Throughout this spring and early summer, there has been a huge rash of damaging storms and tornadoes throughout the country, and the need for a quality Mesa roofing contractor to do repairs is greater than ever. More people than ever have experienced damage to their homes that now needs to be repaired.

Choosing a contractor that will be honest and reliable is a daunting task. Here are some important points to consider when choosing a contractor to repair your roof.

Ask your family, friends and neighbors for a recommendation

If your area has been hit by a storm, there are probably many other people in your neighborhood who are having repairs done on their homes. Talk to your neighbors and find out who has had a good experience with the Mesa roofing contractor that they used and who may have had a not-so-good experience with their contractor. There are always unique cases, so talk to several people and get more than one opinion on the contractor you're considering.

Always be sure that your roofing contractor is bonded and insured

According to the Better Business Bureau, if a contractor is bonded, your losses are covered. If the contractor were to leave your job unfinished, you can make a claim on the contractor's bond and get your money back. The purpose of insurance is to cover liability that may arise on the job. If your Mesa roofing contractor is insured and falls off your roof during the job, his insurance will cover the liability. If the contractor is not insured, you would be liable for an accident that might occur while the work is being done on your home. This could result in you making a claim on your homeowners insurance or paying out of pocket to cover the accident and its repercussions.

You should also get several estimates for roofing

If you get three estimates and one is significantly higher or lower than the others, that should raise a red flag. Consider why one might be so much more or less than the others—are they planning to do the job thoroughly and appropriately? Are they able to give a very low bid because they are going to do a shoddy job?

Be sure to always ask your roofing contractor if they will remove the old shingles, or just lay new shingles on top of them.

You want a contractor to remove the old shingles so that you will know if there is a problem underneath that needs to be repaired.

Overson Roofing, Mesa roofing expert, is licensed, bonded and accredited by the Better Business Bureau.