When the time comes to get work done on your roof, you want to find the best person for the job. With so many different options available, it can be difficult to figure out who that is! One of the biggest sources of confusion often comes from the terms used to identify the person you’re looking to hire: “roofing contractors” and “roofing companies.” What’s the difference? Which one is right for you? We’re going to help you find out!
Roofing Contractors
A roofing contractor is defined as an individual who is licensed with the state and specializes in roofing exclusively. While some roofing contractors complete projects by him- or herself, make sure to find out if the contractor plans on sub-contracting anyone else to complete the work, as these individuals could be general contractors that lack a specialization. This can create some massive headaches down the road.
Roofing contractors can take on a few different personas. In general, however, this is someone that is licensed with the state as a contractor who specializes in roofing. Most of the time a roofing contractor will carry out the work himself, but in a few cases, he may subcontract out the work.
While it is true that roofing contractors may be cheaper than a roofing company, there is a reason for it. Make sure you get answers to these questions before hiring anyone:
- Does this individual have insurance?
- Does this individual have a valid roofing license?
- Does this individual offer any solid warranties for their work? If so, for how long?
- Does this individual have any concrete references?
If your contractor replies “no” to any of these questions, proceed with caution! It may be in your best interest to look elsewhere. However, if they are able to answer all of those questions favorably, they might be a good fit for your roofing project.
Roofing Companies
The most obvious difference between a contractor and a company is personnel. A good roofing company will employ a vetted team of licensed roofers with higher levels of experience. What does this mean for you? In short: a higher quality of work. When you choose a roofing company, you can expect that the work will be completed by the company’s team, and won’t be contracted out. You’ll be able to trust that everyone is licensed and has undergone background checks before doing any work on your home. Even if a contractor is licensed and has good experience, it’s hard to consistently match the same quality of work that a full team can produce.
Another big difference between the two are warranties. A reputable roofing company will be in a position to offer much stronger warranties on their completed roofs. In a perfect world, this will simply serve as extra peace of mind. But, if anything actually goes wrong, your warranty will become a valuable asset.
However, while roofing companies are positioned to offer an all-around better experience, it does come at a premium. It’s also important to note that while most roofing companies are licensed and offer warranties, not all companies are created equal. To make sure you hire a quality roofing company, it’s important to ask for references and other information to make sure the company performs quality work.
Who’s Better?
As a roofing company ourselves, we’re biased here! So, to be completely fair to both parties, the truth is that it depends heavily on your budget, the materials you desire and the type of work you need done. There are instances where a contractor is in fact the better option. So who’s the right fit for you?
If you need to save some money in the short-term and are comfortable taking on a bit more risk, a contractor is the clear winner. On the flip side, if you want high confidence in the quality of work, materials, and financial protection and are willing to invest in your roof, then a company is the best choice for you and we’re ready to help.
