Things to Consider When Choosing a Contractor

There are many things to consider when you're thinking about a new roof or home improvement. Most importantly, you need to choose the right contractor for the job.
You should consider all of the contractor’s bids, and how they came up with their respective quotes rather then just picking the lowest bidder. You won’t save any money at all if you get poor workmanship or substandard materials. Also, if the contractor improperly installs the materials, it may void the manufacture's warranty.

Here at Bill Schmidt Enterprises, Inc. we only use the finest materials, installed by professionals.

Give a call today at: (216) 362-5955 to schedule your free estimate.

This article appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Wednesday, August 20, 2003

NAIL DOWN LOOSE ENDS BEFORE REPAIRING ROOF

There are a lot of things to consider when you're thinking about a new roof.
1.) Make sure every bid you get includes important information such as the brand of materials and complete descriptions of the scope of work.
2.) The contract should have the contractor's name, street address (not just a P.O. box) and phone number.
3.) Don't automatically pick the low bidder. You're not saving money at all if you get a shoddy job or substandard materials or if the contractor installs shingles in a way that voids the manufacturer's warranty.
If you have several bidders saying you've got problems and a low bidder saying there's a cheaper fix, you might want to bounce his proposal off his competitors.
4.) Check all bidders out with the Better Business Bureau. Insist the roofer give you a list of references, and make sure it contains customers who had work done five or six years ago (to make sure the work held up) as well as a few more recent jobs (to make sure the company's still completing jobs in a timely, professional way). It's important to call the people listed as references.
5.) Ask for business or supplier references. A contractor who's having trouble paying bills could have trouble finishing your job.
6.)Verify that the roofer has current liability insurance and worker's comp. Ask to see the certificates, then check with the insurer. Check worker's comp by call the state Bureau of Worker's compensation at 1-800-664-6292.
7.)Your local building department probably requires roofers to register and post a bond. Make sure any roofer you plan to hire is registered with your city.
8.) Do not let a roofer start work unless he has pulled the required permits from the building department in his name, not yours. Permits are required to be posted at your job site, so if you don't see one, ask.
9.) Never pay a roofer - or any remodeler in full in advance. If you absolutely must pay a deposit, keep it under a third of the total price. If possible, arrange to pay for the job on completion.
10.) Never hire someone who shows up at your door offering you a bargain because he's already working in the neighborhood or has leftover materials from another job.
11.) You have three business days (Saturday counts) to cancel a home-improvement contract under both federal and state law.
You must be given written notice of your right to cancel. If you do decide to cancel, do it in writing and have proof. (A fax confirmation works nicely, as does sending a letter by certified mail.)
12.) Get copies of any warranties and a statement that all suppliers have been paid in full before you write the final check.
Make sure the contractor leaves extra shingles for replacements, say for storm damage.
13.) Learn a little about roofing before you get bids. Check you local library.
If you can tune out the sales pitches, some roofing materials manufacturers have useful information for consumers posted on their Web sites, including building terminology and warranty terms and tips on installation.
On a related note, if you plan to finish an attic space, research how it could affect your roof first. Putting drywall against rafters or blocking soffit vents could interfere with ventilation and shorten the life of your existing roof, warns Pat Jones, executive director of the Tri-County chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
You might need to install baffles between rafters or take other steps to make sure the roof still will be able to breathe