“Not to put too fine a point on it, but the roof is the most important part of the house,” Greg said. “If it’s no good, having the house built is pointless, as far as I’m concerned.” Currently involved in planning a new home in the Somerville, MA area, he wants to know: what are the most important criteria when choosing a roofer for an addition, renovation or new construction?
The first answer to this question is the quality of the work. Considering the fact that your home is very likely to be your largest investment, you don’t want the most critical part of its construction done by someone who does sub-standard work. When you’re considering roofing contractors in Somerville, do your research. Read reviews. If at all possible, talk to homeowners who have used that roofing contractor. Are they pleased with the quality of the work? Have they had any problems?
The second answer is experience and longevity. The home improvement industry is full of builders who come and go. If there’s a problem with your roof and the builder has gone out of business, you don’t have much viable recourse. When considering contractors, it’s good to check if they’ve been in business for a while. Everyone’s comfort level is different, but most experts would advise choosing a roofer who’s been around for five years or more.
When we’re talking about experience, it’s important to point out that you want a roofer who is experienced installing the type of roof you’d like to have. This is especially true if you’re choosing a slate roof, or if your roof is complicated, with dormer windows, strange angles or other concerns.
Finally, it’s important to talk about pricing. Everyone has a budget, and you want to be sure you’re spending your money wisely. Going with the lowest bidder is seldom a good idea, but you also don’t want to pay a lot more money than you have to.