Most homeowners who are searching for a roofing company in Ottawa know some commonplace questions, including asking for references and figuring out how experienced the team truly is. That said, there are more complex questions that often go unasked—and that can lead to unfortunate misunderstandings later on. Here are the questions to ask a Ottawa roofing company before hiring them:
1. Will You Remove The Old Roof?
You always want the roofing company to pull up old shingles. Why? If they don’t, they will never know if there are soft spots. In the event soft spots are left covered up and alone, the problem will spread and cause immense damage to your roof. The repairs are costly. Experienced professional roofers will always remove the old roof before installing a new one.
2. Will You Install Drip and Metal Edging?
While there are many pieces of a roof to consider, such as flashings and edging and nails per shingle, you certainly want to ask about drip or metal edging. These pieces of aluminum are placed under the shingles and extend outward to direct water and runoff towards the eavestroughs, protecting the soffits and fascia. If edging isn’t installed, you can anticipate heavy water damage over time.
3. Will Old Flashings Be Reused or Will New Ones Be Installed?
Although replacing flashing is not an easy job, the reputable roofing company will want to remove, measure, and replace the existing flashing to ensure it will work with the new material. If it won’t, they will have to install new ones. Not replacing improperly fitting flashings will definitely lead to repairs down the road, because they will start to rust and leak. New flashing is a necessity.
4. Are You Licensed?
Regardless of where you are, you want to know that the roofing company is going to adhere to codes and regulations for your district. If they are licensed in Ontario for example, the company will know the requirements for the Ottawa region. You should never work with unlicensed individuals or companies, because you won’t have any recourse if something goes wrong. Lastly, make sure that license is up to date.
5. Do You Have Workman’s Comp Insurance and Liability Insurance?
You need to ask this question for two reasons. One, if someone from the company you hire gets injured while on your property, you could find yourself neck-deep in medical bills for that employee. You don’t want to have to deal with that financial burden. Second, while Worker’s Compensation will cover employees working on your roof, a general liability insurance will protect your property from unwanted and unexpected damages. For example, if the company isn’t covered and they accidentally set your home on fire, you—not the company—will be expected to pay for the damages.
6. Will You Use Ladder Stabilizers or Standoffs To Protect The Gutters?
The answer you should hear is “yes.” How the roofers get onto the roof is just as important as what they do once they begin the job. Ladder stabilizers or standoffs will keep the weight of the ladders, and will keep that weight and pressure from bearing down on the gutters. Without a standoff or stabilizer of some sort, your gutters could be damaged during the roofing job. So don’t overlook this.
7. Will You Bring a Container For Refuse? If So, Where Will It Be Placed?
Not all companies provide containers for the old roofing and other materials, so you should ask whether it is your responsibility or not. You also need to know where the container, should one be provided, is going to be put. Since containers can be heavy, if it is placed on asphalt on a hot day, it could cause your pavement to crack.
8. Do You Provide Written Estimates?
You never want to settle into an agreement with a company without first receiving written paperwork. The more detailed the estimate, the less problems you will have in the future. The company representative should go through everything listed on the estimate so you have full comprehension of what you will be paying for and how that price could change.
Now that you know what questions to ask a roofing company before hiring them, you will be able to find the right group for the job! Remember, you want to obtain as much information as possible, weigh the options, and then choose the company that fits your values, budget, and needs.
0 Comments