The first thing you should look for in a local roofing contractor is that they are licenced, bonded, and insured. Any roofing contractor will be more than pleased and proud to show you that documentation. Keep in mind that each of them will have different criteria depending on where you reside. Some states may not even need the contractor to have both. Investigate your local rules and ensure that this company you pick has the necessary permissions and papers.

Licensed

If your state needs a contracting license, you must ensure that the contractor you choose has one. To obtain a license, a contractor must first register with the state’s board of licensing contractors. The license required will be determined by the cost of the project. Because a roof is a big investment, roofing contractors should have a general contractor’s license. However, keep in mind that this differs by state and is always evolving. A good roofing firm will tell you what is needed and demonstrate that they have it.

Bonded

A bonding firm knows that a contractor does business appropriately and ethically. The bonding business posts the bond because they believe the contractor will complete the project correctly. A bond assures that if a firm goes out of business in the middle of a task or if there is a problem with the work and they do not remedy it, the client may turn to the bond company for help. They’ll pay to get the customer’s roof repaired, then go after this company for the money to make it right. A bond has been established to safeguard you and your investment.

Insured

All contractors should be adequately covered with general liability, workers’ compensation, and a corporate vehicle insurance coverage on all owned and unwonted vehicles. General liability insurance and worker’s compensation limitations are determined by the magnitude of the projects performed by a contractor and the state in which they operate. If all they perform is minor residential work, their general liability will be lower than that of a corporation that conducts larger works.

Don’t even think about using a firm that isn’t licensed, bonded, and insured. Otherwise, if something goes wrong, you will have no recourse. These three pieces of paper are there to safeguard you and guarantee that the task is done correctly.