Tips for Hiring the Right Roofing Contractor

The biggest obstacle homeowners face when looking to fix or replace their roof is choosing the right person to do the job. After a damaging storm, they need to quickly get back to normal and get the necessary roofing repairs completed. But that doesn’t mean they should just choose the first contractor who knocks on their door.

Finding a contractor who is trustworthy, honest, and professional may sound difficult – but that’s where you come in. Contractors should share these 10 important tips with homeowners to show them that your company is reputable and can be trusted to protect their home and their wallet:

Get local referrals. There is less chance of potential issues or scams when you choose a contractor from your community. They are more familiar with local rules and code regulations and have a relationship with area crews and suppliers.

Look for manufacturer designations. Manufacturer designations are considered a badge of honor because the contractor must pass certain minimum requirements to be factory-certified (although, some manufacturers have more stringent requirements than others). Some contractors blow in (no pun intended) right after a storm looking for work, so it’s important to look them up on the BBB website or equivalent and make sure they have a good score.

Stay away from contractors who do not exist on BBB.org. or equivalent. Trudel and Sons Contractors are required to maintain satisfactory ratings  in order to retain their certification.

Get an extensive warranty. Not all contractors can offer manufacturer warranties that include coverage of the contractor’s workmanship. If a contractor installs the roof incorrectly, it may take months or years for the damage to show up and insurance won’t pay for it. If the contractor won’t fix it (or worse, has gone out of business), your only recourse is to pay for their mistake yourself.

Be concerned about safety. A contractor without a training or safety program may not be the best person for your job.

Check for proper licensing and insurance. The contractor should have insurance for all employees and subcontractors and be able to provide a copy of their insurance certificate for validation. Not having adequate insurance could potentially lead to litigation between a contractor and homeowner if a roofing employee sustains an injury at the home. Most states and provinces require licensing for contractors, but that does not stop unlicensed contractors from attempting to do the roofing work. In states or provinces where licenses are required, make sure your contractor provides you with a copy of their license and confirm their status online.

Pay your deductible. Any contractor who claims that they can handle the repair without having the homeowner pay their insurance deductible is committing insurance fraud and endangering the homeowner. The insurance deductible is the responsibility of the insured, and the contractor should reflect that in the quote without inflating the estimate to cover all or part of the deductible.

Handle your own claim. A contractor who says they are “a claim specialist” or can “handle your insurance claim” may be breaking the law. In most states or provinces, it is illegal for contractors to act on behalf of the homeowner when negotiating an insurance claim. Any contractor who opens the door to potential legal action is not acting in your best interest.

Don’t give in to pressure. Watch out for a contractor who pressures you to sign a contract before the insurance company has estimated the damage. Some contractors say they can work with whatever your insurance company settles upon, but the homeowner needs to ensure it’s not just any amount, but the right amount. The contractor should thoroughly examine the home and check that their insurance adjuster didn’t miss any damages.

Know your material choices. A contractor who does not offer you different shingle options is not looking out for your best interest. The style and color of the shingles you install can affect the resale value of your home.

Always remember - Knowledge Is Power!

A History on TPO: The Commercial Roofing Go-To

TPO is at times considered the new roofing system on the block, even though the material has been around for decades and has proven its worth in the industry. Here is a little background on how TPO came about, the history of its testing and development, and where it stands today:

Back in the 1970s, flexible sheet, for a variety of uses, was either EPDM or flexible PVC. EPDM was not weldable and flexible PVC contained liquid plasticizers. Those plasticizers led to hazing of automotive windshields and embrittlement of the PVC as they evaporated. Thermoplastic polyolefins (TPO) were developed to be inherently flexible, plasticizer and halogen free, and to heat-weld. TPO membranes were first used for geomembrane applications such as pond liners. They also began to appear in the automobile industry to protect exterior surfaces and to be used as wire covers.

The first known TPO roofing membrane was installed in 1986 in Michigan. The TPO was produced by Montell specifically for the roofing market. Montell merged with two other companies in 2000 to become Basell. That company merged in 2007 with Lyondell to become Lyondell-Basell, which still supplies the majority of TPO to the roofing industry. In the late 1980s, Versico, a division of Goodyear Tire and Rubber, started to promote VersiWeld®, a reinforced TPO roofing membrane. They were followed by JPS Elastomerics in the early 1990s which launched Hi Tuff EP. JPS eventually became Stevens Roofing Systems. In the early 1990s, concerns began to surface about the use of halogenated fire retardants in TPO and their effect on UV resistance. This caused manufacturers to alter their formulations, using magnesium hydroxide as the fire retardant. This remains the case today. In the mid-1990s, Carlisle Syntec Systems acquired Versico and began marketing a TPO roofing membrane named SureWeld.

Beginning in the late 1990s, TPO began to gain significant market share. The specification covers physical properties, dimensions, and durability properties. The latter includes ozone resistance, heat aging, and weather resistance. Oven aging was tested at 240°F and went for 28 days. The ultraviolet light resistance is tested using a xenon arc apparatus and the exposure was doubled in 2006 to 10,080 kJ/m2. In 2011, the ASTM standard was revised again to address the heat aging protocol. This was raised to 240°F exposure for 224 days or 32 weeks, from 28 days.

From 1998 to now, TPO membrane sales have grown annually at a double-digit rate, far outpacing any other single-ply, mod bit, BUR, or metal product and its popularity as a commercial roofing material has spread worldwide.