Like many other industries, the roofing industry has its share of bad apples. As a homeowner, figuring out which roofing companies are dependable and trustworthy can be a daunting task. We want our customers to understand why choosing Advanced Roofing & Construction as their roofing contractor is the best decision they can make for their roof, home and overall peace of mind. The following are different ways that a homeowner can make an educated decision when searching “roofer near me”:
Choose a Roofer that is Licensed
Figuring out whether a roofer in your area is properly licensed can sound like a lot of work. Below you will find information about roofing licensing requirements in Alabama as well as how to find out if a roofing company is licensed correctly before choosing them to take on your roofing project:
Your roofer must be licensed with the AL Home Builders Licensure Board (ALHBLB) if the cost of the residential roofing project undertaking exceeds $2,500 as defined by the ALHBLB below. Anyone involved in the oversight, construction or participation in a residential roofing project where the contract is over $2,500 must have an ALHBLB Residential Roofer License. A roofer or contractor involved in the oversight, construction or participation in a single trade (non structural) on your home which is contracted at $10,000 or more must have a ALHBLB Residential Home Builder Limited License. A roofer or contractor involved in the oversight, construction or participation in more than one trade is required to have a ALHBLB Residential Home Builder Unlimited License which also allows them to participate in commercial construction up to $50,000. Think of this as a “residential general contractor license”.
Advanced Roofing & Construction, LLC holds a Residential Home Builder Unlimited License (#25538) with the AL Home Builders Licensure Board.
If you would like to research whether the company you are considering is licensed with the AL Home Builders Licensure Board, you can search for them by name or license number by clicking here: https://alhobprod.glsuite.us/GLSuiteWeb/Clients/ALHOB/Public/LicenseeSearch.aspx
To search the AL Home Builders Licensure Board database for Advanced, make sure to enter “25538” into the license number field or directly view our listing here:
https://alhobprod.glsuite.us/GLSuiteWeb/Clients/ALHOB/Public/LicenseeDetails.aspx?EntityID=1225667
For any commercial roofing application that exceeds $50,000, the contractor must have a General Contractor License in their respective field for roofing; it will be called Roofing and Sheet Metal and their license rating will dictate how large of a bid they are allowed to undertake.
Advanced Roofing & Construction, LLC holds an Unlimited AL General Contractor License (#55727) with the AL State Licensing Board for General Contractors.
Please also be aware that any contractor that attempts to break down a contract into smaller portions to circumvent the dollar limit is breaking the law. It is important that homeowners do their due diligence before hiring a roofer or general contractor.
If you would like to research whether the company you are considering is licensed with the AL State Licensing Board for General Contractors you can search for them by name or license number by clicking here:
https://genconbd.alabama.gov/DATABASE-SQL/roster.aspx
To search the AL State Licensing Board for General Contractors database for Advanced, make sure to enter “55727” into the license number field or directly view our listing here:
https://genconbd.alabama.gov/DATABASE-SQL/detail.aspx?licenseno=55727
Direct Definitions
RESIDENTIAL ROOFER: A person that installs products or repairs surfaces on the external upper covering of a residence or structure that seals, waterproofs, or weatherproofs the residence or structure.
RESIDENTIAL HOME BUILDER: A person who constructs a residence or structure for sale or who, for a fixed price, commission, fee, or wage, undertakes or offers to undertake the construction or superintending of the construction, or who manages, supervises, assists, or provides consultation to a homeowner regarding the construction or superintending of the construction, of any residence or structure that is not over three floors in height and that does not have more than four residential units, or the repair, improvement, or reimprovement thereof, to be used by another as a residence when the cost of the undertaking exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term includes a residential roofer when the cost of the undertaking exceeds two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500).
(definitions sourced directly from https://hblb.alabama.gov/law/)
Make Sure Your Roofer is Licensed to Do Business in Your City and State
Figuring out which roofers in your area are licensed to do business where you live is important when choosing the roofing company that is right for you and your roofing needs. It is important that homeowners are familiar with the licensing requirements for roofers in Huntsville, its surrounding areas and in Alabama as a whole:
States require a business license if a company wants to conduct business there. Some states offer reciprocity which means if a company meets licensing requirements in one state, they are able to also conduct business in additional states as well. Some cities may require a company to obtain a city specific business license in order to conduct business in that specific city or town.
Advanced Roofing & Construction, LLC obtains all necessary city and state licensing required to take on projects located in areas including but not limited to Madison County and cities such as Madison, Huntsville, Owens Crossroads, Athens, Decatur, Scottsboro, Hartselle, Guntersville, Boaz, New Hope, and the greater Tennessee Valley. We would be happy to provide you with a copy of our licensing information upon request.
Check to make sure the business you trust is registered with the AL Secretary of State (ALSOS) as an entity that is legally allowed to do business in Alabama. If the business became an LLC, this website will let you know the place of formation in which the business became an LLC and the date their LLC formation occurred. You can also see whether the business you are considering has a registered physical or mailing address local to your area or if they are registered as a foreign entity. Follow this link to conduct an entity search: https://www.sos.alabama.gov/government-records/business-entity-records
To search the ALSOS database for Advanced, make sure to search “Advanced Roofing & Construction, LLC” or directly view our entity listing here: https://arc-sos.state.al.us/cgi/corpdetail.mbr/detail?corp=394742&page=name&file=&type=ALL&status=ALL&place=ALL&city=
Choose A Roofer that is Locally Owned and Operated
Figuring out which roofers in your area are truly local and choosing a local roofer is important for many different reasons including the ones listed below. Begin by asking yourself a series of questions while deciding which roofing company to choose for your roofing project:
Ask yourself, will the roofing company I choose still be in my area if I need their help again in the future? Some roofers chase storms and may visit your area after inclement weather has passed through. While they may be good at what they do, they will likely leave your area once they have finished the roofing projects they are working on. This means they may not be easy to contact or meet with in the future if you need to reconnect with them again.
Ask yourself, does the roofing company I am choosing have an office location? If a roofing company is truly located in your area, chances are they will have an office location. This may be a showroom or simply a place where they conduct business and/or accept mail. One way to find out if they have an office location is to check their Google My Business Listing for their address. Companies will likely feature their address on their website as well. A business address is necessary in order for a roofing company to show that they are established in your area. You can also check their BBB profile and other online directories for consistency to help assist in determining whether the business is locally owned or not.
Make sure to consider that it is very easy for a storm chaser (storm chasers are a term commonly used to describe contractors who travel the country seeking out areas where disaster has struck, targeting insurance claims) to acquire a temporary local address and local phone number which may make them appear local whether or not they truly are. You can use the resources linked in this article to check whether a roofing company is registered as a business entity in your state and see what area it says they are located in. This may help you determine whether they are local or not.
Still wondering why it is important that you choose a local roofing contractor? Another good reason is to stimulate your local economy. When you do business with a local roofer, that money will continue to circulate throughout the local economy in your area, helping support other local businesses as well as positive economic growth and development where you live. If you were to use a roofer that was not truly local to your area, that money will eventually leave your local area and, therefore, will not contribute to the betterment of the area in which you reside.
If your roofer is local, they are only a phone call away if you ever have a question or concern about the work they did on your roof. If your roofer is long gone, there may be nobody available to help or be accountable for roof related concerns in the future, if any.
Roofers must adhere to different building codes set for the area that work is being done in. Local roofing companies are likely more knowledgeable in building codes and ordinances in your area than a roofer who is not familiar with the area you live in nor the code procedures required when installing your roof.
Choose A Roofer That Pulls Their Own Permits
Some roofing projects require that a permit be pulled in order for companies to complete certain types of roofing jobs in your area. Here are some important steps a homeowner can take as well as a few things to note regarding permits:
- Not all roofing projects require a permit, you might want to call your local building inspector to find out.
- Not all areas require companies to pull any permits whatsoever. Madison County is an area that does!
- Make sure your roofer is the one who pulls the permit for your roofing project if a permit is required.
- Pulling a permit requires a roofing company to provide their license and insurance information to the permitting department.
- If a roofing company asks you to pull your own permit, do not pull the permit yourself. Pulling the permit yourself will release your roofing company of any liability for the job they are completing and you would be responsible for any building code violations if any were to occur.
- Required permits must be pulled before the job begins.
- Ask to see your building permit and make sure it was pulled for the correct dollar amount as unlicensed/improperly licensed contractors may report an incorrect dollar amount in order to get around licensing requirements that are put in place for certain job sizes.
Choose Wisely
As a homeowner, you have a lot to consider when determining the best roofer for your roofing project. It is important that you choose a roofer who is licensed properly in your city and state and licensed by the correct licensing departments for the job at hand. Picking a local roofer will prove to be beneficial to you in the long run when you have a question about your roof or need additional work done in the future, whether it be on the same home, a pool house, your place of business or a rental property you own. Knowing your roofing specialist is local to your area and is only a phone call away gives you the peace of mind you deserve and prevents unnecessary stress when you have a roofing project you need help with. Taking the time to do a little research now can save you the headache later and you may just find the Best Roofer in Huntsville!
Advanced Roofing & Construction has been named the Best Roofer in Huntsville by Best of Huntsville for 2020 and 2021. Not only that, but Advanced was also named Best Roofer in Huntsville by Expertise for 2021, #1 Roofer by The Best Businesses and has been featured in the Top 3 Roofing Contractors in Huntsville by Three Best Rated for 2 years in a row!
You are surely choosing wisely when you choose Advanced Roofing as your trusted roofing contractor in Huntsville and its surrounding areas. Let us provide you with a free roofing estimate and get the ball rolling on your roofing project today. Give us a call at 256-603-9171 to schedule your appointment!
