Birmingham Roofers - Roofing Contractors in Birmingham

Tips on Birmingham Roofing and Roofing Contractor Selection

How much does it cost to install a new roof in Birmingham?

Every roof replacement is different, so requesting estimates from professional local roofers is the best way to get an accurate cost estimate for your new roof. The cost of roof replacement depends on multiple factors:

• Size and shape of your roof - Roof size is quoted in "squares" (100 square feet = 1 square).
• Slope of your roof - Steeper sloped roofs are more challenging to work on and may require higher labor costs.
• Number of existing roof layers to be removed - Tear off and proper disposal of existing roof layers is a significant part of the cost of any Birmingham re-roofing project. More layers cost more to remove and more to dispose of.
• Type and grade of roofing material selected - Metal roofing lasts longer than shingles, but costs more. Architectural shingles cost more than 3-tab shingles. Specialty roofing materials like slate roofing or shake roofing, cost more for the material and the installation than a basic shingle roof installation.
• Birmingham roofing contractor selection - Roof replacement or repair estimates from local roofing companies may vary significantly. When comparing two roof estimates, it's important to consider the type and grade of material being quoted in each estimate. Also, it can be a mistake to select a Birmingham roofing company based on price alone, because roofers in Birmingham may vary significantly in their credentials and in the quality of work they will provide. Select the roofing company that offers the best overall value. Licensed, insured, and professional roofing service at a fair price will almost always end up a better deal than an unprofessional roofer offering cut-rate roofing prices.

Roof replacement cost may range from $250 per square to $1200 per square. A "square" in roofing equals 100 square feet. An average re-roofing project may cost around $350 per square (REMEMBER - this ballpark number will vary significantly based on the details of your project). So, if you had a 20 square roof (2000 square feet of roof) and the total project cost $350 per square, you're reroof would cost $7000 (20 square X $350). Again, all the factors above can cause this number to go up or down significantly.

How do I know if a Birmingham roofer is properly licensed and insured?

Hometown Roofing Contractors has done the initial homework for you. Prescreened residential and commercial roofing contractors that appear on this page are "Hometown Verified" roofers. We've confirmed that these contractors offer a warranty on their workmanship and we've also screened these roofing companies for the appropriate state license (if required by your state) and liability insurance.

Hometown's screening process means the roofer produced a valid Alabama license (if required) and insurance certificates at the time of the screening, but it's possible that the status of the license or insurance could have changed in the meantime. So, it's still recommended to ask to see evidence of the roofers' license and insurance certificates at the time of your estimate.

While Hometown checks for a valid roofing contractors license at the state level, we do not specifically check the roofing contractor licensing requirements of local and county municipalities, so it may be worthwhile to check if Birmingham roofing contractors are required to be licensed by the city or Jefferson County. Roofers that are required to be licensed by the state or local governments should be able to produce a certificate of their license at the time of the estimate.

Shingle roof systems, metal roofing, tile roofing, shake roofing, and slate roofs all have different advantages. What type of roofing system should I use?

If you aren't sure what type of roofing material you want for your roof, educate yourself on different roofing materials advantages and disadvantages. Then contact roofing companies in Birmingham to inspect your home and help you determine the best materials and methods for your particular structure.

If you select a roofing system other than shingles, then it's important to select a roofing contractor that has experience and demonstrated quality work with that particular material. For instance, if you select metal roofing... be sure to select an experienced metal roofer that can provide references to other metal roof projects in the area.

What warranties are offered by Birmingham roofers to protect the homeowner?

There are two types of warranties a roofing contractor in Birmingham, Alabama may offer. First is a roofing materials warranty, actually provided by the manufacturer of the shingles, tile roofing, or metal roofing material. Manufacturers usually offer different warranties depending on the grade of material you select. Less expensive shingles, tile, or metal roofing, usually carry a shorter warranty, as you might expect.

So make sure you understand what materials your roofer will be using and what the corresponding warranty is for those materials. What circumstances would void the roofing materials warranty?

The second kind of warranty is provided directly from the roof contractor. It's called a "Workmanship Warranty" or "Workmanship Guarantee." This is a warranty from a Birmingham roofing contractor that essentially guarantees that the installation was done properly. Depending on the language in the warranty, any roof leaks or other problems related to improper installation would be covered by the roofer. These warranties, if offered, are typically anywhere from one to ten years.