You Should Hire A Gaf Master Elite Certified Contractor
It can be difficult for many homeowners to determine which local roofing company or contractor is bound to do the best job. A.W. Ross is the controller of Lundberg Roofing, Windows & Siding, a business that has been serving the Charlotte, North Carolina area since 1979. In his opinion, one good way to ensure that a roofing company is qualified to do the job is to check for a GAF Master Elite certification.
Roof installation
Generally speaking, any project involving plumbing, HVAC systems or precise construction-related skill requires the help of a licensed company or contactor. While some exterior work can be tackled by homeowners who are fairly handy, roof replacement is one thing that is usually reserved for professionals.
It’s easy to see why so many homeowners prefer to leave roof installation to experts. A new roof can be a significant and costly investment; therefore, most people would be wise to do what it takes to ensure that their roofs are installed correctly from the beginning. Additionally, roof installation is a potentially complex and dangerous venture, which most homeowners wouldn’t even dream of handling themselves, regardless of the potential savings.
GAF Master Elite Certification
GAF Materials Corporation is North America’s largest manufacturer of residential and commercial roofing materials. Homeowners might recognize GAF as the inventors of the Timberline shingle, which is the top-selling architectural shingle in some areas. In order to enforce a higher standard of installation for its top-of-the-line products, GAF implemented a roofer certification program for contractors and companies in the industry.
GAF has already done all of the hard work in selecting the best roofers to become GAF Master Elite roofers. In order to be a GAF Master Elite roofing contractor, you must:
- Be fully licensed to perform roofing work
- Be fully insured
- Have a solid reputation for providing quality roofing services
- Be committed to ongoing professional training
Since GAF only awards certifications to those who have achieved the highest level of competency and skill, only the top 2% of all roofing contractors have managed to qualify as Master Elite.
Two reasons for hiring a GAF Master Elite certified contractor
There are two good reasons why homeowners should consider hiring roofing contractors who are GAF Master Elite certified.
First, the GAF Master Elite certification is a clear indication that the individual or company in question is capable of doing his job well. Since one cannot obtain a Master Elite certification without going through proper trainings, anyone who holds this honor within the roofing industry is bound to truly know what he’s doing. Additionally, since GAF requires that all candidates for the certification hold clean and dependable reputations, anyone who holds this particular credential is sure to be honest and responsible. These qualities can be translated into better craftsmanship as well as timeliness during the roof installation process.
The second reason is that this type of company-backed certification allows eligible contractors to offer certain warranties that others cannot. Until somewhat recently, no roofing manufacturers provided coverage against contractor error. In an effort to stand behind its products and certification program, GAF implemented the Golden Pledge Ltd. Warranty, which is only available through GAF Master Elite contractors. This warranty not only protects a customer against poor workmanship during the roof installation process, it also entitles him to an independent GAF inspection once his new roof is in place – a fact that many homeowners are bound to find appealing.
Finding a contractor with a GAF Master Elite certification
If you’re looking to have a new roof installed but aren’t sure which contractors or companies to trust, start by finding the ones who are GAF Master Elite certified. Most of them tend to do a good job of making this fact known. So in many cases, you can obtain this information by visiting the business’s primary place of operation and looking for its physical certification. You can also go to the GAF website to see if the roofing contractor you’re looking to hire is GAF Master Elite certified.
Be aware that a new roof is a huge investment. So when it comes to installation, you’d be wise to hire only the very best. By choosing a contractor or company with a GAF Master Elite certification, you’ll be giving yourself an added dose of reassurance that your house is in for a job well done.
A.W. Ross is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a roofer or more roofing articles at Yodle Consumer Guide.
Watch this video about roofing contractor
drewsroofingandhomerepair.com Drew’s Roofing and Home Repair Brunswick County Roofing and Home Repair Contractor Helps out his customers with VIDEO update on all work. What sets us apart from our competitors? Check us out at anyone of these sites below and find out for your self…. Please help to answer the question about roofing contractorWhat are the drawbacks of hiring a highly recommended roofing contractor who does not have liability insurance?
This contractor comes with good references (our neighbors for one), and has offered to do our roof for a good price. However, he warned us that he does not have liability insurance.
What does this mean? If a shingle falls on a passer-by, we could be liable and not the roofer? Or does it not cover damage done to our roof by the contractor?
Does anyone have any advice/experience with this?
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June 7th, 2010 | by roofing contractor |
By ttgl10 on Jun 7, 2010
In the world of remodeling, home improvement, or residential construction contracting; "great" and "cheap" do not usually go together.
A legitimate business needs to make a profit to stay in business. In order to stay in business over the long haul, the business must pay taxes, carry liability and worker's compensation insurance, and pay other normal operating expenses. This usually means that their prices are somewhat higher than the guy who works out of the back of his truck for cash.
Unfortunately, many homeowners make their buying decisions based on the cheapest price. They are often burned when an uninsured workman is hurt on their job and the only way to recover damages is to sue the homeowner. They are also frustrated when they can't find the contractor a year or two later for a warranty claim. In some cased, they are forced to pay for materials twice when a supplier files a lein against the homeowner's property because the "contractor" failed to pay for the material.
Contractor complaints like these will be among the top three types of complaints received by your state's Attorney General's Office (usually the division of Consumer Affairs). The only way you can assure that these problems do not befall you is to deal with reputable contractors.
My advice is to decide what brand and color shingles you want on your house before you contact roffing contractors for a price. This ensures that each is bidding based on the same criteria. At a minimum, I recommend screening contractors using the following criteria:
1) Make sure the contractor has been in business for at least ten years. This demonstrates in a very real way that the contractor is on the up and up.
2) Ask for, and check out references in your area. Previous customers will usually be very glad to tell you their experience with a contractor.
3) Insist that a contractor furnishes you with a Certificate of Insurance proving that they are covered by general liability and Worker's Compensation Insurance. The Certificate must be mailed to you by the contractor's insurance carrier because it is just too easy for a clever contractor to phoney up a copy.
4) Make sure that any warranty on workmanship is in writing. They will usually provide a separate manufacturer's warranty on materials.
5) Make sure that all of the details of the job are spelled out in writing in the contract.
6) Do not give a contractor more than a 10% downpayment when you sign the contract. Contractors who ask for more money "so they can buy materials" should send up an alarm that you shouldn't ignore. You can bet that a contractor who demands a large downpayment has no working capital and will soon be out of business. Do not pay the contractor the balance owed until the entire job is done to your satisfaction. Once they are paid in full, you lose all leverage in getting them back to finish up the job.
Keep in mind that this is a highly competitive business and a contractor who charges very high prices will not be in business very long. The prices from legitimate contractors will usually be very close if they are all bidding on exactly the same work.
I hope this information helps you make your decision.
Good luck with your roofing project.
By Windstar on Jun 7, 2010
How about a Roofing/Building Material wholesale company? Outside sales position? His experience would really be beneficial to his customers. Or a technical support or trainer for a roofing manufacturer try the Metal & Asphalt Shingle manufacturers, if he was in the business he hopefully should have some contacts to reach out to. My best advice would be to network within the industry, and to be patient. Something should come along; but not without his local "industry" knowing he is out there and looking for an opportunity.
By cbmtrx on Jun 7, 2010
i would not hire this contractor, could end up costing you more money in the long run
By Chugga on Jun 7, 2010
By PrachiDesai36 on Jun 7, 2010
I found that asking my neighbors and friends who had roofing done to be the most reliable way!
Make sure they are insured. Small, one or two man companies often have the lowest prices but also are risky. Some of those might be excellent, but many don't know what they're doing because they do lots of things not just roofing, and they don't have as much equipment.
My next door neighbor liked his company, but he recommended not paying the entire amount up front. You can often get a deal by doing so, but he said you don't know for sure what you're getting until you've had a good rain. Even good companies occassionally need to fix their work. There was one spot they needed to fix and because he paid everything up front, the company was not in a hurry to come and fix that part.
I have also found that i can get great advice on which people to use for anything – roofing, plumbing, electrical, etc. – that the people at my local hardware store know who's really good and who isn't because they hear it all from their customers. But then, i'm in a small town and it's an independent hardware store. The people at the church also knew who was good and who wasn't because they had four buildings and had used lots of local contractors until they found ones that were great and they'd go back to them again and again, so you might try asking your church secretary for a recommendation, too.
By Edita S. on Jun 8, 2010
Is this a trick question?
Or is it that you are just really bad at math?
By Independent_guy on Jun 9, 2010
I would say it seems high, but then I think everything is high and do it myself. In Ontario, a properly aligned roof would get a lot more sun on the south side and probably a lot more wind and cold on the north side and so it might be reasonable to only replace half. I am assuming that by half you mean one side from the peak down, not the lower half or upper half all the way around. Get some other bids and see. I would expect that half a roof would cost somewhat more than half the cost of the whole roof – no matter how much you take down and put up, you still have to bring trucks and equipment out and get set up and haul away.
By adam0149 on Jun 10, 2010
Yes. Go to http://www.cslb.ca.gov/