In this article we will discuss every crucial aspect which to be considered when choosing the right & very best roofing contractor. If you have asked yourself the question “How To Choose A Good Roofing Contractor in Boston?” – then this guide is all you will need in order to make the final decision.
In other words, the more years of work experience a roofing contractor has – the better. You must strive to pick a contractor with the longest operating local business/ company.
This means that they are dependable and should have plenty of finished projects on hand. It is of main importance for you to trust your flooring contractor, that is why you should be cautious when coming across a new and not yet established roofing business. You never know if they will last long, because most new businesses in the US go down in the first 2-3 years.
Also, if they are an old and reputable company, you could get more detailed information (reviews from previous clients) about their work on the internet.
You could clearly identify the capabilities of a roofing contractor simply by glancing at their portfolio. It should showcase a variety of residential/ commercial roof repair and replacement examples. It takes more than a listing of their services, their work should be demonstrated by a valid image representation or video.
Try to find proper visual examples of the type of roofing service that you are most interested in. Observe in detail every precedent, in order to grasp what will be the end result in your similar case.
Most trustworthy contractors have a website with all the info you’ll need. The place where you could access visuals from their work is located in the main menu (Portfolio/ Gallery, etc.).
A top-notch roofing contractor in Greater Boston should have the necessary insurance for their crew/ team that covers them in case of an accident (General Liability Insurance & Workers’ Compensation Insurance).
If a contractor is injured while working on your property, “Workers’ compensation insurance” would cover their medical bills and lost wages. This type of insurance is required in most states, so confirm that your contractor has it before hiring them.
This insurance will protect them and give you peace during the repair. If an uninsured contractor is injured while working on your property, they could sue you for their medical bills and lost wages. And if you’re not found to be at fault, the cost of defending yourself in court can be significant.
You need to make sure your home is protected in case the contractor doesn’t accomplish the agreed repair accordingly. If it leaks afterwards for instance, the proper insurance of the contractor can guarantee that the job is to be done properly, or you ought to be compensated.
The types of insurance that your contractor is best to have are:
General Liability Insurance – This type of insurance covers property damage and bodily injury that may occur due to the contractor’s work. For example, if a contractor accidentally damages your home while working, general liability insurance would cover the cost of repairs.
Professional Liability Insurance – It protects contractors from being held liable for mistakes made during their work. For example, if a contractor does their work inaccurately, “Professional liability insurance” would cover the cost of repairs.
All Greater Boston roofers need a Construction Supervisor License (CSL) and determined by the project breadth, some should have a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) license.
Roofing contractors must obtain proper Massachusetts CSL and HIC licensing to work legally on in-state projects. There is no reciprocity or license transfer with other states. All roofers must meet Massachusetts requirements and pass state-administered exams.
Any other licences, especially by leading roofing manufacturers in North America are a big plus for you. This proves that the contractor is certified in working with high-quality roofing materials following 100% a specific standard. It ensures that the job will be completed as per the instructions given by the manufacturer of the materials.
An example of this kind of leading manufacturer for North America is GAF Inc.
GAF offers a vast number of hands-on, virtual, and on-demand courses in installation skills, leadership and more.
When choosing or consulting a contractor about the type of material to be used, bear in mind to ask about the warranty of each one. The roofing materials have different types of warranties depending on the brand & quality. High-quality materials have a longer warranty and ensure that your roof is always protected.
Keep in mind that some warranties may be for a particular thing. For example, the shingles Timberline UHDZ® have a 30-year warranty called “Stainguard Plus PRO™ Limited Warranty”, but only against blue-green algae discoloration.
There are several types of roofing services which have a different timeline. Basically, there are roofing contractors that have a 24/7 emergency roof repair service and others that have a long waiting list for scheduled repairs. If you have a displaced or cracked/ broken shingle which causes a leak in the house – then maybe the 24-hour roof repair service is suitable in your case.
However, if your roof needs much more and extensive work (for example: roof replacement, or partial replacement) the timeline will be significantly longer. Especially if there seems to be a bigger problem in the work process (for example: in the process of removing old roofing material the underlying structure may appear to be damaged and in need of repair before proceeding forward).
The timeline for every roofing replacement/ repair depends on these factors:
Make sure to talk over these main points with your contractor in order to make sense of their timeline organisational abilities.
The financial part of the contract is not to be neglected. After the contractor knows the extent of the roofing repair/ replacement – there must be a precisely stated price.
As a matter of fact, you need to know what part of the final cost will be for materials & what part will be the cost for the labor. (If you know the separate cost of these aspects – you can compare and contrast different roofing offers.)
All of this should be included in your contract – the type of roofing work which needs to be done and a clear financial arrangement between the contractor and yourself for the complete price.
Make sure to thoroughly check your contract for vagueness and unstated future fees.
To be clear, the best price is always depending on the quality. A full roof replacement costs between $6,700 and $80,000, or approximately $11,500 for an average-sized home in 2024.
This is not the time to be frugal. The best option is to get several offers from roofing contractors for the same type of roofing and compare them.
The factors which you should really consider are:
Sometimes, an offer could seem higher at first, but this must be due to a higher-quality of the materials. With top-grade materials your roof will be more durable, and in the long run the seemingly higher offer will be actually very easy on the pocketbook.
Nowadays everything is online – not to mention honest opinions for local businesses. Check what people say in all aspects of the work of a particular roofing contractor.
Some of the best platforms for honest ratings are:
For a fact, Home Vision ℠ checks out all the points listed above. You can depend on our local expertise and go through our roofing portfolio (for residential or commercial roofing) to see for yourself.
We have all the necessary licences, trained professional team, certifications from the best local roofing manufacturers, 5-star ratings and 10+ years of experience to back it up!
Opt for a competent and qualified roofing contractor and ensure that your home is 100% protected for years to come.
