What to Look For When Hiring a Roofing Contractor in Louisiana
You need a new roof, but you’ve heard so many horror stories. How can you find the right Roofing Contractor in Louisiana? Some contractors underbid, and then overcharge. Some start projects but take forever to finish. You’ve even heard of a few disappearing with deposits.
At Roofing Louisiana, we’ve heard about those contractors who took advantage of a friend or neighbor, and we agree. That isn’t right. Whether you choose us or not for your next project, we want to show you the ways you can protect yourself from these shady contractors.
BEFORE YOU START: Verify your Contractor is properly insured.
Did you know, your homeowners’ policy will NOT pay for accidents or injuries occurring on your property once you hire a contractor? That’s right. If your contractor is not insured properly, the full responsibility will fall on your own personal checkbook. Talk about a horror story…
Savvy homeowners ensure their contractor is properly insured. This protects you, your home, and your assets. Here are four important things to look for:
- Ask to see their insurance certificate. They should be able to produce it on the spot. Some have it posted on their website.
- Double-check the name and address of the insured. Is it the same name? Is it a local address? If not, ask why.
- Take note of the insurance agent. The agent should be local. Out-of-state policies may NOT cover work in Louisiana.
- Look for both general liability (minimum of $100K) and workers’ compensation.
- Make sure their insurance hasn’t expired. Check that expiration date.
If a Roofing Contractor doesn’t have the full coverage they are legally required to carry, think about the other possible corners they regularly cut. Roofing Louisiana is fully and properly covered with both general liability and workers’ compensation, and we’ll be happy to show you our certificates when we meet with you.
Avoid Voiding Warranties
Guess what? Even if you buy top-of-the-line products with strong warranties, improper installation will void the manufacturer’s warranty. Not only that, but the product will not perform as it is intended to, which may cause you to need said warranty even more. Improper installation will prevent the results you want and will cost you money in the long run.
To avoid future problems, and have peace of mind, here are four key procedures you need to pay attention to when a contractor explains their installation procedure:
- How will any rotten wood be addressed?
- Will the flashing be replaced?
- Reusing or replacing roof pipes and drip edge?
- How will the full roof system be improved?
At Roofing Louisiana, we don’t just replace shingles. We use a 51-point system to make sure every component of your roof is new. We don’t cut corners. That saves you from any voided warranties or major issues in the future. We remove and install all new flashing, drip edge, and roof pipes. We install leak deterrent systems in valleys and around penetrations. We even use six nails (not two, not four) per shingle.
Though some of these practices exceed manufacturer suggestions, we make sure the job gets done right the first time. We are not only trusted by hundreds of Lafayette-area homeowners, but we are also an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor.
Do Your Due Diligence.
Choosing the wrong Roofing Contractor in Louisiana can become a homeowner’s worst nightmare. We see our neighbors taken advantage of regularly, and we don’t want that to happen to you. Even if a contractor seems nice and sounds trustworthy, here are a few additional things to check:
- Status with the Better Business Bureau.
- Status with the Louisiana State Board of Contractors: LSLBC.Louisiana.gov (State law requires a contractor license for work over $7500).
- How long have they been in business? Check this on the LSLBC.Louisiana.gov website, not on the contractor’s website. Contractors often lie.
- Online Reviews/ complaints. Nobody is perfect. But if there are any complaints, take note of repeat issues and how issues got resolved. Read the whole story.
- Ask your friends, neighbors, and associates about the contractor.
- If possible, what is their financial stability and history (helps avoid liens).
- What is their labor warranty? Does their warranty exceed the length of time in business? Is it in writing?
- Do they conduct background checks and drug screens on their staff and subcontractors? Many contractors outsource part, sometimes even all, of their work.
A little extra digging gives you peace of mind when choosing a contractor. No system is ever perfect, but if you want to avoid your own horror story, this is worth the time and effort.
