If you own property, sooner or later you’re going to need to choose a roofer. Of course, we recommend you find someone you trust before an emergency happens, but unfortunately people put it off for lots of reasons.
Perhaps one of the biggest hurdles is the first one we hear as roofing contractors: Bradenton residents don’t even know where to start. There are loads of roofing companies in southwest Florida, and people are on alert for the very real possibility of fraud.
We believe that educated homeowners are empowered homeowners, and we want our friends and neighbors to have the knowledge they need to select a company that will do the work, with excellent results, for a price they can manage.
This is why we want to show people how to choose a roofer who’s trustworthy, professional, and qualified.
How to Choose a Bradenton Roofing Contractor
Step 1: Gather Options
You don’t just want to call the first company you see or ad you come across. Start by putting together a list of possibilities.
- Ask local friends and family to recommend a roofing company they’ve worked with.
- Request recommendations on social media.
- Lastly, google the specific services you need—you can even include your current and desired roofing material, your building’s architectural stye and age, and other details that will help narrow down your search and find a local roofer in Bradenton or Sarasota who can handle your job.
Step 2: Narrow Down Your Choices
Once you have a list, it’s time to start researching.
- Check each roofing company’s website. Florida roofers are required to display their license number on their website and other marketing materials. By searching for that license number, you can find information about the company’s background, where it’s located, and whether it does business by another name, among other details.
- Roofer websites may also include details about insurance, how the business operates, what services they offer, the roofing materials they work with, and any other specialties they might have.
- Check review sites, but don’t rely on them as gospel. While individual bad reviews can happen for a lot of reasons, a series of similar complaints might give you a window into potential recurring problems with that particular company.
- Check the company’s socials! You can learn a lot about a company from the way they conduct themselves online.
Step 3: Start Reaching Out
Armed with the details you’ve found in your research, we hope you feel comfortable and confident in reaching out to the roofing companies that appeal to you and meet your needs.
Make a list of questions beforehand. It can be hard to remember everything you want to ask, especially if you’re not already a roofing expert.
- Ask for proof of insurance, which can protect you in case of accidents.
- Ask about business practices, including safety, cleanup, and if there will be an onsite supervisor that you can talk to as needed.
- Ask about their crew. Do they work with the same crew on every job? Who will be up on your roof?
- Ask about additional certifications and/or manufacturer partnerships. Some roofing companies are also certified by, or partnered with, manufacturers and other industry organizations, demonstrating a longstanding trustworthiness.
- Request a timeline for the work. A roofing contractor might not be able to give you an exact schedule the first time they hear from you, but they should have a good idea of their availability and how long the work will take.
- Ask whatever comes to your mind! You should be comfortable having a conversation with your roofer.
How to Choose a Bradenton Roofer
Step 4: What NOT to Do
- Don’t allow anyone to perform an inspection or get on your roof before you’ve thoroughly researched them. This especially includes storm-chasers knocking on your door and offering discounts.
- Don’t accept red flags. Rude staff, late arrivals, lackluster communication—all these things will stick with you and cast a pall on your home experience. Don’t let them give you more stress!
- Don’t settle! If a company doesn’t do the kind of work you need, or in the time frame that you need it done, you can keep looking. And if you already trust them, ask them for recommendations! No one knows the local roofing industry like other roofers.
We wish you luck on your pursuit of a trustworthy Bradenton roofing company! And of course, if you ever have any questions, feel free to reach out to Blue Collar Roofing!
