Shell Busey [Photo Courtesy of Weeklies.ca]The following article on finding the right roofing contractor was written by home improvement expert Shell Busey. Our responses are written in italics.

Size

Generally speaking, larger companies that have been in business a good long time have weathered the ups and downs in the business and have survived because they do good work.

Nelson Roofing is the largest, most well-established roofing contractor on the North Island.

History

Look in the last few years of the Yellow Pages just to see which companies have been around. There is a tremendous turn over in this business. Ask for recent job references, and actually call them. Ask your local roofing materials supplier.

Nelson Roofing has been in operation since 1980 -- over 25 years of service!

Instant Quotes

Did they ask questions about what you want, or did they just try to sell you what they had? A proper quote requires a site visit.

We visit and measure every job and give a full written quote.

Details

A roofing quotation done on the back of a business card or match box will not have the details needed to compare one quote with another.

Our written quotes will outline all details of the project.

Compare

Get about two or three accurate, written quotes. The better the check list you have, the better chance of getting comparable quotes.

We encourage you to get other equivalent quotes! Make sure that both quotes offer the same services.

Price

The lowest price is often the worst reason to choose a roofing contractor. A roofer that is way low may have left something out that is critical to the warranty and/or the life of the roof.

Our prices are competitive, as proven by our 25-year track record.

Protect Your Landscaping

All roofing companies should take precautions to protect your shrubs and flower beds, as well as clean the gutters and pick up nails on the lawn and the driveway. Insist that this is written into the quote.

We take pride in taking a great deal of care for our clients' property.

Insurance

Does the roofing contractor carry liability insurance, or are they relying on your home owner insurance.

We are fully insured up to $5 million.

Worker's Compensation

When you hire a contractor, you are responsible for the medical costs if the contractor has not paid their Worker's Compensation account. You can call WCB and check that your roofer is covered.

We are fully covered by the BC WCB and can present written confirmation upon request.

Financial Capabilities

Your roof can be liened by the roofing supplier if the contractor has not paid their bills.

We are a very well-established and financially secure company.

Quality Products

We would be remiss if we didn't mention the importance of top quality roofing materials.

We only use first-quality, premium products that must be approved by the Roofing Contractor's Association of BC -- no "seconds" or "off-label" products.

This article is Copyright © 2002 - 2005 Shell Busey. Used with permission.