Important Questions to Ask Your Roofing Contractor
Are You Going To Be Here When My New Roof Gets installed?
Good Question, Most of the time the sales man sitting across from you at your kitchen Table is not going to be at you home during production. In reality do you really want them their? Production day is proof of what you purchased. Whatever your sales person guarantees will happen on this day. You want to be certain the person you are listening to, the company they represent and purchasing from is going to deliver. At MBC, this is what makes us function so well; most of the time you are going to be talking to one of the owners; Bill, Ray, Jackson or JD at contract signing and the details of their inspection will be addressed in your contract. Detailed Installation is the life line of our success.
What is your installation schedule?
You want to know the schedule of the company you are considering. Top quality contractors are often very busy, especially during the summer months. Sometimes it makes sense to wait for the busiest and best roofing company. One suggestion is to plan ahead. Homeowners who are not experiencing any roofing leaks are able to plan their roofing project several months in advance. At MBC we do not roof several hundred roofs a year. Our installation process relies on quality not quantity; we are usually two to four weeks out.
Do you have Worker’s Compensation and General Liability Insurance? Can you provide a Certificate of insurance from your insurance provider?
You should only consider doing business with contractors who carry full coverage for both workers compensation and liability policies, including completed operations coverage. You should require their insurance provider to mail a Certificate of Insurance directly to your home.
Will any Roofing system you install on my home lower my homeowner’s insurance premium?
Some Roofing systems in fact lower your insurance premium. Impact Resistant shingles will lower your monthly insurance premium up to 20%. Malarky, Owens Corning Flex & Flex Storm & Certainteed NorthGate are just a few impact resistant shingles MBC have installed on homes. Call your insurance provider, they will provide you with a Reduction in Premium form, After installation MBC will provide you assistance in completing this paperwork. With 25 years of experience roofing homes, MBC believes this is the best asphalt shingle to install on your home.
How long will it take to install my Roofing System?
The average roof replacement should require approximately 1 to two days. Factors that could affect this include the size of your home, the number of existing layers that must be removed and the accessibility of the roof for loading materials either by roof top delivery or by hand. MBC’s Project Manager should be able to determine the number of days it will require to roof your home.
Do you clean up every day?
Roof materials and debris will be picked during production at the end of each day. The final clean up process includes rolling the yard, driveway & sidewalk with a magnetic roller. All gutters, decks, behind grills, trees and egress window wells will be cleaned of all debris at the end of production.
Will you tear off my entire roof at once?
Except for small jobs that can be completed in one day, the entire roof should never be removed at one time. Each day a field supervisor and crew forman should decide the areas of your roof to be removed and replaced that day. This is going to be based on the size of your home and the weather conditions/forecast. At no point in the project should your home be left OPEN TO THE WEATHER overnight.
How do you protect my home if it rains overnight?
Each evening your home will be properly covered with new roofing materials on slopes where shingles have been removed that day. MBC installs high end Ice & Water Shield as well as synthetic felt on every project. In the event of surprise weather, this underlayment guarantees your home is protected. In fact, this stage of installing your roof is just as important as the installation of your shingles.
How will you protect my landscaping?
Protection around your home should be designed based on your homes specific situation. MBC temporarily lays plywood, tarps and other protection up against your siding, windows, large plants to protect them from falling debris. Large potted plants, grills, furniture will be removed from the side of your home during production.
Do I need additional ventilation?
Proper ventilation is critical to assure your new roof will be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. Shingle manufacturer’s rely on the experience of the contractor to follow ventilation requirements. If your current shingles are blistering or curled, more then likely your roof is not vented properly. for 25 years MBC has followed the International Building Code requirements for proper ventilation. This is another critical step in the production process and must be followed correctly.
Do you replace all metals on my roof?
Replacing the metal flashing on a roof is necessary to ensure there are no hidden areas where water can intrude. To eliminate any future issues, MBC goes down to your bare roof deck and then installs your new roof like it is the first time.
Do my gutters have to be removed?
In most cases the gutters do not need to be removed. However, the drip edge on every roof must be replaced. Depending on how your gutters are installed depends on whether or not we need to detach and reset your gutters. This process will be determined during the initial inspection of your roof.
How long is my warranty on workmanship? Materials?
Each contractor should specify warranty terms in the proposal. Most labor warranties cover 5 years. Most roofing contractors provide five years material warranties in addition to the warranties provided by the material manufacturer. Manufacturer’s warranties range from twenty years to limited lifetime warranties. The most important component of the workmanship warranty rests in the contractor still being in the business should you have a claim. At MBC we offer a lifetime workmanship warranty.
Call Minnesota Building Contractors for a FREE INSPECTION AND FREE ESTIMATE.
Call: 507-206-9607