subject: Best Santa Barbara Ca Roofing Company [print this page] How to Select a Santa Barbara CA Roofing Company
If you live in the Santa Barbara, CA area and need to select a roofing company, there is a logical process which you can go through to select the best roofer for your project. The climate and architectural review boards in the Santa Barbara, CA area make this process slightly different than in other areas. There are several factors to consider when you need to hire a roofing company to perform work for you. You want to ensure that you hire an experienced, capable contractor and not get ripped off. The process will be slightly different if you are installing a roof during new construction, or if you are repairing or replacing an existing roof, but in either case you want to hire the best roofing company for your job. The initial questions involve what roofing material is appropriate for your project. Let's first look at new construction.
Roofing New Construction
There are architectural review boards (ARB) in certain communities in the Santa Barbara, CA area that may specify the roofing material and/or color palette that must be used. Check with the local Planning Department to see if your project is located in such an area. If you are not in one of these areas and if the roofing material has not been specified by your architect, then you will need to look at the trade-offs for the various types of roofs. The trade-offs will include:
Aesthetics/Design
Budget
Climate
Colors
Life cycle
Maintenance
Quality
Warranty
Weight/structural considerations
This will likely involve an iterative process to determine what is the appropriate roofing system for your project. Assuming that local ordinances do not require a specific roofing material, there are several basic roofing choices and several sub-choices within the basic roofing material types:
Asphalt shingle
Built-up roofing
Concrete Shingle
Metal
Slate
Tile
Wood Shake
When you interview a roofing contractor, they should be well versed in the various types of roofing materials and be able to clearly explain the differences in applications, costs, life expectancy, warranty, maintenance, etc. Obviously this process for projects in the Santa Barbara area does not involve certain climate issues like snow loads and ice build-up that would be concerns in other areas. However, the potential for wild fires may influence the type of roofing material that would be fire resistance. The best Santa Barbara roofing company should give you a good sense that he understands and is able to explain the trade-offs of each of the various roofing materials.
Roofing Repair
Roofing repair may require the repair or replacement of a portion of the roof or the replacement of the entire roof. Of particular concern should be the condition of the roof sheathing and structure underneath the roofing material. If there is damage to the structure beneath the roofing material, the contractor should be able to clearly show you the area(s) that need repair and why. If only a portion of the roof needs repair, can it be done without damaging the balance of the roof and will it blend in with the remainder of the existing roof.
If the entire roof needs to be replaced does the contractor advise removal of the existing roof or installing over the existing roofing materials. In general, although it may be slightly more expensive, the removal of the existing roof and the installation of a new roof will provide a better, longer lasting job. In addition, the existing roof may be in such poor condition that installing a new roof over it would severely reduce the life expectancy of the new roof. Be aware that building codes require that a new roof cannot be installed if there are already two layers of existing roofing materials. The contractor should be able to articulate the trade-offs between these two approaches and provide a detailed estimate/proposal of the costs differences. Make sure that the cost to remove the old roofing materials from your site is included in their contract.
Different roofing materials and manufacturers will carry varying length warranties. This applies to the roofing materials but the contractor should also warrant his installation labor for a period of time. Understand what these time frames are and how it affects your decision process.
The Contractor
In general it is preferable to hire a contractor whose office is near your project, such that scheduling and service issues should be prompt. The longer a company has been in business is a plus. A newer company isn't necessarily a red flag, but their experience and references should be checked more closely. You should make sure that the contractor is licensed, carries the appropriate liability and workman's compensation insurance and has bonding capability. He should also be willing to provide the necessary permits for the project.
They should be able to provide references of similar projects that have been completed recently. Ask for a reference where there was a problem that the contractor had to respond to. Check these references to assess his performance and if the customer would hire him again. Also ask for references of general contractors they have worked for and research this performance. Ask what local and trade organizations they belong to and check these references. A few phone calls up front could save you a lot of trauma later.
Make sure that the contractor will provide a written estimate and contract. Review these to make sure the materials to be used are clearly spelled out and if there are exclusions that may increase the price. Understand the progress payment schedule to ensure that you are only paying for work that has been completed. There should not be a significant up front payment. Make sure that final payment is not required until the job is complete, there has been a final inspection by the building official and you, and the contractor has delivered to you all lien releases from material suppliers and any sub-contractors they may have used. You would have received a "Preliminary Notice" from any such supplier or subcontractor that could place a Mechanics Lien against your property; and you should have lien releases from all before final payment
Understand what guarantees the contractor provides and make sure these are in writing. Ask if a maintenance program is recommended and if they will provide this service or provide you with a written plan to ensure the longevity of your roof.
When you have selected the contractor make sure that:
1) You have a detailed written contract specifying price, payment terms, schedule, guarantee, etc.
2) Inspect the job to make sure that progress payments reflect work completed.
3) Do not make a final payment until the job is complete and there has been a final inspection.
4) Do not make a final payment until all material and labor lien releases have been provided.
If you take your time, understand the issues, check references, and make sure the contract specifies that the roofing contractor will perform the work that you want done and how you want it done, you will minimize problems. To receive a FREE Guide on How to Select the best Roofing Company in Santa Barbara, visit http://www.santabarbararoofing1.
