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Roofing is an important part of any Portland home. It provides shelter for us as well as a barrier for the elements. If a quality roof was installed on your home with standard materials then you will have no problems for decades to come.
Unfortunately many homes being built are sprung up really fast and the standards were most likely based on "quickness" and "speed" than "quality." Because of this you may be needing a roofer for repairs and upgrades sooner than you think. The following are some suggestions you can use to find the best roofing companies in Portland and prevent you from being hosed by unethical ones.
Ask Friends and Family
Start your quest for a great roofer by asking people you are familiar with. Ask people you work with. Ask your family. Ask friends you talk with every day. These people are not going to steer you in the wrong direction and will be more than willing to assist you. Many of them have needed this work done as well and will be able to tell you if the person who worked for them was good or bad.
Business License and Insurance
Personally, I do not like doing business with huge companies. They are usually unpleasant to deal with and the whole business transaction is not interpersonal whatsoever. You do not, however, want a fly-by-night start up company working on your roof either. Mid sized to small established businesses are the best.
How can you tell if a roofer is legitimate. He should have four items that make him able to be in this business in Portland and the state of Oregon.
This includes a contractors license, a bond general liability insurance, and workers compensation insurance. Are these items cheap? no. But they are necessary to protect you and them in case something happens and their costs should be included in the bid. You would be wise to ask for proof of them otherwise you are opening yourself up for all kinds of liability.
Call Several of their Past Customers
I have no idea why more people do not ask for this. It is a simple process and can ensure that you do not get total deadbeats or rip-offs.
Ask whatever Portland roofer you are thinking about doing business with for at least three names and phone numbers of past customers. These should be recent. You want to call them to ask how their experience was in dealing with this particular local roofing company. Was the experience pleasant? was the work done on time? were the employees professional? was the price fair? would this person recommend this roofer to their close friends or mother?
Follow these three suggestions and you will find one of the best roofers in Portland. They serve as qualifying agents and no unethical company will be able to pass all three of them. Do them in order and you will find a quality small business who will be happy to give you a good job at a very reasonable price.
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Visit this website if you are looking for roofers Portland. They are a great place to start your search. Make sure you go through all of the qualifying suggestions though. It is a good habit to start and will save you a lot of time and hassle when you are looking for other contractors in other industries besides roofing.
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