Finding the right roofing contractor for your premises is not a decision that should be taken lightly. It is important to make educated and informed decisions to ensure your premises are in experienced, reputable hands.
Deciding who is best suited to your needs can be difficult. So how do you go about selecting the ideal roofing contractor for your specific project?
We at Hindmarsh Roofing have compiled a list of questions to keep in mind when comparing and choosing a roofing contractor and make the process a little easier.
1. HOW LONG HAS THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR BEEN IN BUSINESS?
The more experienced a contractor is, the better. The number of years a roofing contractor has been in business is a good indicator of the company’s reliability and success. A well-established company should be around long after your roof has been installed. If the contractor has been around for decades, it is likely that they have done hundreds, if not thousands of roofing projects.
2. IS THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR LEGITIMATELY LISTED AND ESTABLISHED?
A dedicated roofing contractor will have basic identifiers like a permanent place of business, website, email address, office phone number, mobile phone number and have an internet presence. A legitimate contractor should also be able to provide you with their Australian Business Number. Verifying this information will give you assurance that you are not hiring a fly-by-night roofing contractor, who may not be around to honour their workmanship warranty if a problem arises in the future. Do not trust a contractor that only presents limited information.
3. DOES THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR HOLD A BUILDING WORK CONTRACTORS LICENCE SPECIFIED TO ROOF PLUMBING?
In South Australia, roofing contractors must hold a valid Building Work Contractors Licence specified to Roof Plumbing. A builders licence specified to Roof Plumbing is important evidence that a business has the skills to complete the work they propose to do. Manufacturers and roll formers will only provide a product warranty when the material has been installed by a licensed roofing contractor. Request to view a copy, or alternatively, you can search the South Australian Government public licensing register to find a licence holder or to check if a business or individual is licensed by visiting this link – https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/business-and-trade/licensing/licence-check
4. DOES THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR HAVE ADEQUATE PUBLIC LIABILITY AND WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE?
For peace of mind, request to view insurance credentials of the roofing contractor you choose – Never take a contractors word. A responsible roofing contractor will have Public Liability Insurance to cover against personal injury to anyone on your property as a result of the work carried out or materials they have used. The reality is occasionally things can go wrong, which is why you should only ever employ roofing contractors that are fully insured. Your personal home and contents insurance may not cover against damage or injury caused by an individual working for a business on your property and you, the client may be liable.
5. DOES THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR HOLD A CURRENT CONSTRUCTION INDUCTION WHITE CARD AND WORK SAFELY AT HEIGHTS CERTIFICATE??
As per the South Australian Code of Practice, all people who enter a construction site or work in construction must have undertaken White Card Training and must show proof of such training. A further licensing requirement for all roofing contractors is to obtain a Work Safely at Heights Certificate.
6. IS THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR A MEMBER OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, SUCH AS THE MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OR THE HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION?
Being a member of industry associations demonstrates a commitment to professionalism. The Master Builders Association and Housing Industry Association have expectations of their members to conduct business with honesty and integrity, employ the highest levels of business skills and technical knowledge and to execute all work using good workmanship and materials. Members also keep up to date with industry and technical information, training and support.
As members of the Master Builders Association and the Housing Industry Association, Hindmarsh Roofing works and adheres to the Australian Standards and Code of Ethics.
7. DOES THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR HAVE A VALID AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS NUMBER (ABN) AND ARE THEY REGISTERED FOR GST?
Confirm and ensure that the roofing contractor is legitimate by checking whether they have a valid Australian Business Number. Furthermore, only pay Goods and Services Tax to contractors that are registered for GST. You can check their GST status by visiting this link – https://abr.business.gov.au/
8. DOES THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR PROVIDE A DETAILED, WRITTEN QUOTATION INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK TO BE DONE, MATERIALS THAT WILL BE INSTALLED AND TERMS OF PAYMENT?
Ensure that you only deal with a roofing contractor that has provided you with a detailed, written quotation. The quotation should provide in detail the description of the work to be carried out, the location where the work will be performed, material gauges and thicknesses, warranties, terms of payment and terms and conditions. In the event something goes wrong, detailed, written quotations are a safeguard for both the client and the roofing contractor. A claim made against any contractor with Consumer & Business Services would be more difficult, without a written quotation.
9. DOES THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR PROVIDE YOU WITH ITS WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY IN WRITING?
A written warranty will demonstrate a roofing contractors confidence in their work and customer service, however it is only as good as the company offering it. Ask how long the company or individual has been in business. A company or individual with an established business that has been around for a long time is likely to be around to honour the warranty should any issues arise. It is imperative to deal with an established company with a proven reputation.
At Hindmarsh Roofing, we offer our clients a 10 year workmanship warranty. Our future depends on the complete satisfaction of the customers we deal with today, which is why we put in so much effort into making sure every customer is completely satisfied with the work we do.
10. DOES THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR USE AUSTRALIAN MADE STEEL AND DO THE MATERIALS COME WITH MANUFACTER WARRANTIES?
Ensure your roofing contractor uses Australian made sheet metal and not an inferior product. Some contractors may opt for low grade materials manufactured to save money and increase their bottom line. Do your research and ask how long each roofing material should last, warranties available and who it is manufactured by.
A reputable roofing company should be a certified or approved contractor for the products they are installing. Certified or approved contractors are trained to install products to meet the manufacturers requirements.
11. DOES THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR PROVIDE SAFE WORK METHOD STATEMENTS AND JOB SAFETY ANALYSIS TO COMPLY WITH SAFEWORK SA REQUIREMENTS?
All Roofing Contractors should provide their clients with Safe Work Method Statements and Job Safety Analysis. An emphasis on safety means Hindmarsh Roofing does not cut corners. All work is carried out to comply with SafeWork SA regulations. The safety of both our employees and customers is of the utmost importance.
12. CAN THE ROOFING CONTRACTOR PROVIDE YOU WITH TESTIMONIALS AND IMAGES OF WORK THEY HAVE COMPLETED FROM PREVIOUS PROJECTS?
A reputable roofing contractor should be able to provide you with testimonials and images of work they have completed. As much as a website can be a good indicator of a business’s legitimacy, they can also be misleading. Professional looking websites are readily available and can be embellished with fake reviews and stock images. A professional roofing contractor will have genuine reviews and photos of their own work.
ASK THE QUESTIONS AND PROTECT YOURSELF
A professional roofing contractor will be only too happy to supply you with the answers to these questions. We encourage you to find a roofing contractor that meets all of the above criteria. Being confident you have selected the right roofing contractor will help ensure that you have a quality roof overhead and that your hard earned money has been spent wisely.
We are confident that we exceed all of the questions on this checklist and would be delighted to provide you with an estimate.
CHOOSE A RELIABLE AND EXPERIENCED ADELAIDE ROOFING CONTRACTOR
If you need a reliable and experienced Adelaide roofing contractor, skilled and knowledgeable in the installation of metal roofing, call Hindmarsh Roofing on 08 8268 1600. We will be delighted to assist you with your re-roofing or new roof installation needs. We also invite you to view our project gallery and read our testimonials.
Servicing domestic, commercial and industrial customers throughout Metropolitan Adelaide and country South Australia since 1979, Hindmarsh Roofing have thousands of satisfied clients and a proven track record for excellence. We offer a 10 year workmanship warranty, only the best materials suited for the Australian climate and experienced tradespeople who get the job done right the first time.
If you require more information on Comparing or Choosing a Roofing Contractor or would like to request a Free No Obligation Quotation, please call us on 08 8268 1600 or fill out our online contact form and one of our team members will contact you as soon as possible.