Choosing a roofing company in Florida can be a daunting task. Florida homeowners deal with a number of harsh weather circumstances, and they also have to worry about avoiding storm chasers and other unscrupulous roofers. Whether you have blistered shingles and cracked tiles or are just worried about potential scammers or low-quality suppliers, you need to make sure you pick the right company. Roofing installation, maintenance and replacement are real investments in the safety and value of your home. Here is the right way to choose a roofing company in Jacksonville!
Ask Around for Referrals
Do you know someone whose roof is especially nice? Have any of your neighbors been extremely satisfied with their roofer? Ask them which roofing company in Jacksonville they use. Not only do you have evidence of the quality of their work, but contractors from the local community are less likely to be scammers. They have a harder time disappearing overnight!
Don’t Pay It All Up Front
Try not to pay in cash and try not to pay for the entire job up front or else a contractor could just be taking you for a ride. Even if they do the job, getting a refund if it is substandard will be much harder since you’ve shelled out for everything. The standard procedure is a deposit of one third of the total price. Don’t complete the payment until the work’s done and you’re satisfied with it. Make them earn it!
Check Their Credentials
Google their business, check out their website, read their Facebook reviews, and see what manufacturer designations they’ve got on their sites. Research their Better Business Bureau ratings. Check to see that they are licensed and insured.
Watch Out For Storm Chasers
These are roofers who appear out of nowhere, and just happen to be passing by just when their services would be needed. They’ll offer quick fixes and get it done in a jiffy. Sounds good… but that’s the point, it’s a tactic so their marks won’t do background checks. Sometimes they’ll collect a deposit or cash payment ahead of time and split. Other times they’ll complete the job, but they’ll do a crummy job with unqualified help and even low-quality materials. Don’t rush the process. Do your due diligence, ask for referrals, read their reviews, etc. See how long they’ve been in the game. If they just came out of the blue, chances are they’re taking you for a ride. Don’t fall for it.
Get a Detailed Warranty
A good contractor will stand by their work and won’t balk at an extensive warranty. After all, defects won’t show instantly. Premature breakdowns from shoddy workmanship will still take months or even years to show. Without a proper warranty, a shady contractor will just refuse to fix it and insurance won’t pay for it. That means you’ll have to shell out for repairs that should have covered. On the other hand, proper contractors will offer longer warranties because they know the quality of their work.
Be Prepared to Get What You Pay For
Material and skilled labor are considerable investments. If a contractor offers you a rate that seems too good to be true, it probably is. In that case, the resulting shoddy workmanship means that a lot of repairs will be needed down the line. All in all, it’ll cost more than if you paid a bit more for the services of a quality roofing company in Jacksonville.
Know Your Roofing
Whether the contractor’s legit or not, it will help if you know your roofing – the materials involved, the methods behind maintenance. You don’t need to know everything, just have a working knowledge of the process. This will help you avoid getting taken for a ride by a contractor if they’re trying to pull a fast one on you.
Contact Florida Roof & Air Today
Florida Roof & Air has the experience, knowledge, and skills necessary to take care of whatever roofing needs you may have. From repairs to full replacement, we do it all with the highest level of service in the industry. If you have any questions about the professional roof repair services that we offer to Florida residents, please contact us today and a member of the Florida Roof and Air team will be glad assist you.