You might be building a new home or replacing the roof on an existing one. No matter the reason, you will need the help of experienced local roofers to complete the project and do the job right. Whenever you are looking for a roofing company to build or replace a roof, it is very important to get a detailed work estimate. Here are six benefits of getting an estimate before you agree to hire a contractor.

1. Know the Expected Cost

It’s important to know the cost estimate and how your money would be spent. You should receive a detailed estimate that clearly shows the costs of various items, including the roofing materials. The type of materials can vary greatly in type and cost. Even the same materials might vary, so you need to be sure what you might agree to pay for by reviewing the cost estimate. For example, according to Architectural Digest, it costs an average of nearly $11,000 to install a new metal roof, but the cost could range from about $6,000 to more than $16,000.

2. See Where Your Money Would Be Spent

A cost estimate should do more than show you how much you are spending on various materials. It also should list other costs, like labor, equipment, and other incidentals that you might not have considered. The labor costs should include the number of workers and supervisors and the estimated hours to complete the work. You don’t want to hire a roofing company and learn after the job is completed that things you thought would be done were not included, such as a final cleanup of any debris and leftover materials.

3. Find Out What Services Are Included

You need to know which services you are paying for in advance so that you will know which contractor is offering to do the most work. You might want gutters and downspouts added to your roof and find out that they are not included in the work contract. You also might expect eaves and soffits to be part of the service and learn afterward that it was not part of the contract. It’s very important to know exactly what a roofing company will do to earn your money while installing a roof on your home.

4. Determine Expected Timeline

You can plan ahead for the disruption that always accompanies a roofing project by getting an estimate on the timeframe to complete your project. Weather will always be an unknown factor that might greatly extend the time that it takes to install your roof, but you should know how long it will take in good weather. That knowledge can help you to plan accordingly and notify any neighbors that might be within hearing distance so that the project does to impose an undue hardship on them.

5. Learn What Else You Might Need to Do

The roofing company should give you a cost estimate that fully lists all that it will do to complete the project. A detailed estimate will help you to know what you might have to do afterward, which might include cleaning up any debris. You also might have to arrange for additional services, like installing eaves and soffits, that you might have anticipated the roofing contractor would have done. You also might find that you are required to provide a debris container while the project is underway. Knowing what the contractor intends to do helps you to know any additional things that you would need to do to install a roof on your home.

6. Learn How Your Property Will Be Protected

A detailed estimate should include information on bond and insurance protection for your home and finances. A roofing project requires several workers at your home for several days, and an accident might cause extensive damage or the complete destruction of your home and belongings. The estimate should tell you what kind of protection you have as a homeowner if the contractor somehow damages your home. This includes informing you of their insurance status and licensing.

You can call or visit Phil's Main Roofing LLC to learn more about our roofing company services. We would be happy to schedule an inspection to help write up a detailed cost estimate to install a roof on your home or another property. We're looking forward to hearing from you.