How to Choose a Contractor

RoofCrafters has been proud to be the contractor of choice for many homeowners and businesses in Austin and its surrounding counties. As you make your decision about what company to entrust with the roof over your family’s home or your place of business, we encourage you to ask each one the following 10 questions. Your insurance company may pay for your repairs, but they will not pay a second time if a contractor fails to meet your needs and expectations. We believe that the closer you check our credentials, the better we’ll look to you.

1. Is the Company Reputable?
Reputable companies will use quality materials, have a track record you can trace and satisfied customers with whom you can talk.

RoofCrafters takes pride in offering you materials and workmanship you can count on. We have been in business over 25 years and have been a member in good standing of the Central Texas Better Business Bureau since 1988. RoofCrafters has over 25,000 completed jobs—and nearly as many satisfied customers. We strive for 100% satisfaction and work hard to build the kind of relationships that will have us working in partnership with our customers when concerns arise. LESS THAN .05% have chosen to contact the BBB as their means of reaching resolution and each of these claims has been resolved. Too, we count on you to call on the references we provide. We like having you hear what our past customers have to say about us!

2. Is the Company a Local Company?
Choose a Texas corporation registered with the Texas Secretary of State to ensure reliable work and ongoing availability should any warranty work be necessary.

RoofCrafters has 25 plus years in business and thousands of roofs, windows, siding, painting, decks and remodeling jobs worth of experience to offer you. RoofCrafters is a Texas Corporation with Federal ID #74-2754289.

3. Is the Contractor Insured?
Be absolutely sure that anyone who works on your property carries liability insurance—homeowner and business owner’s insurance won’t cover the risks involved. Please check with your insurance carrier or an attorney if you have any questions regarding this matter. It is your right to request a certificate of insurance from a roofing contractor and to follow up with the stated carrier to be sure that the certificate is valid.

RoofCrafters carries liability insurance with a large top rated insurance company. A copy is available upon request.

4. Are a Company Telephone And Knowledgeable Staff Available For You?
Getting your construction or roofing project done, ideally, should be an almost effortless task that you can undertake with great confidence. Having staff who understand roofing and who are readily available to answer the questions you need answered is important.

At RoofCrafters you can count on talking with knowledgeable staff throughout each business day-no leaving messages on a recorder or trading calls. Someone will be available to talk with you during office hours. Our Project Planners are typically available on weekends and evenings, as well.

5. Is the Company a Certified Preferred Contractor?
Many shingle manufacturers offer their own certifications to signify a company that meets their unique qualifications for excellence. Choosing a contractor that is able to meet these increased standards offers you even greater assurance of higher levels of professionalism.

RoofCrafters is certified by several shingle manufacturers and is one of Austin’s few GAF-Elk Master Elite Contractors and Owens Corning’s Preferred Contractors.

6. Is the Contractor Financially Credible?
If a contractor does not pay for the materials used on your site, a lien can be placed on your home. Protect your interests by making sure that the company you select for your roofing needs is managing their own business and finances appropriately.

RoofCrafters invites you to telephone our primary suppliers, vendors, and even our accountant. Bradco can be reached at 512-389-3199 (Tony Brown or Jim Walker); SPEC at 512-836-1531 (Alan Hopper); Capitol Company at 512-836-9654 (Les Conley); BMC at 378-9300 (Jen Brown); and Bjorge and Parker at 512-255-1227 (Mark Bjorge).

7. Will the Crew on Your Job be Ready and Experienced?
There are lots of stories about roofers who have needed to borrow ladders or equipment from homeowners and jobs being completed by novices. It is more than reasonable to expect that people deliver what is promised to you at the time of sale.

At RoofCrafters you may count on a crew that will have all the proper tools, skill and knowledge to complete your job in a professional manner. Remember to verify this when you talk with our references!

8. If UNexpected Problems Arise, What Happens to Your Home or Business?
A reality that exists for contractors and home/business owners is that surprises can occur during renovations. When doing an estimate it is impossible to see what is under the existing roof or siding. A sheet or several sheets of plywood decking may have rotted, and sometimes the rot continues into a rafter, a truss or some other component of the framing. Not all contractors have the expertise or knowledge to recognize or address this. Unfortunately that often leads to the problem being covered up quickly. Obviously this can lead to much bigger problems down the road. You have a right to ask the "what if" questions and to be comfortable with a company’s responses.

RoofCrafters is well rounded and properly prepared for all the possibilities prior to tackling any contracted job. At RoofCrafters we have full time carpenters that can make the proper recommendations and do the extra work that problem areas require. Custom sheet metal around chimneys and areas around skylights often need extra attention as well. Where competitors may use a lot of caulk or tar as a substitute for a permanent solution, RoofCrafters relies upon full time sheet metal mechanics for these types of situations. We can comfortably say not to worry; we’re ready for the unexpected!

9. How Long Will the Project Take?
A simple roofing, siding, windows or paint job can get dragged out indefinitely by those who are trying to have one or a few individuals on multiple job sites, or those who are trying to complete one project while securing their next job.

At RoofCrafters we have specialized and well trained people for our various roles, and we concentrate on beginning a job and following it directly through to completion in the most efficient manner possible. Our Project Planners and Project Managers work together to ensure we deliver on the commitments we make to you, weather and materials permitting!

10. What Will the Job Cost and Is That Price Competitive?
Assessing a price tag can require more than a glance at the bottom line, especially in the roofing and construction industries. Contractors who have a good name, offer liability insurance, maintain a real office, offer knowledgeable people to answer the phones, have warranties and experience that you can rely upon often don’t provide the lowest bid. Though the adage, "you get what you pay for" can sound trite and over used, insurance companies and satisfied, non-stressed owners will be the first to say that reputable companies are often worth the little bit extra they charge. Many wonder how professional companies are able to be so competitive!

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