Should I Get A Free Estimate?

Free Estimates: What They Can Do For You

There comes a time in every homeowner's life when problems necessitate looking at options for repair and maintenance of their home's roof. This does not have to be a stressful time - in fact, one could look at it from the perspective of it being a fact-finding mission, to help you to gauge your capability of financing and investing in your home. 

Why get a free estimate: 

1. You'll get a comprehensive inspection of everything on your roof, structurally - including chimney, skylight, pipes - anything that protrudes from your roof. This often includes how your shingles are holding up, and whether or not your gutters are working efficiently.
2. An estimate will show you the cost of repairs vs. replacement, allowing you to decide when and how to pay for your project. Sometimes this involves taking out a Home Equity Line of Credit, paying by credit card, or investigating how long it will take to save up the money to cover it. 
3. You'll get differing opinions from different companies. Sometimes one company will suggest a full replacement, and another company will offer a repair. Discuss this with each company - and ask questions. Why should I replace my roof? Why will a repair be better than a replacement? How often will I have to perform maintenance? Why should I have my gutters extended? How long will my roof last if I repair it? 
4. Compare guarantees. very often companies differ in their labor and materials guarantees for projects. Inquire with each company to weigh the pros and cons of using one company over another
5. Get an all-around picture of your home - and the repairs that may need to be addressed in the near future.
6. Shop for differing prices. Ask why one company offers the repair at $400, when another offers it for $1500.  Does the cheaper company have insurance? How long are they in business? Can they show that they are insured? 
7. Discover what can offer increased value to your home. Instead of opting for a black roof, look at the up-scale houses in your area and check their roofs. See if the roofers/estimators are using the same roofing shingles, and find out what guarantees are offered with those materials. Opt for the colors that are most appealing on other higher-end homes in your area.
8. Educate yourself as to the options for protective materials. Manufactures offer specialty underlayments that can increase the lifespan of your roof. Familiarize yourself with the different brands of materials by visiting their websites. 

Now I'm going to offer a few videos of what a roofing or exterior inspector will be looking for:

Even though this video is meant as training for an insurance inspector, it provides valuable insights as to how your insurance company will look at your roof, and how you should look at it, too. 

*Note that these inspectors will not get up on the roof - and that they stress the need for a professional roof inspector or contractor to do this. This is very true - contractors are licensed and insured to go up on your roof. Should any damage be present, they know where to walk (to not cause more damage) and what to look at. 

Here's another from a roof inspector's point of view: 

This fellow is right - many contractors will employ workmen who will not install the roof correctly, often hurrying in their work. As a result, they can nail and staple in the wrong spots. However, if you hire a reputable company who does not cut corners, you will find that the roof will be installed correctly. 

Here's a little know-how on how to select a contractor: 

This video went into great detail - insurance, licensing, experience, recent jobs, referrals and reviews are all very important, not to mention the price. Beware of low prices, as was discussed above. 

In the end, getting repairs done is the best course of action, and then, if your roof needs to be replaced, select carefully. 

I hope this has been informative for you - Best Quality Roofing & Chimney, Inc. offers licensing and insurance certificates, affordable pricing that's realistic, quality GAF guaranteed materials - with GAF certifications on installation, inspection, and maintenance. If you ever have a question, call us today. We'd be glad to help you. 855-626-9100 toll free.