Pay Now or Pay Later?

Saving money on a renovation project is always something that can bring a twinkle to a homeowner’s eye. Who doesn’t like to save a little green when replacing your siding or repairing your roof? The problem that can arise is that saving that little bit of cash in the beginning can cost you big in the end. This is especially true if you don’t hire the right professionals.

According to Homeadvisor.com, the average homeowner spends about $8,171 to install a new roof, and most spend within a range of $5,377 and $10,997. Exterior siding can typically cost between $5,000 to $14,050, including material and installation. These are big expenditures and it is important that you do your research beforehand to avoid paying even more later.

No one plans to hire a subpar contractor. The last thing you want to see is shoddy workmanship, countless delays or, worst yet, a contractor who simply doesn’t show up and finish the job. Avoiding paying too much for bad work can boil down to just a little bit of homework.

Tips to avoid a siding or roofing renovation nightmare:

Research. In the modern day of the World Wide Web, — or more simply put, Google — researching a potential contractor is easy. It is important to check not only their website but online reviews on social media, Angie’s List, Google or the Better Business Bureau. Also ask around town and check with your friends and neighbors on who they have used.

Experience. Is the company you are looking to hire for your siding or roofing project experienced? Although roofing might not REQUIRE a license, experience and training will make all the difference. You want a company who has the expertise and training to handle any potential problem that might arise and a company that can get the job done right. Dick’s Roof Repair, for example, has provided customers in the Kenosha and Racine area with top quality workmanship and reliability since 1957.

Certified and Insured. Working with a company that is state certified and insured can be a big stress reliever. This contractor has completed the necessary state licensing requirements, and that can mean extra protection for the homeowner. This protects the property owner if the work isn’t completed correctly, since the company will not want to risk their reputation and potentially losing their license due to poor workmanship.

Dick’s has all of the requisite licenses needed as well as the worker’s compensation and general liability insurance their customers have a right to expect. Inadequate insurance coverage could make the homeowner liable for injuries resulting from accidents on your property.

Workmanship Warranty. You might wonder, what is a workmanship warranty and why is it important? This warranty acts as a safeguard for homeowners who want reassurance if anything goes wrong following a roof repair or replacement. A warranty, such as the 10 year warranty offered by Dick’s Roof Repair, lets the homeowner know that potential issues will be remedied by the contractor.

Bids & References. After your online research and investigations, ask the company for a bid and several references. Make sure you receive all the information you need upfront for your bid: 

• Ask the contractor who is providing a quote to confirm they are licensed specifically to do the work.
• Confirm that the contractor will obtain all of the necessary municipal approvals and permits.
• How will variances to the original quote and change orders be handled? What are the issues that might arise that could result in changes to the quote?
• What are the payment and terms required? Will a deposit be required? If yes, when and how much (10% of the job total is common in advance of the work commencing).
• What are the materials to be used? Be sure to discuss colors and edge materials.
• Will ladder stabilizers be used to protect gutters?
• What is the timetable? When will work begin and how long will the entire project take? What happens in the event of bad weather?
• How will the project be warrantied? Is the warranty specific to materials or will labor be covered as well?
• Will the contractor perform all necessary clean-up? Will a dumpster on-site be required? If yes, where will it be placed? Will all landscaping and lawn areas be protected?
• Get the name and mobile phone number of an on-site communication person that you can discuss issues or concerns with.

Reach out to the references provided. How was the communication during the project? Are they happy with the work completed? Would they hire that contractor again? 

These tips can help you select the best roofing or siding contractor for your project and help you avoid any future headaches and cost from poor workmanship.

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Don’t wait until summer to start thinking about your home’s siding, roofing or window project. Now is a perfect time to contact the Dick’s Roofing team for your FREE estimate and to get your home scheduled today.

We’ll schedule a time to do a quick walk-around, take measurements and perform any other possibly required inspections, again, all from the outside of your home for the safety of you and your family.

In today’s modern era, our team is ready to communicate with you in so many ways:

• Call us! We would love to hear from you and schedule your home for an appraisal (all from a safe distance of course).
• Online quotes! Our online quote system is easy to use and available 24/7 on our website for your convenience.
• Discovery calls! Do you have questions and need answers? We can set up a call with you to discuss your options.
• Video chats! Sometimes putting a face to a name is important or perhaps you want to give us a virtual tour of your home and the issue you want to discuss.

Contact Dick’s Roof Repair today.