When you’re looking to hire a roofing contractor to work on your home in Morgantown it can feel like a confusing process.  There are a lot of things to consider, and you might not know where to start.  The following eight, key factors to consider will help you find the best roofing contractor to do a thorough and reliable job on your roof.

1. Detailed Inspections

Any roofing company that will be performing work on your roof should perform a detailed and comprehensive inspection of your property.  This inspections should include:

• A Ground Inspection
• A Roof Inspection
• An Attic Inspection
• Aerial Measurements

A good roofing contractor will get on your roof and inside your attic as well as check the rest of your property such as gutters, siding, and windows for other signs of damage.  If your inspector neglects any of these steps, it’s a big red flag.

2. 15+ Years in Business

The Small Business Administration (SBA) reports that 96% of all contractors fail in the first 3 years they’re in business.  Hiring a brand new contractor can put you, the homeowner, at risk.  A company that can’t stand the test of time won’t be around to take care of any issues that may arise with your roof or to honor any warranties that were put in place.  Keep yourself safe by hiring a contractor with proven longevity in the field.  MHI Roofing has been proudly serving the Morgantown area for more than four decades offering service you know you can trust.

3. Ratings and Reviews

When you’re preparing to drop thousands of dollars on your home, you’re not going to hesitate to thoroughly research the contractors you’ll potentially be hiring.  When you look at what each contractor has to offer you want to see a combination of high ratings and positive reviews.

High Ratings

While we’d love to see 5 stars across the board on every review, anyone who has ever provided any kind of service knows that you can’t make everyone happy no matter what you do.  Bearing this in mind, a high-quality roofing contractor should have an average 4.7 stars or better.

Positive Reviews

In addition to a high star rating, you’ll want to look for a contractor that has a lot of reviews.  5 stars don’t mean that much when there are only 2 reviews.  Ideally you want to look for a company that has 300+ reviews, especially if they’ve been around for the recommended 15 years.  If a company has under 100 reviews it’s a good sign that they haven’t been doing enough projects to fully establish themselves.

4. Certified Roofing Contractor

Don’t skimp on quality and hire a contractor who doesn’t have the proper certifications.  This is a risk not only for you, but for the contractor as well.  Your roofing contractor should have all of the appropriate licensing, certifications, and insurance policies in place.  Before allowing a contractor to set foot on your roof:

• Verify their contractor license with the state.
• Obtain a copy of all of their credentials.
• Check with their insurance agent to ensure they still have coverage.
• Verify any certifications and training they claim.

As a GAF Master Elite Contractor and member of the GAF Contractor Advisory Council, MHI Roofing takes great pride in maintaining all of our licensing and certifications, so we can continue to provide high-quality roofing services and products to Morgantown residents.

5. Complete Roofing Systems

Your roofing contractor should be familiar with every, single aspect of your roof.  A roof isn’t just made up of shingles, and a contractor who doesn’t discuss the other parts of your roofing system with you is a big red flag.  Some of the terms you should be hearing during and after your roof inspection are:

• Starter Strips
• Underlayment
• Roof Deck
• Leak Barriers
• Ridge Caps
• Vents
• Flashing

MHI Roofing offers complete roofing systems, and, as a GAF Master Elite installer you can be confident that you’re receiving only the best quality materials and craftsmanship on your Morgantown roof.

6. Breathable Underlayment

The underlayment on your roof is integral to its function and it can often be overlooked by many contractors who are using subpar materials.  Many contractors apply synthetic felt underlayment that is not permeable.  This is a problem because it means that the underlayment will trap moisture under your roof cause mold and rot on your roof deck.

At MHI Roofing, we found out the hard way that synthetic felt, though less expensive was not a good choice.  After finding mildew in several attics, we took the time to identify the problem and replaced the roofs on our own dime.  We now only use breathable underlayment like GAF Deck Armor.

7. Written Estimates and Contracts

Every estimate you get for your roof should be written down.  Particularly after a heavy storm, you’ll need to watch out for storm chasers who will attempt to convince you to sign a “contingency contract”.  Don’t do it.  Your roofing contractor should always offer:

• Written, Itemized Estimates
• Written Explanation of Warranties
• Written Explanation of Pricing
• Written Contracts

8. No Money Down

Probably the most important factor to consider when hiring your roofing contractor, especially in Morgantown and the rest of West Virginia, is that NO roofing contractor EVER should be asking you for money down.  In fact, if you’re planning to file a claim with your insurance, this practice is ILLEGAL under West Virginia law.  A reputable contractor will never put you at risk by asking you for money down.

While it can be difficult and somewhat intimidating to find a contractor that fits this criteria it will be absolutely worth it in the end.  A new roof is a major investment and you’ll want to know that you’re working with a contractor you can trust.

MHI Roofing offers all of the above and more – call to schedule your free inspection with Morgantown’s leading roofing contractor, today.