Begin the process by selecting contractors that have a proven track record and are established. Also look for contractors consistently working in your neighbourhood because their livelihood depends upon your referral. Ask to see certifications, licenses and employee training documents. Properly trained and supervised employees are the difference between a good experience or on-going headaches.

 

Schedule an appointment with each contractor and plan to spend some time with them. Your home is a huge investment and re-roofing is a major project, a little bit of time spent making the right decisions before hand will save you time and money long term.

 

Ask lots of questions, point out problems and concerns. The best contractors will probably have encountered the problem before and if not they will have the experience and knowledge to come up with a solution for you.

 

Discuss scheduling to make sure the work can be started and finished in a reasonable time frame. It’s important not to leave your home exposed to the elements for longer than necessary. Most jobs should be finished within one to two days.

 

Make sure the proposal is detailed. You want to know exactly what you are getting for your money, compare apples to apples. Sometimes hidden problems can arise during the project and need to be fixed in order for a proper installation. So there could be extra charges if this happens, find out how your contractor would deal with this situation.

 

Check the contractor's insurance. Reputable contractors carry two types of insurance; liability and workers compensation. Liability insurance protects you from property damage and bodily injury. Workers Compensation covers the workers in case of injury for medical expenses and loss of wages. Insurance is expensive and many contractors let their policies lapse, so phone the insurance agencies to verify the contractor's policies. Without proper insurance the financial responsibility falls on the homeowner.

 

Check references and ask how complaints are handled. Reputable contractors have a proven track record and will be pleased to show a list of past customers. Even the best contractors have a few problems, so it is important to ask how they handle customer complaints.

 

Although there are no guarantees that your renovation will be problem free, a planned approach can help avoid most problems. Spending the time to pick a good contractor before the project starts means your job is mostly done.