OUR COMPANY GOAL

Guidelines for Selecting a Roofing Contractor

Buying a new roof is an important investment. Before you spend your

money, spend some time learning how to evaluate the roofing contractor

who may be doing the work. You should insist on working with a

professional roofing contractor. The National Roofing Contractors

Association (NRCA) wants to assist you in getting the kind of results you

expect -- a quality roof at a fair price.

All roofing contractors are not alike, and NRCA recommends that you

prequalify your roofing contractor to get the job done right the first

time. The follow guidelines will help in your decision:

* Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax I.D.

number, and where appropriate, a business license.

* Insist on seeing copies of both the contractor's liability coverage

and his workers' compensation certificates. Make sure the coverages

run through the duration of the job.

* Look for a company with a proven track record that readily offers

client references and a list of completed projects. Call these

clients to find out if they were satisfied.

* Check to see if the contractor is properly licensed or bonded. Call

your state's licensing board for your state's specific requirements.

* Insist on a written proposal and examine it for complete

descriptions of the work and specifications, includling approximate

starting and completion dates and payment procedures.

* Check to see if the contractor is a member of any regional or

national industry associations, such as NRCA.

* Call your local better business bureau to check for any complaints

that may have been filed.

* Have the contractor explain his project supervision and quality

control procedures. Request the name of the person who will be in

charge, how many workers will be required, and the estimated time of

completion.

* Carefully read and understand any roof warranty offered and watch

for provisions that would void it.Keep a healthy skepticism about

the lowest bid. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Remember, price is only one of the criteria for selecting a roofing

contractor. Professionalism and quality workmanship should also

weigh heavily on your decision.

USA-ROOF CONTRACTOR REFERRAL NETWORK

NRCA offers an automated toll-free number, 1.800.USA.ROOF, to help

homeowners locate a professional roofing contractor in a specific

geographic area. Callers are sent, free of charge, a computerized list of

NRCA-member contractors sorted by zip code, a listing of local and

regional NRCA affiliate organizations, and a booklet that describes

common roofing systems and general roofing terminology. Information will

be sent within three weeks of the date of your call.

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