Selecting roofing materials
and installers
Roofing products vary a lot, roofing installers
are not all alike and price shouldn't be the only criterion when
choosing a contractor or a roof coating or other reflective product.
A too low
cost isn’t usually a good option. Quality and professionalism
are more important than price alone…
See:
Roof membranes and coatings
Metal and ceramic roof
materials
Attic insulation
Roof and ceiling
insulation
Reflective
insulation
Qualified roofing products
In USA and Canada you may select a qualified
Energy Star roof product.
Energy Star qualified products are a
guarantee of quality, since they meet minimum standards of
quality, including a new solar reflectance values.
Choosing an installer
Pay attention to the roofing installer issue. The
contractor should ensure proper installation in order to get proper
waterproofing and maximum durability and solar reflectance to
the roof…
A good roof installer has experience, and
specialized knowledge and training. The National Roofing
Contractors Association recommends:
- a well-established installer;
- a professional comfortable with the new trends
of the roofing industry (like the trends involving solar
reflectance and new products);
- an affiliated installer (member of local, regional, state and
national industry associations);
- a licensed contractor, bonded with insurance companies;
- a contractor that is a licensed or an approved
applicator of roofing manufacturers;
- an installer that offers a good warranty
covering both workmanship and materials;
- an installer offering references and
proofs of completed projects and a list of recent works and
clients;
- an installer capable of clearly explaining his
project and his procedures.
Do not forget to ask to the installer a
written proposal, sufficiently detailed, including starting and
completion dates, payment terms or damage prevention procedures;
request also the name and habilitations of the person who will
be in charge of the project.
The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
provides lists of regional roofing Contractors, in the case of
USA.
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