One of the most important decisions by a Toronto-based homeowner while replacing or repairing a roof is to select the right roofing company. The wrong selection can lead to costly repairs, unexpected costs and leaks while a professional contractor can deliver proper protection, quality materials and dependable workmanship against weather. Begin by checking the credentials of the contractor, their reputation, pricing, warranty and insurance before signing a contract in case you are wondering how to choose a roofing contractor in Toronto.
Verify Insurance Coverage and WSIB
Try to confirm the company has appropriate workplace coverage as it’s considered as one of the initial steps for hiring a roofing contractor in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Use WSIB’s online services to verify their account and clearance status or homeowners can ask the contractor for a recent WSIB clearance certificate.
The question is: How can homeowners verify a roofing contractor’s WSIB status? Get the info regarding documentation from the contractor and make sure it’s current and applicable to the business performing the work.
There are different purposes for liability insurance and WSIB coverage. What is the difference between WSIB coverage and liability insurance? The occupational safety obligations and workplace injury are primarily addressed by WSIB. However, the commercial general liability insurance supports guarding against third-party claims or certain property damage.
Before the work starts, a homeowner should also ask for adequate liability insurance proof. Obtaining appropriate documentation is an important precaution while WSIB requirements can vary depending on the circumstances of workers and contractors.
Is a WSIB clearance certificate always required for residential roofing work?
You better communicate with the contractor directly and do confirmation of applicable requirements with WSIB.
Get Info of a Detailed Written Quote
Don’t select a roof replacement contractor depending solely on a single price or verbal estimate. There should be a clear explanation of a written quote by a professional regarding what you are paying for.
What details must be included in a written roofing quote?
First of all, see the removal and disposal of the existing roof, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, cleanup, permits where applicable, labour costs, taxes, payment schedule, warranty information, scope of work, roofing materials, manufacturer and product specifications. The hidden fees can also be identified by a detailed quote. Ask whether there are extra charges if there are unexpected conditions, ventilation problems or damaged decking post the beginning of work.
Compare Material Quality and Labour Costs
Don’t just go for the cheapest option as it’s not necessarily the best value. When looking at quotes from different contractors, make sure they’re all quoting on the same kind of roofing system.
Get the specifics on the shingle or roofing material being used like what company made it, what line it’s from, how long it’s supposed to last, what kind of underlayment, flashing, and ventilation they’ll be using, and how they’ll be installing it. A lower price might just mean cheaper materials or some important features being left out.
Understand The Workmanship Warranty
A real roofing warranty should be laid out in black and white and not just casually mentioned during a sales meeting.
What should a roofing workmanship warranty cover?
It should give you a good idea of how long the contractor will stand behind their work, what kinds of defects they’ll make good on, what’s not covered, and how to go about filing a claim. Keep in mind that it’s different from the manufacturer’s warranty on the materials themselves.
Review Previous Projects and Customer Feedback
Before you hire a contractor, take a good hard look at their recent work and what past customers have to say. Ask for some references or examples of work that’s similar to what you need done.
Don’t merely focus on the higher ratings. Focus on comments to see how well they respond to customers, the punctuality in replies, when they leave the site, how well they did the job and how they dealt with warranty issues.
Questions to Ask a Roofing Contractor
Use these questions as a starting point to grill a roofing contractor before you commit:
- Do you have insurance for this job?
- Can you show me your current WSIB doc where applicable?
- What roofing materials and product lines are you going to use?
- Is removal, disposal, flashing, ventilation and cleanup all included in the quote?
- Who’s actually going to be doing the installation?
- How long is your workmanship warranty?
- What happens if you find some hidden damage up on the roof?
- What’s your payment schedule like?
- Can you give me some recent references?
Watch Out for Roofing Contractor Red Flags
Which warning signs indicate an unreliable roofing contractor?
If you see any of these warning signs, you might want to steer clear of unusually low bids, big upfront payments, vague contracts, pressure to sign right away, not wanting to share insurance or WSIB info, or leaving out important materials or labour details in the estimate.
What deposit and payment terms should they be cautious about?
Be aware of contractors demanding a very large deposit when payment conditions are not clear.
Roofing Contractor Checklist
Before you choose a contractor, make sure you’ve checked the following:
☐ Verified if they’re up to date on their WSIB, where applicable
☐ Confirmed they’ve got current liability insurance
☐ Got a written, itemised quote in hand
☐ Got all the details on materials and installation methods
☐ Got a clear explanation of labour costs and potential extras
☐ Got the workmanship warranty in writing
☐ Got an idea of what the manufacturer warranty covers
☐ Had a look at some of their past work and what past customers thought
☐ Got multiple estimates and compared them
☐ Understood what the deposit and payment schedule is
☐ Didn’t get pushed into signing on the dotted line with some high-pressure sales tactics
