Roofing Contractors in Calgary: How to Choose
There are a number of very good roofing contractors in Calgary. Choosing one of these highly professional companies will ensure you get a quality job and avoid a lot of headaches.
You’ve probably heard some horror stories about roofing contractors: taking off with your deposit, not showing up to do the work, shoddy workmanship.
“Taking time to choose the right roofer for the job will save you money and headaches in the long run.” – Calgary BBB Report, May 3, 2008
But how do you know you’re making a good choice? It’s easy to fall for promises of great quality or low prices if you haven’t done your homework.
Roofing Contractors in Calgary: Not Very Well Respected
We’re not happy about it, but roofing isn’t exactly an admired trade. In a study by the National Roofing Contractor’s Association, “roofer” was listed 248 out of 250 desirable occupations.
Roofers are consistently in the top 10 for number of inquiries and number of complaints. The Calgary Better Business Bureau published these rankings, by type of business, for November, 2009:
Top 10 Inquiries
- Home Builders
- Roofers
- Moving and Storage Companies
- Plumbers
- Car Dealerships
- General Contractors
- Movers
- Heating and Air Conditioning Suppliers
- Home Renovations
- Electricians
Top 10 Complaints
- Car Dealerships
- Drain and Sewer Cleaners
- Health Clubs
- Furniture Designers
- Day Spas
- Television – Cable, CATV, Satellite
- Home Builders
- Roofers
- Furniture Retailers
- Electric Companies
Make Sure You Hire the Right Calgary Roofing Contractors
The only way to make the right choice is to do your homework. A poor, inexpensive roofing installation may cause problems down the road that cost thousands.
Of course we’d like you to choose us for your roofing project but, even if you don’t, we want to make sure you have all the information you need to make a good choice and protect your investment.
Choosing a Roofer
10-Point Roofing Contractor Checklist
For a quick and easy reference, see our 10-Point Consumer Checklist. This is based on a Better Business Bureau report and covers some of the major items.
Contractor Un-Checklist
What’s an un-checklist? Simple. It’s a list of points that aren’t really important when choosing roofing contractors.
49-Point Checklist
If you really want to make sure you’ve done your homework, you can get our comprehensive checklist on this page by clicking above.
Homeowner Resources
A list of numbers and links for you to contact various organizations to do your checks.
Choosing the Right Calgary Roofing Contractor
Use Our Checklist & Save Yourself Thousands Of Dollars!
There are many, many considerations when choosing a Calgary roofing contractor. But a lot of homeowners don’t bother doing their homework and choose one based on price alone. That’s fine if you like to take chances, but our clients have always preferred more guidance.
10-Point Consumer Checklist
Based on the Calgary BBB Resource Library – Roofing 09/15/08
| Done Right Roofing | Other Company | |
|---|---|---|
| Does your Calgary roofing contractor protect you from liens in writing? | Yes | ? |
| Will they provide you with a current WCB clearance letter? | Yes | ? |
| Will they provide you with a copy of its certificate of insurance for $1,000,000 commercial liability coverage? | Yes | ? |
| Will they provide you with a copy of their City of Calgary Business License? | Yes | ? |
| Will they provide you with a copy of their bond? | Yes | ? |
| Does your Calgary roofing contractor offer a minimum 5-year installation warranty? | Yes | ? |
| Do they provide you with a written contract, not just an estimate? | Yes | ? |
| Do they certify their roofers? | Yes | ? |
| Are they a member of the BBB? | Yes | ? |
| Can they provide you with multiple testimonials and local references? | Yes | ? |
Want More Help?
We have prepared a very thorough, 49-point Calgary Roofing Contractor Checklist. Click here to receive this free checklist by email, and keep it on your kitchen table when talking to contractors.
Asking the questions on this list may make some contractors squirm. And that’s the point. If they don’t like answering these questions, it may give you reason for concern.
How Not to Choose Calgary Roofing Contractors
Don’t Let the Marketing Hype Affect Your Decision
Now you know what’s important in choosing among Calgary roofing contractors. But sometimes, even with the best of intentions, you might be influenced by some factors that seem important but really aren’t.
Family Owned
We don’t really understand what this has to do with quality, yet many Calgary roofing contractors state this as though it’s a guarantee of quality. Most roofing companies in Calgary are, in fact, family-owned. Some are great. Some are not so great.
Number of Years in Business
More important than the number of years in business is the roofing company’s philosophy. Are they committed to constant learning and improvement or have they just been doing the same thing over and over for 10, 20, or 30 years?
Free Inspections
A thorough inspection, complete with an inspection report, takes time and is very seldom done for free. If the free inspection is nothing more than a 5- or 10-minute peek at your roof, followed by a sales pitch, it is not of much value to you.
Competitive Pricing
Quality and low prices never go hand in hand. You always get what you pay for.
Specialists in All Kinds of Roofing
You can’t specialize in everything. A company that tries to do everything probably isn’t great at any of them. You wouldn’t use your family doctor for major surgery, would you?
Special Incentives
You have likely seen Calgary roofing companies offer “No interest”, “Don’t Pay Until 2011” or “Pay as little as $39.95 a month”. They may seem like incredible offers but there’s usually a catch and the ‘free’ stuff is always built into the price.
The Biggest Company
Just because a roofing company is one of the biggest in the city doesn’t mean they are one of the best. Frequently big Calgary roofing contractors sub-contract their roofing work to smaller crews who have no long-term accountability for the work they do. Additionally, bigger companies may focus on builders who give them hundreds of jobs a year, and put the homeowner at the bottom of the list.
49-Point Roofing Contractor Checklist
You’re spending thousands of dollars on a new roof. Make sure you get a high quality, properly installed roof from a reputable contractor.
Just fill in the following and receive our Roofing Contractor Checklist by email.
Homeowner Roofing Contractor Resources
To help you protect yourself and find a quality roofing contractor, the following is a list of contact information for checking on important information.
You are going to check, aren’t you?
Workers Compensation Board – 1-866-922-9221
City of Calgary Licensing – 403-268-5521
Alberta Prepaid Contractor’s License – www.servicealberta.gov.ab.ca
Alberta Consumer Services (bonds) – 403-297-5743
“Taking time to choose the right roofer for the job will save you money and headaches in the long run.” Calgary BBB Report, March 2008