Top Roofing Contractors in Alameda County, CA

Insider Tips on Roofing Contractors in Alameda County, California

Be careful to avoid "fly-by-night" roofing contractors

Here's the inside scoop. There are a lot of "fly-by-night" roofers in Alameda County and in nearly every other town in America. There are low barriers for entry to starting a roofing company. All you need is a hammer and a willingness to get up on the roof. Here's how fly-by-nighters operate:

• Offer a very low quote to get you're business. Then either cut corners or come up with excuses as to why the roof ended up costing more.
• Offer well rehearsed excuses as to why they don't have their license or insurance certificate available... then never quite get around to producing those documents.
• May use illegal or undocumented workers.
• May use improper roof installation techniques due to inexperience, lack of training, and corner cutting.

Stick to Alameda County roofers that are pro's. Here's how you do it.

• Ask to see the roofer's current license (if required in your state)
• Ask to see the roofer's insurance certificates
• Ask if the roofing contractor has any other affiliations or certifications that give an indication of quality
• Ask for their address to see if they are locally based. Storm chasers in from out of town may be less accountable than a Alameda County roofing contractor that has a local repuation to protect.
• Ask what roofing materials they have most experience with.
• Ask if they can provide you a few recent references from the area.
• Ask yourself if you trust this roofing contractor.

Hometown Roofing Contractors has done some of the initial homework for you. We prescreened the Alameda County roofers on this page and confirmed a valid state license (if required by your state), liability insurance certificate, and strong workmanship guarantee.

What warranties are offered by Alameda County roofing contractors?

There are two kinds of roofing warranties homeowners and business owners need to be aware of:

1. Roofing Materials Warranty - These warranties are not actually offered by the roofing contractor, though the contractor can educate you on the different durations and types. Materials warranties are offered by the manufacturer of the materials you select. Whether you're installing a new metal roof, shingle roof, or tile roof, the materials used are typically guaranteed for anywhere from 10 years to a lifetime. Quality manufacturers such as GAF, CertainTeed, and Owens Corning and others all offer warranties on their materials. The duration of the warranty depends on the grade of material you select.
2. Workmanship Warranty - These warranties are offered directly by the Alameda County roofing company and typically protect the property owner against roof leaks or other issues caused by improper installation. Duration of these warranties often varies between 1 year up to 10 years. Be sure to get any guarantees or warranties offered by your hired roof contractor in writing to protect yourself.