The roofing industry is largely unregulated so homeowners must be vigilant when choosing a company. Gordon Bailey from Academia Roofing & Attics offers up a checklist of items homeowners should keep in mind when hiring someone for the job.
1) Don’t hire if they haven’t looked in your attic
- A good roofer will check your attic for adequate insulation and ventilation. They will also want to see that bathroom fans are hooked up and venting properly
- They will check for issues with condensation and mold that can be addressed while a new roof is being installed
2) Addressing issues with mold and condensation
- Water stains that might be evident in your soffits, on your walls, on your interior ceilings, are all telltale sign that there is an issue needing to be resolved to prevent future problems with mold or condensation
- If you have any signs of mold in your attic a good roofer will make you aware of it and find you solution that will help ensure it doesn’t come back.
3) New gutters and eavestroughing go on AFTER your new roof
- If you put in new gutters and/or eavestroughs before your new roof they will get damaged during the roof install
- Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise
Beware the roofer who works with no safety protection or proper safety gear!
4) Expertise is key
- Every project needs a strong leader
- Their role is to educate, train, co-ordinate and facilitate the project
- Each stage has to be reviewed and checked by the leader on-site
- Safety on the job site is absolutely critical – particularly with roofers working at heights. Your roofer must be compliant with all safety standards proscribed by the Occupational Health & Safety Act – beware the roofer who does not comply. To know more, see here: http://www.canadiancontractor.ca/voices/what-is-working-at-heights-training-in-ontario/.
5) A metal expert is critical
- Every good company has a metal expert on staff or a relationship with one to help complete their projects
- The metal expert does all the flashings on the job and also works in the shop
- They are the backbone of most companies because they are able to make a really good quality job 100 per cent finished.
6) Murphy’s Law
- Murphy was actually a contractor, and as the old adage goes, anything that can go wrong will go wrong
- Because of this, Bailey suggests asking for references from customers who were originally unhappy and were made happy in the end
Before you begin your project, make sure you read as many reviews of other homeowners you can, and that your roofer has proper safety protection and their Working At Heights card.
Good luck with your project!
