Gloucestershire Roofing Contractors - Part 1 - How to Find a Roofing contractor in Gloucestershire

You live in Gloucestershire and you want to get your roof fixed

. And unless you have a lot of personal experience and an experienced team to help you, then you probably won't be able to do it yourself. So you will need to hire a roofing contractor who knows exactly what they are doing. Professional roofing contractors will also know about the latest techniques and materials and will be aware of any changes in building regulations which may be relevant to your circumstances. All that expertise is needed so that you do not find yourself, two years down the line, contemplating leaks into your home. There are many roofing contractors in Gloucestershire, so how do you make your choice?

A majority of roof leaks happen where the roof is attached to something that is not a roof, such as skylights, dormer windows, plumbing-vent pipes, exhaust fans, chimneys, walls that extend higher than roofs, etc. You need to have expertly installed flashings at these locations. Flashings are transitional roofing materials that connect roofs to these non-roof features.

Getting a new roof is a substantial investment and is also one of the most significant things you can do to protect the fabric of your home. It needs to be watertight to keep out the worst of the weather, strong enough to cope with rain, snow, hail and high winds, as well as flexible enough to cope with changes in temperature without cracking or compromising its reliability.

Before you start do some research on the internet about the roofing materials which are available. There are many types of roofing materials clay or concrete tiles, slate, roofing shingles, and roofing felts for flat roofs, and the choice of material will affect the overall budget. For example clay tiles are generally more expensive than concete tiles. You may also be affected by the type of roofing materials in neighbouring properties. With this knowledge you won't be going cold into discussions with a contractor about materials to be used

Roofing shingles and tiles come in many styles and are made of many different materials. They vary in their layer materials and design, but the majority of roofs consist of wood framing, flashing wood, roofing felt, and the surface roofing material, including the flashings.

How do you find a roofing contractor? There are plenty of Gloucestershire roofing contractors. Just going to Yellow Pages and picking the contractor with the biggest advert could expose you to getting ripped off. You would not choose a car by going to the first dealer you find on Yellow pages.

So start of by asking your friends, your neighbours, your work colleagues if they can personally recommend a roofing contractor in Gloucestershire, or whether they know someone reliable who can. You could also ask local builders merchants or any surveyors you may know or who are recommended to you. Check out the websites of any that are recommended, if they have one to find out such information as how big they are - family firm, national company etc., and how long they have been in existence. Once you have done your research draw up a shortlist and then contact each contractor on your shortlist.

Many homeowners have been astonished by the apparent lack of interest and response from the contractors they call. To get a contractor to respond to your call, tell him you are shopping around, but are only interviewing three contractors, not ten. A contractor is shopping for good jobs that will make a fair profit and bring future referrals . Many contractors have had experiences with unreasonable or dishonest homeowners. Therefore, they look for warning signs of customer problems during the initial job interview.

Set up a meeting to discuss your needs and their qualifications, and be sure to pay close attention to the attitude of the contractor. Good contractors take pride in their work and will be enthusiastic about the possibility of helping you with your problems. If you feel confident that the contractor is truly interested in your project, ask the company for at least three references regarding work he has done for others, for work similar to what you require.

Next, check your references. If possible go and see those who are willing to provide references for your possible contractor. Some questions you could ask are:

- Was the company professional?

- Did they perform the job safely and on time?

- Did they leave the job as they found it -- clean

- Were there any damages?

- Did the company clearly explain and answer any and all questions?

- Would you use the company again?

Assuming that you have concluded that the companies on your shortlist have real potential for your job then you need to look at the formal questions and answers required to make sure you have made the right choice. These issues will be covered in Part 2 of this series.

Gloucestershire Roofing Contractors - Part 1 - How to Find a Roofing contractor in Gloucestershire

By: Ken Charles

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