Waukesha County, WI, is known for its beautiful lakeside scenery and stunning homes. The city of Waukesha was recently named the 12th best place to live in the entire country. And its neighboring towns are equally irresistible.
If you’re fortunate enough to call this place home, we understand you want the best for your home. So if you need a roof replacement or repair, that means employing residential roofing services. A skilled and trusted roofing service that will deliver what you’re looking for.
How can you find a residential roofer that will meet your expectations? Read on to find out.
1. Get Recommendations
Recommendations from friends and family members are the most trusted form of marketing out there. Research has found that 88% of us trust recommendations more than media advertising.
If you have a long history in the Waukesha County area, you’re bound to have many contacts who have had their roofs replaced over the years. Of course, you could try calling them all, but a quicker way is to unleash the power of social media.
Post a recommendation request to your Instagram, Facebook status, TikTok, or whichever form of social you prefer. A WhatsApp status message is also a great way of reaching contacts on your phone that don’t follow you on other forms of social media.
The goal is to form a long list of potential residential roofers to investigate further. Be warned – along with recommendations, you’ll get some red flags. That information can be just as useful in making an informed decision.
2. Read Reviews
Armed with your long list of potential roofing services, you’re now ready to hit the review sites. These sites can give you valuable insights into people’s experiences with local businesses. Many contractors will link to review sites from their company website’s reviews/testimonials page.
While reviews can be helpful, you should read them with an open mind. People often take to review sites when they’re either extremely happy or very dissatisfied with a service. Our recommendation is to look for themes.
Do reviewers consistently highlight the following good points:
- Great communication
- Timeliness
- Quality finish
Or do they often talk about the following negative points:
- Poor customer service
- Unfulfilled promises
- Poor workmanship
Even the best business can get a bad review from time to time. The key is how professionally they handle them. Review sites allow space for businesses to follow up on compliments and complaints.
Does the roofing service follow up and try to resolve any complaints raised? Do they ignore them, or even worse, give an uncourteous response? Their replies tell you a lot about the company’s values.
3. Licensed, Insured, and Certified
A residential roofing service must have a general contractor’s license and insurance in Wisconsin. Before getting quotes, ask to see these credentials, including details of their general liability insurance policy. Then, check that the level of insurance coverage is sufficient to put your mind at rest.
Additionally, the best contractors have professional certifications. These qualifications demonstrate their skills in different aspects of roofing and may include the following:
- CertainTeed credentials, including Select Shingle Master and Shingle Quality Specialist
- LP Gold Level Preferred Remodeler
- Velux Certified Installer
These credentials show you’re hiring a residential roofer at the top of their game.
4. Achieve the Result You Want
A new roof can be a great addition to your lakeside home. Choosing the right material and contractor can give your home an instant facelift that will look great for years. For example, if you choose a cedar shake roof, it will only become more beautiful as the shingles weather and take on a delightful patina.
Be sure to choose a local contractor that has the skills to deliver the look you want. Check out their past projects online or visit some in person. You’ll feel confident that they have the skills to deliver what you’re looking for.
5. Get Several Quotes
You’ve narrowed down your search to a few companies, and now it’s time to get quotes. First, make sure that they’re all quoting on a like-for-like basis. Then, ask each one for an example of a boilerplate contract so you can compare their payment terms.
Ask each company to detail the materials they will use. This will help you to check that they are using quality materials and are not cutting corners.
The best residential roofer isn’t necessarily the cheapest. Instead, it’s the contractor you feel confident will provide the best service, use the highest quality materials, protect the rest of your house, and stick to the contract in terms of cost and timescales.
6. Do They Care About Your Entire Home?
While residential roofing services focus on the roof, their professional expertise can also help you in other related areas. For example, in the bitter Wisconsin winter, when the temperature can go down to 15°F, ice damming can be a real problem. You may have heard that proper roof ventilation is the answer, but this is only one piece of the puzzle.
In addition to roofing services, you are likely to need attic insulation to keep this problem at bay. Many roofing contractors won’t tell you this because, technically, it has nothing to do with the roof. But the most trustworthy contractors that truly care about their customers will.
They’ll educate you about other concerns that need to be addressed before getting a new roof. This is because they genuinely care and want to help you keep your home in excellent condition. Additionally, they may be able to recommend trusted local contractors who can handle these concerns for you.
Delafield, WI Residential Roofing Services That Deliver
We hope that this guide will help you to choose the best residential roofing services for your home. The most reputable firms craft beautiful roofs that stand the test of time. They also educate homeowners, helping them make choices that will protect their homes inside and out for years to come.
If you’re in the Delafield, WI, area, then look no further than Resistance Exteriors. We are the proud recipients of the 2021 Delafield Business of the Year and Team of the Year awards. We are committed to excellence in roofing and customer service.
Whether you need a small repair or a new roof, call us today at 262-951-0875 or reach out online for a quote.
