There are literally hundreds of local roofing contractors to choose from in York County and Adams County PA. Selecting a reputable and reliable contractor can therefore be extraordinarily difficult. Homeowners will consider things like price of roofing materials and cost of roof replacement services, warranty length and coverage, specialties, scheduling and job completion time, and certifications and licensing when they begin interviewing Pennsylvania roofing contractors in order to find the right one. Below are some considerations for property owners who need to hire a roofing company in Hanover to help with repairs, replacements and restorations of old, damaged and outdated roofing, siding, gutters and more.
Has Your Roof Been Damaged from Recent Storms, Hail or Wind?
Damage to your roof resulting from storms is the easiest way to get a full roof replacement covered under your homeowners insurance. If your home has suffered damage to its roofing, siding, windows, gutters, etc due to strong storms (like hail and wind storms) you should be searching for a roofer who specializes in insurance restorations. These specialized experts will know the ins and outs of the process for discovering and documenting damage appropriately, building estimates for restoration work to repair and replace the damaged siding, roofing, etc, and working within the confines of the insurance-approved budget for the scope of work. Even better, hire a licensed loss adjuster to help you with the claim to make sure that your insurance company provides the coverage you are entitled to. Many roofing companies work with public insurance adjusters for this very purpose, and their affiliated loss adjusters will represent your best interests in the negotiation process. The more money they get you for your storm damage restoration, the more work the contractor gets to perform, so it is a win-win for everyone. When interviewing roofing contractors, ask whether or not they specialize in insurance claims and how they can help you seek a fair settlement.
Ask Your Roofing Contractor about Licensing, Certifications, Accreditations, Awards, etc.
The best Hanover PA roofing companies will do everything they can to demonstrate their commitment to excellence and their prominence as a quality contractor. Consider reviews, certifications and accreditations from organizations like the BBB and other online platforms that allow for consumer-generated content like reviews and ratings. Sites like Yelp, Houzz, Porch, HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List, etc. are all construction-specific directories that can help you find out about your roofer’s reputation. However, don’t be too impressed by awards and accolades from places like HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List because they are only given to contractors who pay for advertising on their platform. The best contractors don’t need to advertise on third-party websites to get business. Also, check Google and social media for reviews and reputation indicators.
Lastly, look for things like certifications from major manufacturers. For roofing contractors this means companies like GAF, CertainTeed, IKO, etc. who all have their own processes for factory-certifying contractors to ensure proper installation skills and reliable customer service. Just because a contractor DOESN’T have a certification like this doesn’t mean that they aren’t a good roofer, but the best ones all have these partnerships.
Google-Guaranteed Roofing Contractors: Local Service Ads
In select areas, Google has been running “Local Service Ads” at the top of search results for certain service-based industries, and roofing serices in Hanover PA is one of them. Participating contractors have their licensing and insurance status verified by Google and the owner(s) and service workers are all background-checked for criminal history and credit reporting. Once a contractor passes, Google will list them with the “Google Guarantee” badge in those Local Service ads and they will stand behind the contractor’s work up to a certain amount of money (usually about $2,000). Selecting a pre-verified, quality Hanover Pennsylvania roofing contractor from this list is a great way to make sure you hire the best roofing contractor around. For a while there was only one Google-Verified roofer in all of York County & Adams County PA, but now there are a handful of the best and biggest companies around who passed the screening process. You can’t go wrong hiring one of these roofing contractors because you know that 1) their insurance is up-to-date and adequate for the work they do; 2) they are appropriately licensed by the state they work in; 3) they have been background-checked to screen for criminal past and delinquency, and 4) Google takes on some of the risk involved with hiring a contractor: they will reimburse homeowners up to $2k if a job goes bad and the homeowner loses money. See if Google is running their Guaranteed Local Services in your area by simply searching for roofing near you.
Specialty Roofing Services and Cost of Roofing per Square Foot
Some roofers have very specific specialties like EPDM flat rubber roofing, metal roofing like standing seam roofs, or slate shingle roofing, etc. Almost all roofers will do asphalt shingles (the most common roofing material), but if you are seeking a specialty roofing material application it is a good idea to seek a specialty contractor. You can tell which roofers specialize in certain types of products by viewing photos of their work on their website, or simply by asking them during the screening and interviewing process.
Similarly, you’ll want to know how much to expect to pay for your roof replacement. Prices vary by region and even by time of year, but you can find out a general ballpark cost estimate by researching pricing online. For example, asphalt shingle roofing goes for about $3 to $5 per square foot for residential tear-off and installations of new roofing systems. Metal roofing can be over double that amount, so check out the websites of local roofing companies to find out pricing, or call and ask for ballpark square foot pricing. This will help you narrow it down to roofers in your price range.
Warranty Comparisons: What to Expect
For asphalt shingle roofing, you should not settle for anything less than a limited lifetime warranty on the shingles themselves. Almost every manufacturer of architectural asphalt roofing shingles provides this type of warranty, which covers defects and product failure. There are differences in warranty length and in coverage details, so this is a good thing to compare, but the reality is that manufacturing defects, while not unheard of, are very uncommon. Most roofing failures are due to poor installation, faulty workmanship, mistakes, etc. It is therefore extremely important to ask your Hanover roofing contractor whether or not they warranty their work, how long their guarantee lasts, etc. and to get that guarantee in writing in the contract for roofing services. If there is no warranty provided, you should look elsewhere for a more confident roofing contractor. Keep in mind that simple repairs are likely not covered under a warranty because a roofer cannot guarantee that a repair will fix a problem unless they are replacing all the adjacent roofing components.
Don’t be afraid to ask your contractor questions! The best roofing contractors in Hanover PA know that different people have different expectations, and the only way for a roofer to know what’s important to you specifically is for you to specifically tell them! Communication between you and your contractor is key – and free! And it will help to contribute to a smooth and hassle-free roofing service. This, along with proper research of your company’s reputation, will ensure that you get the most out of your money for your roof replacement and will have a quality roof for decades to come.