage repaired will only grow over time. The quicker you contact a reliable Albuquerque Roofer to fix the problem the less it is going to cost you.

No matter what type of roof you have, replacing it can be a major expense. The materials are only a fraction of the total you will pay for a new roof. The largest single expense will be in the labor costs of the Albuquerque Roofer labor. Roofing is a profession requiring many skills including framing construction, mathematics and carpentry. Locating a Roofer is not the hard part. Finding a qualified Albuquerque Roofer that has the experience and know-how to do the job right and leave you with a secure roof over your head might take some time.

Where to Find an Albuquerque Roofer

There are several ways to begin your search for a reliable Albuquerque Roofer. Of course referrals from friends and family are clearly the best place to ask about a reliable Roofer. Ask every one you know who they may have used in the past and if they were happy with the service. Have a look at the work yourself. If you like what you see and get a positive report on a specific Roofer, ask for his contact information.

Have a look through your local yellow pages or check out the home improvement centers. They usually have a bulletin board where a local Roofer and other contractors can post their business cards. Use the computer to do a search for a directory to find a reliable Albuquerque Roofer. Generally, only the true professional will go to the effort of getting listed.

After you’ve compiled a list, you need to take the time to carefully evaluate each Roofer. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any Roofer you have in mind has any complaints on file and how they were resolved. Make sure the Albuquerque Roofer has the proper licensing. You can call the state contractors license board to verify this. If you find there are complaints or questions about the status of any Roofer’s license, you should probably cross him off you list.

Interviewing an Albuquerque Roofer

Take some time to talk with each Albuquerque Roofer about your job. An interview will not only help you to determine if the Roofer is capable of handling your project but it will also give you a chance to see how well you’ll work together. Remember that good communication is important to a successful project. Begin by asking about their experience. The level of experience of a Roofer will help you to determine if they have the ability to handle the job. Ask to see a copy of their state contractor’s license and make note of the number. You may need to check this later.

Also make sure that all insurance polices are in place and up to date. A Roofer should carry liability as well as workers compensation. Request copies of all policies and the contact information for the insurance carrier. Call the department of workers compensation to make certain adequate coverage is in place. If the Roofer has no insurance or is under insured, you could find yourself dealing with some expensive damages or paying for an injured worker’s medical bills and other expenses and this could literally cost you your home.

Ask the Albuquerque Roofer for references from other jobs but don’t rely on references alone when making your final choice. It’s not in any contractor’s best interest to give you the contact information of a dissatisfied customer. Check with the local Better Business Bureau to find out if there are any complaints on file. If there are any you need to find out how they were settled. A single complaint should not rule out a Roofer but a series of unresolved complaints is a definite sign of problems.

Getting Your Bid from an Albuquerque Roofer

Once you have a few companies in mind, it’s time to ask for some bids. Ask for a bid from each Roofer you feel comfortable with. Some people say the more bids the better but this is not necessarily true. If a Roofer feels there is too much competition he may simply walk away. The truth is a busy Roofer may have little time to bid against each company, so you could end up losing a bid from the best qualified Albuquerque Roofer. So select just a few contractors and select the best Roofer for the bidding process.

Don’t forget that you want more than just a piece of paper with a total figure. You want an itemized list of what everything will cost including all materials and labor. Provide each Albuquerque Roofer with a detailed list of what you’d like included in the bids and this will help ensure that you receive some uniform quotes that are easy to compare. If one bid is significan'tly lower than another you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly where the differences are.

You don’t necessarily want the lowest bid, but the highest one isn’t a guarantee of better service or materials either. You want a good combination of price and service. If you get a bid that seems unusually low you need to question the Roofer about it. One Roofer may simply have lower overhead, fewer workers or a better source for materials and this savings can often be passed on to the customer but make certain the Roofer can back up any claims he makes.

Once you’ve found the Albuquerque Roofer you feel is right for the job, you’ll need to work up a contract.