Expert Advice : Questions to Ask a Roofer Before Hiring

It’s a truth no homeowner can escape. At some point, you’re going to have to repair or replace the roof on your home. And it’s going to cost a pretty penny.

So how do you find a roofer who does great work, won’t break the bank and is TRUSTWORTHY?

Most of us search for a roofing company by asking friends for recommendations and diving into a Google search. And that’s where I started too.

I got some great referrals. But when it came to searching online, I was left totally & completely confused. Most of my phone calls were answered by company reps focused on sales rather than answering my questions & concerns. Emails directed me to call those same sales reps & ignored my questions. Review sites (Yelp, Google, etc) want me to believe that every roofing company in the world is the BEST (5 stars) and the WORST (1 star) simultaneously. As I said…confusing.

So, that’s when I decided to use the awesome power of my teeny-tiny interior design blog and pester some of my top contenders into helping me write this Expert Guide to Finding a Great Roofer for Your Home.

Luckily for us, the fine folks at D'Angelo & Sons Roofing & Exteriors were willing to patiently & honestly answer all of my many, many questions about residential roofing & roofers. Hopefully, their answers will help you make the best possible choice of roofing contractor when it comes time to repair or replace the roof on your home.

Here’s what they had to say…

Interior Design Toronto : How important is it for a homeowner to ask for references?

D’Angelo & Sons : Definitely very important. Finding a reputable company that has been around for years and built a community presence speaks for itself.

Interior Design Toronto : In your experience, do many homeowners ask for references...and of those, do many actually check those references?

D’Angelo & Sons : In our experience, we do find that homeowners ask for references. With that said we have quite a large platform of where homeowners can find our work. Our website, social media, lawn signs on current projects, Brochures, as well as our estimators who have access to a large database of images/videos of our past work which can be shared with homeowners directly upon request.

Interior Design Toronto : How about checking reviews on sites like Yelp, Google Business and the Better Business Bureau?

In your experience, are their many fake reviews (competitors), reviews from unreasonable clients, etc.
Can homeowners implicitly trust these reviews or do they need to be a little bit skeptical...to see both sides?

D’Angelo & Sons : Of course. We find the majority of our customers do check in with review websites to get an idea of our reputation which I think is typical. We do think it is definitely possible for fake reviews to exist especially on websites that require just a star or number rating. However, we have multiple platforms where homeowners can view very detailed written responses/reviews of past customers’ experiences with us.

Interior Design Toronto : Can I visit an ongoing job to see your team at work?

D’Angelo & Sons : Homeowners can feel free to give us a call and check in with us to see what projects are in progress at the moment. However, we do have to make sure privacy guidelines are met.

Interior Design Toronto : Is there a manager-type person who oversees the work of the crew working on my home and do they ensure the quality of the work?

D’Angelo & Sons : Absolutely. We have a project manager assigned to each project who takes care of everything such as ordering materials, scheduling, and overseeing the completion of the project. They are on-site daily to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Interior Design Toronto : How long does a residential roofing job take on average?

D’Angelo & Sons : On average a roofing project will take 1 full day. Of course, larger homes may take longer depending on square footage, pitch, etc

Interior Design Toronto : Do I need a building permit?

D’Angelo & Sons : Normally building permits are not required for residential replacement of roofing, siding, windows/doors, and Eavestrough. Permits may be needed if any structural changes occur or if you would like to add additions to your home.

Interior Design Toronto : What about quotes?

Of course, a homeowner will need to see a quote from prospective roofers, but how closely should homeowners compare quotes?
As someone in the interior design biz, I know that some designers quote everything, while others low-ball their quotes knowing they will increase the bill once the job is in progress. Should quotes be compared?

D’Angelo & Sons : We are very open and honest with our pricing and will break down each portion of the job fairly in regards to the wants/needs of the customer. In addition, we will offer our recommendations making sure the homeowner has all the facts/information to make their decision. Quotes should definitely be compared as we can help you diagnose 2 quotes that may look the same, but are very different in regards to things like quality and warranty terms.

Interior Design Toronto : How detailed are your quotes?

D’Angelo & Sons : We like to keep our physical quotes clear and simple as to not overwhelm the customer. However, we are here to answer each and every question you have thoroughly.

Interior Design Toronto : How does payment work? How much upfront? How many payments?

D’Angelo & Sons : Typically the majority of our customers like to go with our monthly convenience payments, which make our solutions very affordable especially with 0% interest.

Interior Design Toronto : What about insurance implications? If someone is hurt on the job, can the homeowner be held liable? Do roofing companies need to have Workman's Comp? What about training workers to work at heights...safety training, etc?

D’Angelo & Sons : The homeowner is never responsible for an injured employee. We are insured with WSIB and include liability insurance of 5 million. and all of our labourers are employed by us directly and are all certified with working at heights safety training, CPR and WHIMIS. Safety is a primary concern for us at all times.

Interior Design Toronto : What about insurance for my home. If workers damage my home, whose insurance looks after it...the roofer or the homeowner?

D’Angelo & Sons : In the unlikely event that damage would occur at your home we would take care of it and the homeowner is not responsible, as mentioned we do have our own liability insurance that covers issues as well.

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Interior Design Toronto : What should a homeowner look for before signing a contract?

D’Angelo & Sons :

The homeowner needs to make sure that the company they choose is insured.
They also want to make sure that the contractor they choose is master elite certified to ensure they are getting the quality workmanship in addition to the product itself which is just as important.
They also need to make sure that they are covered with a warranty if anything were to happen.
Lastly, they need to make sure that the company they choose will still be around in the coming years for that warranty to mean something. Choosing a company that has many years in the business can provide reassurance that will stand behind their work.
Ratings online can be a huge help as well, making sure a minimum of 4.5 stars rating.

Interior Design Toronto : What about a warranty? What is covered, how long does the warranty last, etc?

D’Angelo & Sons : We stand by all our work and customers are eligible for a 25-year workmanship warranty with us as well as a 50-year manufacturing warranty with GAF

Interior Design Toronto : If I need to make a warranty claim, what is the process?

D’Angelo & Sons : We are fully staffed days, evenings, and weekends. The customer can reach out to us with their concerns and our warranty department will reach out within 24 hours with a plan of action to suit the customer.

Interior Design Toronto : Roofing companies have a bit of a history with scam artists taking advantage of homeowners. Do you have any tips for spotting scammers, avoiding them AND finding honest companies?

D’Angelo & Sons : Always make sure the company you choose is reputable. By checking things like websites, social media presence, google reviews, branded vehicles, etc. In addition, you can ask for proof of certain documentation such as WSIB certifications.

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Interior Design Toronto : Who is responsible for removing & disposing of my old roof?

D’Angelo & Sons : We do it all! We take care of the job from start to finish. The project manager will arrange a disposal bin to arrive before the job begins and promptly remove it when finished.

Interior Design Toronto : How is it disposed of? Are there environmental implications of getting rid of old roof tiles, etc?

D’Angelo & Sons : We dispose of it in a manner that is green and meets all environmental requirements. We use certified Green roofer products and we are proud to promote sustainability. We believe in using roofing/material technologies that increase efficiency, optimization, and recycling that ultimately help conserve natural resources.

Interior Design Toronto : Is the roofing industry becoming more "green"? Is this part of your biz strategy? Are homeowners asking about being more green?

D’Angelo & Sons : The technology of shingles is forever improving. The shingles/materials we use are extremely long-lasting and durable that will last years which ultimately reduces our environmental impacts. In addition, things like solar-powered vents are something we love to discuss with customers to ensure we are always on top of environmental concerns.

Interior Design Toronto : Who do I speak while workers are on site...the on-site workers or the home office?

D’Angelo & Sons : Your project manager will handle everything. Upon signing the homeowner will be contacted right away thanking them for choosing us and will be informed of the project manager’s contact information who will be taking care of their project.

Interior Design Toronto : Do you install the drip edge or edge metal? Can you explain what they are needed for?

D’Angelo & Sons : Yes we install drip edge. It is important so rainwater will run smoothly into the eavestrough instead of potentially running down in behind the trough potentially damaging the siding, of the home. We want to make sure the rest of the home is fully protected from the elements as well.

Interior Design Toronto : How do you protect my existing gutters from ladders? How about protecting my landscaping?

D’Angelo & Sons : We have covers on our ladders so they do not damage homes. We also protect any landscaping with plywood and tarps to ensure nothing at your home is damaged.

Interior Design Toronto : How will you protect my property from the garbage bin?

D’Angelo & Sons : We own our own bins, which sets us apart from the competition. This allows for prompt pick-ups. In addition, our bins are on wheels instead of placed directly on the pavement. This dramatically lessens the impact of potential damage to your driveway.

Interior Design Toronto : I realize that there are different grades of products...can you explain some of the differences & why you make your recommendations?

D’Angelo & Sons : We make our recommendations based on what the customer is requesting as well as offer options so they can enjoy the look and feel of different styles to compliment their homes. A standard GAF HD shingle will still provide the same protection, warranty, and great look. However, some of our customers do prefer a luxury/designer look to add to their homes so we like to provide lots of options.

Interior Design Toronto : About scheduling...how far out are you scheduling jobs & how firm are those estimates?

D’Angelo & Sons : This does depend on the season but typically for roofing projects we book about 1-2 weeks out. However, emergency roofing replacements or services are taken care of right away

Interior Design Toronto : If you find roof damage while removing the old roofing, will you show me the damage & explain what needs to be replaced and/or repaired?

D’Angelo & Sons : This is why having a project manager on site is so important to us. We want to make sure nothing goes unnoticed and we are fully transparent with our findings and will be there to discuss options/pricing if needed.

IInterior Design Toronto : If your workers noticed damage/wear to my chimney or skylight, would they tell me about it?

D’Angelo & Sons : Absolutely, again why it is so important to have someone on site

Interior Design Toronto : What happens if rain is expected before the job can be completed? How is the roof protected?

D’Angelo & Sons : If we do get rain our jobs will be pushed back a day unfortunately. We won’t open up a roof if rain is expected. We also only work side to side to ensure no open roof is subject to leak in case of inspected weather.

Interior Design Toronto : Do you subcontract the work out to another company...and if so, how does that impact warranty, contact person, etc?

D’Angelo & Sons : All of our employees are employed directly by us.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I want to thank the fine folks at D'Angelo & Sons Roofing and Exteriors for all of their help in creating this article.

D'Angelo & Sons Roofing & Exteriors is a roofing and exterior finishing company serving Hamilton, Burlington and other communities in the Golden Horseshoe. D'Angelo & Sons blends the personalized service of a small, family-owned business with the professionalism and high standards of a larger company. While they maintain strong relationships with local builders, their specialty is serving the individual homeowner. D'Angelo & Sons knows the importance of protecting and enhancing your home, and are proud to offer quality, cost-effective solutions that will make you smile now…and for many years to come.