Getting Started

• LOCAL COMMUNITY: Try to find at least 2 or 3 contractors to interview so you will have a choice. Recommendations from friends or people in the neighborhood are a great place to start.
• DISTRIBUTORS: Established roofing materials distributors are a good source for identifying contractors. They usually know who’s been around and who pays their bills, and most have notice boards where contractors pin their business cards or leaflets.
• OFFICIALS: It is a good idea to talk to a local building control officer in your area. They usually know who does good work and who complies with building regulations without having to be reminded, so give your local building authority office a call.

Doing Due Diligence

Find out how long the contractor has been in business. It is best to use a contractor with a minimum 3-5 years experience.

• This can often be done by searching online.
• Physical addresses can generally be researched from websites and Company House reports.
• Roofing materials distributors can help here too.

Ask for 5-7 references of similar kinds of re-roofs and call at least 2 or 3 of those references.

Ask if they have worker’s compensation and liability insurance.

• Tell the contractor you will require to see a certificate of insurance if they are awarded the contract for both Employee Liability and Public Liability.
• The Employee Liability Insurance must cover all the employees.
• If sub-contractors are used you must verify that all sub-contractors are covered in the Employee Liability Insurance.
• Employee Liability Insurance is especially expensive for roofing contractors (so some contractors try to work without it) and if the contractor doesn’t have it the homeowner may be liable for employees’ injuries.
• Public Liability Insurance is a type of business insurance. It covers the compensation costs and legal fees you are required to pay if a member of the public is harmed, or their property is damaged, because of business activities.

Try to get trade references from where the contractors purchase their material.

Online resources where trades are checked are also a good resource, sites like Checkatrade and MyBuilder, etc., are run on feedback that is accrued by satisfied homeowners like yourself, so if there are negative reports avoid and choose a contractor with favourable feedback, but remember nothing is guaranteed, so be prepared to also take the steps above.

The Proposal

• Have the exact materials being used defined by the manufacturer in the proposal.
• Have some general idea of the timing of the job that is defined in the contract. Once the job is started it must be completed within a certain timeline, weather permitting.
• If the roof is a rip-off-and replace, define in the contract that the roofing contractor is responsible for any damage within the property once the work begins.
• Take a good look at the warranty you will be given for the installation when the job is complete. Remember that it is much more important to have a very strong warranty for the first 1 to 2 years of the warranty period rather than having a warranty that “lasts” a very long time. Most installation problems will be apparent after one full cycle of seasons.
• It is much better, as a homeowner, to “survive” a roofing project by making sure the project is cleaned up every day.
• If building control permission is required, define who obtains it and who pays for it. Have a chat with your local building officer when he visits the site to make sure that the works are being correctly done.
• Have the payment terms completely defined by your contractor so that there are no nasty surprises when payment is due.
• If your contractor asks for payment up-front, we would advise preparing a schedule of part-payments agreed with your contractor and do not pay the entire amount in one go. Only pay the next instalment once you are happy with the work already achieved.
• Try to always maintain good terms with your contractor at all times, listen to what they have to say, sometimes difficulties do arise that are unexpected for both parties so be prepared to give-and-take.

LOCATE A CONTRACTOR

A Tapco Project Specialist will help you find a local contractor and try to answer any questions you might have, just get in touch today: