If you are a building manager or even a home owner, you will understand the high costs of maintaining your building. You can do some of the work yourself but other work, like maintaining and repairing your roof, is best left to the professionals.

If you check the phone book here in Burlington or Oakville, you will find numerous roofing contractors advertising for your dollar. When there are so many choices available, how does one chose which company to go with?

It is easy to jump at the lowest price you find. Oftentimes, the lowest price means the lowest quality materials and workmanship. How much do you really save if your roof leaks the year after it is replaced and your roofing contractor, who guaranteed the work for 5 years, is nowhere to be found? Have you really saved anything in this situation?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, going with the most expensive contractor, because you think they charge a lot because they are good and use quality materials, is not always the case. If a contractor is busy, they sometimes charge a premium to their potential customers to either drive them to the competition or cash in on a really good paying job.

So, if it is not the cheapest price you want and you do not want to pay a premium, which do you call when your roof needs replaced or repaired?

This is where a little research on your part is required. Take a look at the websites and yellow pages advertisements of several roofing contractors who specialize in the type of roof you need work on. You want to see who has invested a little time and effort into a nice design that attracts you to their ad. Confirm they do the type of roofing work you require before calling them. Go through the advertisements and narrow down your choice to 3 or 4 companies.

Now you want to contact those companies and have they come out to do an appraisable on the cost of either repairing or completely replacing your roof.

Get it in writing! These words are truer today than they were 10 years ago. You want to be able to make a side-by-side comparison of the three or four quotes to make sure that each company is using similar materials that have an equal life span. Check to see if they are quoting you on using similar products or ask why they are using one particular product over another. Also, check out the warranty for your roof. Here in Burlington and Oakville, we have very harsh weather conditions so you will want a good quality material that will withstand the test of time.

While looking over your quotes, make a note as to what the salesman was like when they came to inspect your roof. A friendly, knowledgeable person is a good reflection of the company.

When looking for a roofing contractor here in Burlington and Oakville, you can also utilize your friends advice or contact the Better Business Bureau for accurate and up to date, accurate information about the company you are looking to hire. Most of all do not be afraid to ask questions and always inspect the work when it has been completed to ensure you are happy. .