What Should You Look for in a Roofing Contractor?

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A leaky roof is more than just an inconvenience: it can be a disaster, as water damage is capable of doing great harm to your home, valuables, and health. Even without water getting in, if your roof isn’t secure, heat can leak out and greatly drive up your energy bill. That’s why keeping your roof in great condition through regular care and maintenance is an absolute must, and why it’s important you have a great roofing contractor.

The right roofing contractor will get the job done quickly and effectively, without overcharging you for the work they do. Of course, finding the right contractor may prove to be a bit of a challenge in its own right. While there are plenty of roofers around, how do you choose the best one to work on your home?

As with many things in life, it’s all about doing your homework and knowing what to look for. Below are a few things you should look for in a roofing contractor in the Vancouver, WA, area:

The Cheapest Option Isn’t Always the Best

Of course, saving money should be near the top of your list when looking for a roofing contractor. However, that shouldn’t always mean going for the cheapest option; as with many things in life, you get what you pay for. You’re paying for the experience, skill, and talent of your roofers, not to mention the quality of the materials they use. All of these things have an inherent cost.

If the work is offered too cheaply, it may be because it’s simply not good quality. While you may be able to get a repair job performed extremely cheaply by a less-than-reputable roofer, it may not hold up. In the long run, this will end up costing you a good deal more money when your roof needs to be repaired again after a short time.

That isn’t to say you should overpay, however: there are also less-than-reputable roofers who may artificially gouge their prices. To make an educated decision, look for a roofer like Interstate Roofing, which offers transparency with regards to their prices. They charge a minimum service call charge that covers the first hour of labor. Every hour after is billed at a lower rate, with an additional cost for materials. Larger, more extensive repairs will cost more.

Do They Offer Emergency Services?

A great roofing contractor will be available 24/7. That’s because major roofing problems can occur at any time. If you discover your roof is leaking during a rainstorm in the middle of the night, you may need to have a roofer come in right away to avoid catastrophic damage to your home and property.

Before deciding on a roofing contractor, you should find out if they offer on-call emergency services. A roofing emergency will not wait for the most convenient time to occur. That means you need a roofer who’s always available, no matter the day or time.

Do They Take Safety Seriously?

It may sound obvious, but safety needs to be a top priority for all roofers. It’s a risky job, after all: climbing around on a high rooftop, possibly under wet or icy conditions. Doing this safely requires proper training, equipment, and care. So how can you ascertain whether your roofer has the appropriate commitment to safety?

Start by heading to their company website and researching what steps they’ve taken to keep their workers safe. Do their employees undergo a safety orientation? Have they been trained in CPR and first aid? What is the company’s safety policy? Does it meet the bare minimum state requirements, or has the company gone above and beyond what’s required of them?

All of these are important to take note of when looking for great roofing contractors. Vancouver, WA has strict safety standards, but a good roofer will do even more than what’s required.

Is Their Paperwork in Order?

Another important quality to look for in a roofing contractor is the proper licensing and insurance paperwork. If you’re considering any particular roofing company, make sure to ask what type of insurance they hold. Are they covered in case of damage or injury?

You’ll also want to ask what certifications your roofing contractors hold. You should look for a company that’s certified by various roofing material manufacturers. This helps to ensure your contractor is fully committed to safety, as well as to customer satisfaction.

It’s also worth doing a little research on what organizations your prospective roofing contractors are allied with. For example, a great roofing company in Vancouver, WA, will probably be a member of the Pacific Northwest division of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

Look for Satisfied Customers

Of course, all the licenses and paperwork in the world won’t matter if the customers aren’t happy. When looking for a roofing contractor, you should always look for testimonials from satisfied customers. Check online and read reviews on sites such as Google or Angie’s List. Read referrals that the company has online as well. If possible, talk to your neighbors about their experiences; do they have a roofing contractor they’re especially happy with?

You’ll also want to make sure the company has a reputation for working to keep their customers happy. A good rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) can be a clue that your prospective roofer makes customer satisfaction a priority.

When you’re checking these references, make sure you go back a few years. A great roofing company will have many years of satisfied customers. Interstate Roofing, for example, has been in business since 1988 and can furnish “Report Cards” filled out by satisfied customers.

What Are the Features of a Quality Oregon Roofing Company?

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When it comes to roof repair, you want someone that you can trust. You want someone that you can depend on. You want someone that you know will not scam you. Because of this, it’s important to choose an Oregon roofing company that has good qualities.

What are these good qualities? That’s the question that we’re here to help you answer. As an award-winning corporation that has been serving roofing replacement, repair, and maintenance needs in Oregon since the late ’80s, we know a thing or two about providing quality services. That’s why we want to guide you and ensure that you choose the best roofing company, one that will not only give you the best value but treat you well too. Here are some of the features you should look for when choosing a quality Oregon roofing company.

They’re Insured

Accidents happen. That’s a fact when it comes to all aspects of life and includes while making home repairs. An accident can happen on the job, while roof repair is being done on your home. You don’t want to be responsible for this accident. You’re already paying for work on your roof. The last thing you want to do is spend even more money due to an accident occurring on your property. Because of this, you want to ensure that the company you select to work on your roof is insured.

Sure, a company that’s not insured may offer you a cheaper rate. However, if there’s any loss that happens due to accident, damage, or injury, you’ll be liable and have to pay for any costs. If a worker is hurt on the job, as the homeowner, that becomes your responsibility, not necessarily the responsibility of the company you hired. If an outside party is hurt due to something involved with the roof repair, that also falls under your responsibility and not the workers’ or company’s.

Be sure to take a look at and verify the company’s insurance. Make sure it’s up-to-date and valid. The two most common and most important pieces of insurance to look into are workers’ compensation and liability insurance.

They Have the Proper Credentials

You need a license to do work on your Oregon home. Make sure the company you’re looking to hire has the proper credentials, such as a CCB number, to do the work you need done. Make sure they’re not expired and that it will be valid during the entire time it will take to do work on your home. Be sure to look into the proper registrations and permits needed to do work in your specific neighborhood and ask the company if they have them. Ask if they have any additional certifications as well, as it will further emphasize their professionalism and trustworthiness.

Getting the proper licenses and permits can be expensive, which is why some non-quality roofing companies may choose not to get them. If you get an estimate that’s quite a bit below all the rest, be sure to look specifically into the company’s credentials. The offer could be lower because it hasn’t met all the requirements for the area.

You want to ensure that the best work possible is being done on your roof, so it’s important to choose an Oregon roofing company with the proper permits and licenses.

Be Sure They Have Warranties

You want to be sure you’re getting the best possible service, right? Quality roofing companies know this. Don’t be afraid to ask what their warrantees are. The manufacturer warranties most products and materials that contractors use when working on your roof. At least a one-year guarantee for roof installation is common. For instance, at Interstate Roofing, we offer various warranties based on the work that you’re getting done, up to 20 years of workmanship coverage.

A quality Oregon roofing company will understand that roofs are an expensive investment and that you want to be safe from needing to pay more money for a while. That’s why you’re doing repair work on your roof now, right? To get rid of all the problems at once. A warranty gives you peace of mind that if something goes wrong after all of this hard work and money spent, it will be taken care of smoothly.

They Have Great References

Word-of-mouth remains one of the best ways to find out about contractors. However, it’s not uncommon to ask around and discover no one has had work done on their roof recently. This is where technology comes in—you can read real reviews and references online.

Look into a company before choosing it. A quality Oregon roofing company will have reviews or testimonials online for you to read or will have references available to send you, all written by real people who have used their services. It shouldn’t be a problem to get at least 10 different references if the company has been around for a bit and is of good quality. Additionally, by reading their reviews and references, you can get an idea of how happy customers were with the work the company did on their home. That is an extra layer of assurance that you are choosing a quality roofing company.

When it comes to choosing a quality Oregon roofing company, it all comes down to trust. You want to choose a contractor who will do hard work, make sure that your roof is in tip-top shape, and won’t charge you obscene prices. How do you go about doing this? By verifying all of the above. Make sure the company has the proper licenses, insurance, permits, certifications, and warranties. By checking all of this, you know you’re getting the real deal.

If you have more questions about choosing a quality roofing company, give us a call at Interstate Roofing. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and even come out for an estimate.

What Does Roof Cleaning and Maintenance in Tigard Involve?

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Maintaining a clean, well-cared-for roof is an important part of your home’s curb appeal, and one that an unfortunately high number of homeowners neglect. It’s not just about the visuals either. A poorly maintained roof will have a shorter life span, and a lack of maintenance can increase the likelihood of a catastrophic failure, which can end up costing you a great deal of money.

If you’re on this page, though, you probably already know all that. And you already know that regular cleaning and maintenance of your roof is one of the wisest choices you, as a homeowner, can make. Exactly what this involves and how often you need to have your roof cleaned and cared for depends on the type of roof you have. It also depends on the climate you live in. For example, if you live in a place like Tigard, Oregon, your roof will receive around 41 inches of rain every year—well above the national average. It will also have to weather snow, hail, sleet, and the blazing sun of the summer. In a climate like that, roof cleaning for Tigard, Oregon, homes might need to be more regular than in other places.

Read on to learn more about what roof cleaning and maintenance involves.

Cleaning Your Roof

The first step in keeping your roof clean is an obvious one. You’ll need to make sure your roof is free of debris, such as leaves, sticks, and branches. This is especially true if a buildup of material has begun to clog your rain gutters. If water can’t properly flow off your roof, it will eventually back up and begin to leak into your home. This can ultimately cause thousands of dollars in property damage as rainwater drips into your home, ruining everything in its path.

Regularly clearing your roof of debris is something you can do on your own, without the help of a roofing professional, provided you have the right equipment. As with any big job in the home, always think of safety first. Don’t attempt to climb onto your roof without the right ladder. You should have one that can be secured to your roof so that you can move safely. Make sure you have a pair of gloves as well, and be aware of where all power cables and other hazards are located. You should never climb onto your roof alone either. Always have a spotter to help keep an eye on your safety.

When it comes to keeping your roof clean, you can take preventative steps as well. For example, you can help to avoid getting a lot of leaves and branches on your roof by keeping nearby trees regularly trimmed and cared for. Unhealthy branches should be removed, and dead trees should be cut down before they pose a hazard to your property.

Moss and Algae

Especially if you live in an unusually wet area, your roof may be vulnerable to the growth of moss, mildew, and algae. Roof cleaning for Tigard, Oregon, homes, for example, involves a good deal of moss killing and/or removal because of the extra moisture in the climate. At first, moss and algae are simply unsightly, but over time, they can cause catastrophic damage to your roof. That’s why it’s important to nip the problem in the bud.

Moss spores are carried to your roof by the wind. If your roof happens to be wet and dirty (as most roofs are at some point in time), they’ll find ideal conditions for their growth and begin to spread. Over time, this moss will degrade shingles and allow water to track in unusual ways it wouldn’t ordinarily.

Cleaning moss off your roof is simple enough, even if it is a lot of work. Industrial products that kill moss are only available to those that are trained, tested, and certified by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. In most cases, you’re better off asking a professional roofer, such as the ones at Interstate Roofing, to do this maintenance for you. If you hire a professional, make sure they’re licensed to apply the product they’re selling. There are only a small handful of contractors in the state that are.

Roof Maintenance

Of course, there’s more to maintaining a roof than simply cleaning. As with any part of your home, you’ll want to have regular inspections performed in order to discover if there are any repairs needed. A well-cared-for roof can last for many, many years, but only if problem parts are replaced before they cause further damage. In addition, all manufacturers’ material warranties require roof maintenance.

First, you’ll want to contact a trustworthy roofer, like the ones from Interstate Roofing. Your roofer will look for any signs of moss, leaks, exposed sealant, or damaged shingles. They can clean any moss growth, remove any debris that has accumulated, and check vents, gutters, and other openings to make sure there’s no blockage.

Damaged nails, screws, flashing, and bolts will be removed and replaced by your roofing contractor. They may also make upgrade recommendations. For example, you may have the opportunity to switch your flashing to a higher quality material. If your roofer discovers any damaged shingles, they may replace them. In some cases—depending on how well your roof was maintained before—this may be a huge project. If it’s been a while since your roof was last serviced, your roofer may find that many of the shingles need to be replaced. They’ll also check the wooden parts of your roof to discover any signs of rot or other major damage.

In extreme cases, the entire roof may need to be replaced. While this isn’t common, it shouldn’t be put off, because if a roof becomes too far gone, it may collapse completely. It goes without saying that this will be a financial disaster.

5 Questions to Ask When Looking for Portland Roofers

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Deciding to replace the roof of your home is one of the most important things a homeowner will ever do. It’s something most homeowners will only do once, and it’s a major expense. So with that being the case, you need to make sure you hire a contractor who will serve your needs well. However, you may be somebody who’s in unfamiliar territory when it comes to choosing a roofer.

If that’s the case, you need to know how to go about hiring the right Portland roofers. Interstate Roofing can help. As a professional and experienced contractor, we can tell you there are a variety of questions to ask before you hire Portland roofers. The answers you receive will be crucial in helping you make the right choice.

What Does Past Work Look Like?

Reputation and word of mouth are two incredibly important components of vetting potential contractors. If you need Portland roofers to come in and replace your roof, you’re likely going to do what you do when you’re thinking of trying a restaurant for the first time or looking for a family doctor. That is, ask friends, family members, and acquaintances for recommendations. After all, if people you trust give a product or service a thumbs up, you know it’s on the level.

That said, we live in a time when thousands of people review everything from libraries to hospitals on the internet. When choosing Portland roofers, you should absolutely look to those close to you first for recommendations. You should also surf the web for reviews by unbiased, third-party customers. This will give you a strong general idea of whether a contractor has a history of doing good work.

How Long Has the Contractor Been in Business?

If you’re looking for a new family doctor, you probably wouldn’t want to pick somebody who just graduated from medical school. This is nothing personal against that doctor. It’s just that whoever you trust to be your doctor is going to be crucial to your family’s health. You want somebody with a proven track record of being successful with numerous patients.

While choosing Portland roofers may not be quite as important as choosing a family physician, it’s still critical to hire contractors who have proven over time that they can produce high-quality roofing work. So selecting contractors who have been in business for a long time is generally a smart move. It’s rare that a company would be operational for many years if it wasn’t good at what it does.

This isn’t to say that just because a company has been around for a significant period of time it’s the right one for the job. No matter what, you still need to investigate the company’s reputation and reviews. However, knowing they’re not new and unproven is often one of the first steps in determining whether to look into the company further as a potential candidate to replace the roof of your home.

Should You Base Your Decision On Price?

It’s not that price isn’t important, because it is, especially if you’re on a tight budget. However, you would be wise to remember the adage, “You get what you pay for,” when selecting a contractor.

Sometimes, a company’s price is the lowest around for a reason, and it isn’t always because it’s just a great deal. It could be because that company does subpar work or uses cheap materials and inexperienced workers.

The best course of action is to get estimates from multiple roofing contractors and compare those prices. Then weigh those price estimates against each company’s reputation and past work history. You may ultimately decide to go with the cheapest estimate, but you should keep in mind that sometimes it’s worth paying a little more if you know you’ll get more in the way of quality. It’s all about doing your research.

Is the Contractor Licensed and Insured?

Replacing the roof of your home is a job that’s often too complex to be done by yourself, unless you have a background in roofing. That is precisely why most homeowners hire a roofing company to do the job. However, even after you make the decision to hire a specific contractor, it’s essential that you make sure they have the proper insurance. You also want to ensure they up-to-date licensing and permits before you sign on the dotted line.

It doesnt matter how good a contractor’s work is. If they don’t have the proper licensing and permits, it could result in the work on your house being shut down or delayed for a significant length of time if the violation is discovered and the local government acts accordingly. Also, not having the proper insurance could be highly damaging to your wallet if anything bad happensduring the work. If a worker gets injured on the job and the contractor doesn’t have the proper insurance, there might be issues. It’s possible the worker could sue both their employer and you, the homeowner, in order to try to get restitution.

Similarly, if there’s damage to your property while the work is being completed, the proper insurance will ensure you’re not left financially responsible once the workers move on. Whatever you do, never put yourself in a position where there’s any chance whatsoever that you could be held personally liable for damage or a roofing worker’s injury.

Will They Give You Everything in Writing?

No matter who you select to replace your roofing, get the details of the work to be done in writing. The agreed-upon price should be in writing too. This is critical to protecting you against dishonest contractors that promise things they cannot deliver or try to ask for additional money even after having agreed to do the job for a specific price. Having everything that has been agreed upon explained clearly and concisely in writing gives you the means to take legal action against that contractor if the need arises.