Know your rights

Ten Things to Consider When Selecting Your Roofer

1. Is the company that is advertising the work the same company that will be doing the work? 

It is illegal for companies to advertise for trade work without a licence so make sure the company saying they will do the work are the same company that actually does the work.

2. Does the company hold the correct licence for the work and is it current? Does the licence belong to the company you contacted? Is the ABN current and does it belong to the company doing the work? 

3. Does the company use their own employees or sub-contractors? 

Generally companies that have their own employees that can do the works are more likely to do quality work as they are able to spend the time needed to get it done right rather than rush it so they can make more money. 

4. Does the company have the correct Insurances? 

Minimally Public Liability and Workers Compensation Insurance are needed for any job and you can ask to see certificates of currency. 

If the work is residential and the quote is over $20,000 in total value, Home Building Compensation Fund Insurance is also required. This is something your roofer must obtain prior to commencing works on your home. They should also provide you a copy of the insurance certificate. This is a must to protect you in case the company cannot or will not honour their warranty and it needs to be supplied to you before works commence. 

5. Does the company have lots of genuine, good reviews on Google? 

Have a look and see what you find. 

6. How long has the company been around?

The longer the better as this shows they are doing things correctly, do fix their defects and are managing their money correctly. 

7. Experience.

Experience can count for alot. Everyone makes mistakes, especially when they are new to the game. I would suggest a minimum of ten years experience is required to make a really competent roofer. Five years would be an absolute minimum. Don’t settle for less.

8. Is the quote too cheap? 

If the quote is significantly cheaper than other quotes, chances are something is missing or the job will not be done properly. Cheap companies may make their money by cutting corners. Cheapest quote is most likely not the best and the business may not be sustainable, making warranties worth very little. 

9. How busy are they? 

Any good company will be busy. This is no different for a roofing company, and if it has recently rained, roofing companies should be very busy. Beware the company that can do the job tomorrow or even next week. Expect to have to wait a while to get someone good. A wait-list shows the company is in demand. 

10. Do they want cash as payment or large amounts upfront? 

Beware any company asking for cash as payment. You might save on GST but you will have no warranty as there is no record of paying for works done. Also, it may just be an indicator that the company is willing to do things that are not really correct or legal, so they might not be the most ethical choice. There is also a maximum you can be asked to pay as a deposit (10%) and there are also limits on progress payments and how much you can be expected to pay before works are fully complete.

Suggested reading:

The Consumer Building Guide (3 pages) and Security of Payment Guide (4 pages) are two Fair Trading NSW documents we supply to all our clients with works over $20,000.