For homeowners and commercial property owners alike, putting a re-roof out to tender can seem like a daunting task. Here’s some advice about acquiring quotes, the follow-up questions to ask, and what to do if the project goes awry.

Getting any work done on your property can be stressful. To try and remain calm, you’ll probably quietly repeat, “It’ll all be worth it in the end,” and remind yourself that the extra people, noise, dust, and general inconvenience won’t be there forever.

But if you’re not confident in the contractors you’ve engaged, anxiety levels can really spike.

Whilst there can be no guarantees, the following hints and tips should help you to (a) find a decent contractor to suit your requirements and (b) offer some support if you have concerns.

Do I need a new roof, or could my existing roof be repaired?

Before you do anything else, make sure a re-roof is the most appropriate way forward. Consider reading this blog to see if you might have other options.

How do I get prices for my re-roof, and how many quotes should I request?

Personally, I don’t see the need to involve a third party (“middle man”) to get quotes for your job. It might seem like they’re making life easier for you, but remember, they have to make their money, too. They’ll almost certainly be clipping the ticket, which could be reflected in the prices you receive.

However, this option could suit you if you’re pressed for time and/or feel totally overwhelmed by the thought of a tender process.

My recommendation would always be to contact the Roofing Association of New Zealand (RANZ). There are more than 300 members up and down the country who’ve all passed the required criteria. I would suggest that by signing up to RANZ, roofers are demonstrating their commitment to strive for high industry standards. (I know, you’ve heard this before. I sound like a broken record!)

If you provide RANZ with some basic information – your location, property type, etc. – they should be able to give you a list of companies that could fit the bill.

You could also ask friends, whānau or colleagues if they’ve had any good experiences with roofers. A word-of-mouth recommendation is usually pretty reliable.

Don’t go overboard; three or four quotes are enough to give you a good feel for the market. Again, as I’ve said previously, the roofing industry is quite a small world. People talk to each other. If you go out for loads of prices, you’ll likely receive some cover quotes (aka shadow quotes) from businesses that don’t want the job.

I’ve three or four names of roofers for my project. What do I do next?

Some research! Check out their website and social media. What are their reviews like on Google, Facebook, No Cowboys, and Builderscrack? If there are negative comments, how has the business responded to these?

Contact your preferred contractors and say you need a re-roof. Ideally, tell them the colour you want to use and that you’d like a New Zealand-made product. (We’ll share some insights about roof colours and NZ vs overseas manufacturers in our next blog.)

Based on this information alone, they should be able to provide an estimate, as they can lift measurements from the likes of Google Maps.

The quotes for my re-roof have come in. How do I know which is ‘the best’ for me?

Assuming you’re not solely focused on price, ask some follow-up questions, such as:

  • How long is the materials’ warranty?
  • How long do you expect the project to take?
  • Is there any other building work we need to do before or during the re-roof?
  • Have there been any known issues with the roof colour we’ve chosen?
  • Could we go and see some examples of your work on similar jobs?

My re-roof’s finished, but there have been some problems. Who should I talk to?

The advantage of using a RANZ member is that you can tap into the association’s dispute service. This could be for anything from concerns about the look of the finished roof or the conduct of the contractors on your property.

If you’re unhappy or unsure of the quality of workmanship, you could ask RDM to give it the once over and, potentially, produce a list of defects.

..

  • A roofer has told you that you need a new roof, but you’re not sure and would like a second opinion.
  • You’ve had a new roof installed and are not happy with it. The roofer says it’s perfect, but you’re not sure.
  • Your old roof is looking tired, but you want to try and make it last another five years. You wonder if that is possible.

If any of these sound familiar, Roof Design and Management can help.

We’ll give you an honest, impartial opinion about the condition of an existing roof or the quality and compliance of a new roof. We can offer recommendations and point you in the right direction if you need a roofer.

Roof Design and Management can also provide a maintenance plan, based on your budget and requirements.

Contact us today for a chat.