Step 7: Quotes and Inspections

If a roofer doesn’t respond to your notice, then that’s a good indication that he’s not the one for you. Scratch him off the list and move on to the others who do give you a prompt and informed answer.

Some Miami roofers will give you a quote from your specifications, while others will request a site inspection. Some will do both. Most roofers do inspections for free, so don’t pay for one, if others on your list are offering them with no charge.

Once you’ve received some quotes and had some contractors out for site inspections, gather the data they’ve given you to evaluate them.

Note: make sure you are involved in the site inspection, watch what the roofer does and feel free to ask questions.

How to spot a good technician during an inspection:

• Walks on the joists and purlins

• Avoids walking directly on the sheet metal because it can bend and scratch it

• Minimizes foot traffic as much as possible

• Carefully cleans debris off the roof to avoid scratches

Step 8: Review the Quotes

The contractors who would like your business will send you their bid, and it’s your choice to go over the details to decide which works best for your needs. Here’s what you should look for in your bids.

Physical address – This should be on the bid and if you can you should even drop by, call or visit the office. Again, this is to weed out possible scammers.

Detailed pricing – The quotes should be broken down into components that you can understand clearly, such as materials and labor. There is usually an additional provision there in case the job takes longer so don’t let them tack on extra costs unnecessarily.

Material quality – More specific details on the materials themselves will appear here,  if they are being provided by your roofer. This may require more research on your part to see if the material listed is low-grade or top of the market. And, of course, we would hope that your materials are from Metal Master Shop in Miami!

Labor details – How many men will work on your project, and what’s their hourly rate? This is where you might see some discrepancies between your different bids. While more men might make a project go faster, with metal roofing, you don’t want too many footsteps on those metal sheets. So keep that in mind and minimize the traffic on your roof.

Payment – How does the contractor want to be paid?  How much is required upfront? Disqualify any roofer who asks for all of it upfront, and be very wary of one that asks for more than 30% before the job is completed.

Discard any contractors that don’t meet the requirements that you’ve set up for your project. At this point, your list should be short and much more manageable.

Step 9: Interviews

This is a good time to meet or at least talk on the phone with the contractors on your final list. Ask them about the following things:

• Credentials

• Permits

• Experience

• How long their business has been established

• How many projects they’ve done

• Their warranty

• If they have a portfolio of past work or customer references

• Insurance for workers and your home and materials

• Additional services like getting permits or cleaning up your property post-construction (which should be included)

Step 10: The Contract

If you still have more than just one contractor you can ask them both to draft up contracts. Take your time to thoroughly review them and make your choice. If you ask for one contract and it doesn’t quite fit your desires, don’t be afraid to go to the contractor with your concerns. A roof for your home is a huge investment, and you shouldn’t take it lightly.

Don’t forget the final inspection either. This guide was to help you choose a roofer but if at any point you feel that he is performing a bad installation or overcharging you, do something about it! If you aren’t totally satisfied with the final product, talk to your contractor. Contact the BBB to make a complaint if necessary.

It’s your roof, after all! Make it the one you want and need. And please don’t hesitate to contact us here in Miami with questions about all your metal roofing system needs. We look forward to working with you!

~J.C.

The post How to Hire a Good Miami Roofer – Part 2 – Working with Your Roofer appeared first on Metal Master Shop.

Unfortunately, the roofing industry is known for scams, shoddy workmanship, and overpriced installations. So it’s up to you to do the work necessary to be sure that you find an experienced and honest roofer, not just the first one listed in the yellow pages.

In an effort to help you in that task, I’ve come up with a step by step guide for finding a good roofer that can do the inspection, installation, and maintenance for you. After all, Metal Master Shop provides the product for your roofing project, and we know all the ins and outs of that side of the equation. It’s up to the roofing contractor you hire to actually complete the project for you. And hopefully they do it to your specifications and appreciation.

Step 1: Gather

This is the easy part. This is where you go online, ask your friends, and look around your neighborhood for roofing companies. Get together a list of names and contact information.

Step 2: Organize

Sort them from best to worst as well as you can at this point. There are probably dozens available to you and you don’t want to waste your time meeting for a consultation with that many. So for example, if a trusted friend gave you a glowing recommendation, then that technician should probably go to the top of the list.

Step 3: Website

Do the Miami roofers on your list have a website? Does it give you good information? Is it easy to navigate? If the company doesn’t have a website or if there isn’t much solid information on it, then chances are that the roofer isn’t insured or licensed.

Step 4: Reviews

Always look for reviews both on the Miami roofer’s website and on other sites like Yelp and Google Maps. Read as many reviews as you can, pay attention to the date of the review and what was said. Let this guide your decisions about where to prioritize a company on your list and when to eliminate them altogether.

Step 5: Accreditations

Check for proof of accreditation by finding their registrar for contractor numbers or by contacting the roofing certification board to check for complaints. If they say they have an A+ rating, take the little bit of time necessary to verify that on the BBB website.

Step 6: Send Out Word

Now you need to contact them with the details of your job. After all, you might contact a great roofer but can’t hire him because he can’t complete your job within the time frame you need. So the next series of eliminations is to make sure the roofer is a good fit for you and your project.

Sometimes a client will get a questionable response from a roofer on their list. At times this is the fault of the roofer, perhaps if he is trying to make some easy money. So be wary.

At other times, the fault here lies with the client who is simply uninformed or doesn’t know what to expect from a roofer. Again, doing your homework and being smart and realistic about your project will go a long way during this step.

Here’s what to include in your research:

• Type of job – Is it a few repairs or a complete installation? What material is the roof? How large or small is the job? (Some roofers have a minimum amount they charge for a job so ask specifically about this too.)

• Other aspects of the job – is there anything else that needs to be done along with the roofing work? Insulation? Home repair? Is there an option to bundle these services together? Is there another company or contractor that they work with to accomplish these things?

• Materials needed – Are they providing the materials or do you have a manufacturer or materials already? How available are these materials? Is there a timeline for having them manufactured or ordered?

• Timeline – When do you want it done? Do you want it started immediately or at a specific time in the future?

Now you just sit back and wait for the bids to come in!

Metal roofing systems are a smart option for many homeowners looking to have an affordable, long lasting solution to their roofing needs. If it’s done properly and maintained well, a metal roof will be attractive and low maintenance for years to come.

And if you find the right person for the job, then your metal roof will be a smooth, simple, and an affordable choice!

-J.C.

The post How to Hire a Good Miami Roofer – Part 1 – Establishing A Good List appeared first on Metal Master Shop.