Finding the right contractor for any work on your home is not always as simple as hiring the first one you find. When it comes to your roof, chances cannot be taken on any contractor, you should be doing your research; your roof is the mainstay of your home and you don’t want to end up with a blown-out budget and no roof to show for it. The team at GT Roofing have put together a checklist of sorts to help you with the best questions to ask while researching the best contractor for your needs.
Is the contractor Legitimate, Licenced and Safety Conscious?
A genuine business of any kind will have the basics in place, including business premises, websites, and contact numbers, but do they have the rest? Are they appropriately licenced? Roofing works is a licenced trade and you should ensure that anyone working on your roof is appropriately licenced by the relevant authority. Failing to do this could spell disaster for you, the contractor and your roof. At a minimum, the contractors should all have Construction Safety and Roofing Works Licences in addition to a Working Safely at Heights certificate due to the nature of the work being carried out.
As part of this aspect of research, ensure the contractor has the appropriate Public Liability and other insurances, and always ask to see certificates of currency. Also ask before the contractor starts for their Safe Work Method Statement and Safety Analysis. They should provide this to you without needing to be asked, however you should keep this in the back of your mind to ask prior to any work starting.
Quotes
Onsite quotes are a must, if a contractor offers an over the phone, sight unseen quote, or even in some cases a standard cost for roof replacement or repair, you might consider another contractor instead, as chances are there will be unforeseen costs and the quote won’t mean much. Also ensure you only deal roofing contractors that have provided a detailed, written quotation. The quote should detail the scope of works, and other project specific information such as start and finish dates and contingency plans. Replacing a roof is a big investment, make sure you don’t skip any corners.
Workmanship
Written warranties over workmanship should provide you with confidence in the contractor and their abilities. Well established contractors are generally more likely to honour any warranties provided, so this is something to consider as well.
Materials
Is the contractor you are researching using the materials you want for your roof? Do they use Bluescope or Colorbond Steel products and are they certified by the manufacturer to install the materials. If they are not certified, you could find that the warranty on the materials could be void and you can leave yourself open to hefty costs of repair in the future. There is no use in seeking a contractor who doesn’t use the materials you are seeking for your roof.
Ask Questions!
Professional contractors of any discipline are usually happy to answer all of your questions about the service you receive from them. If they are evasive or do not answer your questions, it may be a good idea to go with another contractor. Always make sure you read and compare detailed quotes, so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
GT Roofing Adelaide specialises in roofing restoration, replacements, repairs and extensions and works with COLORBOND® Steel and BlueScope Steel throughout the Adelaide area and across South Australia. For an obligation free chat, please call George on 0434 640 550 or complete our contact form and we will get in touch shortly.