What to look for when hiring a roofer for roof repairs
Roof repairs are a serious business. When it comes to hiring a roofer to do the job, you need to be sure you’re getting someone who knows what they’re doing. With so many roofing services providers out there, how do you go about choosing the right one?
Here at A P Benson Roofing & Building Ltd, we have been delivering the very best in roofing services to the people of Guildford and beyond for almost four decades, so it’s safe to say that we know what we’re talking about. With that in mind, we’ve compiled the following list of things any customer should look out for when checking out a potential roofer.
Experience
Simply put: whatever problem you’re having with your roof, has the roofing company in question dealt with it before? Experience isn’t always a question of trading history or years on the job. A roofer might have spent twenty years doing a great job repairing slate roofs, but might never have touched a flat roof. Don’t be afraid to ask any roofing services provider whether they have handled your specific kind of situation before.
Inspection
Will your roofer provide a complete inspection of the roof before they give you a quote? You should really hope that they do, otherwise how can they tell what work needs doing? Almost by definition, determining the extent of roof repairs is a tricky business. Everything is high up and out of sight, the cause of a particular leak is often hidden under roofing tiles and the like. You want a roofing services provider who will check out the damage for themselves, ideally taking photos of affected area to show you the work that needs doing.
Quotes
Speaking of quotes, a good roofer will be happy to provide a detailed quote, showing a breakdown of expected costs. This includes things like labour (including subcontractors), materials, equipment hire, VAT and so on. Be wary of any roofing services provider who just gives you a quote for “everything” without identifying where their figures come from. This is especially true if that quote is in conveniently round numbers.
Deposits and payments
If your roofing services provider asks for the cost of the roof repairs upfront, then you have a right to be wary. Some roofers may wait until the work has been done before they ask for payment, others may ask for a percentage of their quote as a deposit (this is common with major repairs or roof replacements). Asking for the full value of the roof repairs up front is a major red flag.
Reputation and accreditation
Anyone with a ladder and a bunch of roofing tiles can call themselves a roofer, but a reliable one will be accredited by the appropriate authorities, such as the local trading standards and Contsructionline.
Likewise a good roofing services provider will have a reputation to match. Take the time to read their independent reviews on CheckaTrade before you sign any contract.
Get in touch
For a roofing services specialist in Guildford who ticks all of the above boxes, call A P Benson Roofing & Building Ltd today on 01483 760 444 or 07831 366 282, to a arrange a free inspection by one of our roofers.
