What is the name of the manufacturer of the product you are proposing to use on my roof and what is their web site?
Do your homework. Go to the manufacturer’s website and see exactly what the product is designed for, what it can be applied to, and how long has this manufacturer has been in business.
Any quality manufacturer will have sample warranty forms for potential customers to inspect before a contract is signed.
Will you or the manufacturer cover any of the labor and for how long as part of this warranty and how long is the material warranted?
Some warranties are material only, some are NDL “No Dollar Limit” which means they will cover the cost of the product at the time of failure not just at the purchase price, some warranty is stictly from the contractor for labor for a specified number of years, some warranties from manufacturers cover all labor and material for a number of years.
Have you or your company been factory trained and certified to install this roofing product and issue this warranty?
Sending people off to train at a manufacturer’s location is expensive but the training is always top notch and thorough. Having a salesman come by the site to show the contractor how to install this product is not considered factory trained.
Can I see a sample of this product and have you applied this on any other roofs?
Quality manufacturers will give samples of their products and contractors should have a list of projects they have used them on. Sometimes these products are new to a market so having the factory training is a valid experience to installing this on your roof.
Do you have a Louisiana (Mississippi) Commercial Roofing or Building Contractors license and what is your license number?
It’s the law. A residential contractor’s license does not allow work on commercial roofs exceeding $50,000. A Home Improvement license does not allow work on commercial roofs. Check with the state contractor’s license board before you award that project.
If we award you this contract can you have your insurance company issue me a Workers Compensation and General Liability certificate before the work begins?
To get a valid certificate of insurance as a customer, it must come directly from the insured’s insurance company with your name and address printed on it.
This stuff isn’t rocket science but you want someone with some experience with roof coatings. Nailing shingles or mopping hot asphalt is not the same knowledge base needed to address problems unique to roof coatings.
If you’re not sure you are getting all of the facts about this product then ask to speak to the manufacturer’s representative. They should be thoroughly familiar with this product and able to answer any questions or suggest another product if this one isn’t the best suited for your particular project.
If needed, will you perform a pull test and or an infrared inspection before work commences?
Some roofs have had many repairs over the years and the integrity of any coating is only as good as it’s adhesion to your roof. A pull test will give a good indication as to the adhesion of a new product. Some flat roofs have old leaks that still have water pockets under them. If a new coating goes over an area that still contains water then steam can develop and penetrate the new coating. There are methods for determining what is the right application and product to use. An infrared camera scan can often see thermal differences that could indicate water retentions under a roof. Jaymar Roofing is a ITC certified infrared thermographer able to perform these test before work begins.