Atlanta’s unpredictable weather makes roof maintenance challenging for area homeowners. Finding a roofing contractor you can trust is vital to preserving the beauty and value of your home. Unfortunately, there is quite a bit of inaccurate information online. At KTM Roofing, we’ve been earning the trust of Atlanta homeowners since 1984, and we’d like to earn yours as well. The following guide to finding a trustworthy roofing company will dispel some common myths regarding contractors and replace them with facts. Once you know the truth, we’re confident you’ll be able to find a roofer to meet your home’s roofing needs.
Surviving Atlanta’s Weather
While Atlanta is famous for sunset vistas, it is also home to freezing rain, tropical storms, and other harsh conditions. While your home protects you from the elements, nothing stands between these drastic weather changes and your roof. Shingles get broken or even fall off, allowing moisture to enter your home. Once in place, such added water can accelerate the natural deterioration process, drastically reducing the expected lifespans of seals, vents, and other building materials.
Common Myths About Roofing Contractors
While roofing contractors often share some characteristics, such as professional specialization and certifications, roofers have many differences. To further complicate matters, myths regarding finding a roofer abound. We’ve included a few of the lies we’ve frequently heard about roofers and list them with the truth below.
Myth 1: A complaint-free record with the Better Business Bureau means a roofer is qualified.
The truth is that the BBB is a fantastic resource for initial leads. It, however, is not the definitive guide to finding a good roofer or any other contractor. Instead, scout out social media for reviews, search for customer testimonials online and ask your neighbors or friends for their advice. If you directly ask a roofer for references, ask for names of roof replacement clients they’ve worked for in the past six months. Finding out what percentage of business is from referrals is also an excellent way to gauge how satisfied customers are with their work.
Myth 2: Saving money is as easy as choosing the roofer with the lowest estimate.
While paying the lowest price saves you a little money upfront, it is not always the best deal. Before choosing a contractor, ask for an itemized bid. Once you have it, ensure that it covers all materials. To get even an even clearer picture of the actual cost of your project, write a list of everything your project might include and place the items into the following three prioritized categories:
- Category 1 – project needs
- Category 2 – project wants, dependent on budget or design limits
- Category 3 – project wishes such as skylights
Giving this list to a potential roofing contractor will get you a more detailed and accurate estimate of your project costs.
Myth 3: A roofer who says they have years in the roofing business must be a good choice.
This myth might seem true on the surface. However, a closer look reveals that the quality of experience is much more important than a certain number of years. A roofer can spend decades specializing in substituting quick fixes for genuine roof repairs or doing the best they know how without proper training. Before hiring a roofer, consider searching for them at the Georgia Corporations Division online. Look through their records for an Active/Compliance business status and the year of their last annual registration. Verify the company’s liability insurance for roofing installation and workers’ compensation. Please make sure the company’s name on the insurance matches the name on their insurance policy.
Finding a Reputable Roofing Contractor
As a full-service roofing contractor, our KTM Roofing team is dedicated to promoting professional roofing services. In our experience, taking a few steps will help you to separate scammers from high-quality roofers. The following four steps are our tips for selecting a roofer that meets your needs:
- Honesty is the best policy. Give a prospective contractor a budget that is comfortably within your means.
- Request a printed and transferrable warranty certificate. Typically, roofers provide a minimum of a five-year warranty. At KTM Roofing, we’re pleased to offer a 12-year warranty.
- Ensure you have the roofer’s correct contact information and verify they are easy to reach before you agree to work with them.
- Never make a down payment for work. Professional roofing contractors require payment upon completion of the work or when you receive an invoice.
Call KTM Roofing for Roofers You Can Trust
Doing some in-depth research will ensure you find a trustworthy roofer with an excellent reputation. When you provide such as roofer with as much information as possible, you increase the likelihood that your roofing project will meet your expectations. At KTM Roofing, we use industry-grade materials and meticulous workmanship to make homeowners’ dreams come true. Give us a call. We’d be pleased to partner with you to build, repair, or replace your home’s roof.
