The reconstruction of a roof is considered as one of the most costly home maintenance items. Using a less competent contractor for this undertaking could be a nightmare considering the investment involved in this type of home maintenance. While finding a reputable commercial roofing company may be difficult, the end result will be selecting the best company available to accomplish the necessary repairs and allow the homeowner to relax with peace of mind from knowing that the right choice has been made. Following are some helpful tips on finding the best roofing contractor in a given area.

• Check with Realtors - Property managers of major local real estate firms are good sources for quality referrals. It is a good idea to get the e-mail addresses of these property managers so they can be contacted individually for their referrals. They usually maintain a list of reliable contractors who offer the best services at reasonable prices.

• Verify with BBB - The list of referrals from the real estate firm managers can be verified through the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in the area. Homeowners can visit the various BBB websites and personally check on roofing companies to see if they uphold sound business practices and keep their track records clean.

• Do Online Research - This tip may take some time but it is well worth the extra time spent in doing this research. Perform an online analysis of each company that has been referred. This can be done by typing the name of the company into one of the search engines on the internet. Then, if the company has a website, visit it. Check the website for any posted information, such as reviews and/or comments. This is especially important if they have a customer feedback section in order to get an adequate idea of how well the roofing company performs their job.

• Get License Number - It is extremely important to get the license number of each contractor that has been referred. Call the representative of the roofing company to ask for it, if necessary.

• Examine Public Profile - Make some time to visit the local licensing department to confirm and examine the public profile of the roofing companies. Check more thoroughly on any official complaints filed against them. In other counties, such information sometimes can be found in the local newspaper.

• Contact Former Customers - Contact at least three people who have done business with the contractor. Make a phone call to each of these people and verify that they are satisfied with the company’s performance. Ask about the quality and speed of the job that was performed.

• Interview Contractors Selected - Finally, call the referred roofing contractors who, after extensive research and much consideration, have made it to the top of the list as the potentially best choice for the needs of this particular job. Verify their work experience and confirm that it is substantial. Make sure to confirm that each company has documentation that they maintain both general liability and worker’s compensation insurance. General liability insurance covers any damages that the roofing company causes to the property of the owner or any nearby property. Worker’s Compensation insurance covers any workers who may be injured on the job.

• Must Provide Contract and Warranty – Only select a contractor who provides a written itemized contract as well as a warranty for their materials and workmanship. Read the contract carefully and ask questions about any item that is not clearly stated. Warranty terms should also be clearly stated in the contract to ensure that the roof will be of high quality. If necessary, hire an attorney to review the contract and warranty details if there is any uncertainty about some of the terminology used.

A knowledgeable homeowner knows some facts about good quality commercial roofing companies and knows that their services are available to everyone. A wise homeowner takes the time to do more work and gather all the facts and learn from other peoples’ experiences before making a choice in hiring a contractor. With these helpful tips in mind, a homeowner can achieve the best quality and best warranty available for home roofing needs!