How to Choose a Roofing Contractor in Christchurch
Roofing or re-roofing is a job for specialists. But how do you find the right people for the job when there are so many roofing contractors to choose from in Christchurch?
Having been in the roofing game for over 20 years, with literally thousands of satisfied customers from Ashburton to Hanmer Springs, we reckon we’re doing something right! So what’s our secret – and what can our success tell you about how to recognise a legit roofing contractor to quote on your roofing project?
Your roofing contractor selection checklist:
1. Check their credentials
- A good roofing contractor will be licensed and registered. Check that they are an LBP (Licensed Building Practitioner) or are members of the Roofing Association of New Zealand. Or better still – like we are proud to be – both of those things!
- Ask for evidence that they have public liability insurance and workplace insurance.
- Check that they understand and follow all the relevant WorkSafe NZ safety standards for roofing.
- Make sure that they present themselves professionally. You’re looking for uniformed staff, branded vehicles, and a detailed website with in-depth information about the company and their services.
- Do they offer ongoing roof maintenance services? In Christchurch the extreme variations between peak summer and deep winter temperatures can be hard on roofs, flashing, and spouting. The people who installed the roof are the best ones to keep in top condition, so it lasts as long as possible.
2. Evaluate their experience
- Because of the extreme temperature variation we experience in Christchurch roofing presents a unique set of challenges. For that reason you want to make sure that your roofing contractor has a proven history of work in the area.
- Make sure the company has a stable trading history. You want a company that has at least 5 years in business under its belt (we have over 20 😁).
- Make sure that they have photos to show you or they can provide the addresses of some recently completed projects so you can check the quality of their work for yourself.
- Google Reviews and testimonials are another great way to assess the quality of roofing contractors. Look for consistent 4-5 star ratings, with genuine feedback from clients.
3. Review their scope of services and expertise
- A professional roofing or re-roofing job is a lot more than just banging on some steel or tiles. Choose a contractor that works on the full range of roofing and related projects, including new roofs, re-roof, roof repairs, chimneys, flues and fireplaces, spouting and drainpipes, skylights, and scaffolding – and offer maintenance and inspection services too.
- Ensure they specialise in the roofing type you need, and work with the top brands. Top options include COLORSTEEL®, tiles, zincalume, and membrane roofing materials.
- Scaffolding is an essential part of the job. A reputable contractor will provide scaffolding as part of their services.
- Confirm that the products they propose to use on your project have a documented warranty and make sure that there is also a workmanship warranty.
4. Assess the professionalism of their communication
- Don’t accept the frustration of waiting around for a roofing contractor to get around to contacting you or giving you updates on progress. You deserve prompt and clear communication at every stage of the job. If you don’t feel the love, look elsewhere.
- You should get a detailed written quote with a fully transparent breakdown of costs for labour, materials, and the payment schedule, not just a single lump sum with no explanation.
5. Scrutinise their pricing and terms
- Most reputable roofing contractors will only ask for a 10-20% upfront payment upon acceptance of their quote, with the balance payable once the job has been completed.
- There should be a written contract that includes a clear description of the work to be done, a timeline for the project, the quality standards that will be met, and any applicable product and workmanship warranties.
Ten Red Flags to watch out for in the Christchurch roofing business.
Anyone can pretend they’re a roofer. So on the flip side to the ways you can recognise a reputable roofing contractor they are red flags that should make you run a mile from anyone who does any of the following dodgy things…
- They use high-pressure sales tactics. A classic scam by shifty tradies is to tell gullible customers that “This price is only good for today” or “We can start tomorrow if you pay now.”
- They can’t show you any proof of insurance or LBP/RANZ registration.
- They give you vague answers about compliance or building consent requirements.
- There’s no website or they just have a minimal presence online, and no branded vehicles or uniforms. Lack of investment in branding often signals that they haven’t got a long-term commitment to their business – or to their clients.
- They don’t have many reviews, or even worse their reviews are clearly fake.
- They can’t show you any examples of recently completed jobs.
- You can’t find them on the NZ Companies website.
- Their quote is very low compared to others you might have received. If it looks too good to be true, it usually is. A super low quote will usually also come with a strong desire to do you a ‘cash’ deal with no written quote or written contract. Or if they do provide a written quote, it’s light on detail.
- There are no written product or workmanship warranties
- Missed appointments and delayed replies to requests for information.
How to get a roofing job you’ll be thrilled with.
The main thing to take from all this is to choose a roofing contractor that’s been around in the Christchurch and Canterbury market and does everything professionally in ways that make the whole roofing experience a good one – in terms of value for money, service and quality. Which is of course exactly what we do at DCM Roofing.
If you have any questions about roofing in Christchurch we’re happy to help.