How do you choose a roofer?  If you Google “Roofing Company Atlanta”, you’ll get about 1900 responses.  Hmm, about as useful as opening the phonebook and flipping to the Attorney section…  Unfortunately, the State of Georgia does not require roofers to be licensed and so the former shoe salesman is now free to hammer away on your roof.   At North Ridge Roofing we believe constant education and industry certifications are critical to remain an industry leader in any trade.  As a homeowner, there are some things you can do to weed out the several hundred unqualified roofers in the Atlanta area.   Knowing the amount of continuing education a roofer has is a start. 

HAAG Certification

HAAG Engineering Certified Roofers, like North Ridge Roofing, have been through an extensive training program, geared to help roofers better identify wind and hail damage to all types of roofing materials.  This program also educates roofers on how to distinguish between storm and non-storm related damage.  In an age when most insurance claims cannot be unfiled and may lead to cancelation (even if nothing is paid), it is critical to have a roofer who honestly and accurately tells you if damage exists.  Too many roofers lack integrity and encourage homeowners to submit claims when there is no damage OR they are not qualified to tell storm damage from age related issues. 

As a value to our clients and a requirement of our business practices, North Ridge Roofing shows each homeowner how we identified the damage on their roofs.  Our clients also appreciate when we show them that no damage is evident to their home and therefore, they don’t need a new roof.   The Haag Engineering Certification is essential for roofing company’s intent on replacing hail or wind damage roofs.  If the roofer you are considering does not posses it, think twice before hiring them.

Manufacturer Certifications

Each shingle manufacture has certifications that ensure roofing installers are familiar with the proper installation protocols of their products.  It is imperative for consumers to verify that their perspective roofer has the highest certification ratings for the brand of shingle they are installing.  A roofer’s failure to install any component properly or failure to use the correct components, can lead to a warranty being voided.  Do you trust the roofer will admit to their error and remedy the problem for free?   

North Ridge Roofing is proud to be among the few Master Elite Installers for the manufacturer GAF, the market leader in shingle manufacturing.   We are also a Shingle Master Installer for the shingle manufacturer Certainteed.  Through extensive continuing education and an exceptional track record of quality workmanship, manufacturers were able to award North Ridge Roofing with these certifications. 

As I mentioned, roofers do not need to be licensed in Georgia, which means one day they may have been a barber and now they’re telling you why your roof needs to be replaced.  So, the first way to determine if a roofer is qualified to identify damage on your roof is by asking what certifications do they carry. 

Warranties

What kinds of warranties can the roofer you are considering offer?   

Roofing warranties come in two parts: 

#1 Material Warranty – How long is the Manufacturer warrantying the materials, against defect?  When a roofing contractor is highly certified such as North Ridge Roofing is, you are afforded the opportunity to receive the best Material Warranty available, due to the manufacturer’s confidence in the installer’s ability.

#2 Labor Warranty – How long is the Installer warrantying their labor against leaks?  If the answer is anything less than 10yrs, you should reconsider hiring them.

Well qualified, experienced roofers like North Ridge Roofing will be able to offer you several material options and therefore multiple warranties to fit your budget and needs. 

Lastly, ask your prospective roofer, how long they have been in business IN Georgia and UNDER the same name.  Unfortunately, there is little oversight in Georgia to prevent out-of-state roofers from doing business in the Atlanta area, after a storm event.   Also, unqualified and unscrupulous roofers are destined to fail in the industry, unfortunately; there is no law against them turning around and starting up another roofing business under a different name. 

North Ridge Roofing encourages all its perspective clients to do their due diligence before hiring a roofer.  Ensure your roofer has excellent certifications, is able to offer the best warranties available and has a long track record of reputable business practices in Atlanta.