Selecting Your Roofing Contractor
The weather in the Pacific Northwest is unforgiving to low quality installations.
Finding a truly dependable roofing contractor can be a tough road to navigate.
Did you know that unlike many other states, Washington currently has no mandatory testing or certification system for roofing contractors?
The number of dependable companies in our region is far outweighed by the number of installers who will cost you significantly more money and grief in the long run.
Consider the following when selecting a professional roofing contractor:
• How long has the company been serving this area?
Businesses established in the industry will likely be around in the future should any problems arise.
• Is the company Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?
For your own protection, you should never hire a contractor not fully licensed and insured to do business. A serious injury on your project could mean liability and heavy financial burden for you for years to come.
Washington State Contractors can be verified here: https://secure.lni.wa.gov/verify/
• Check to see if the contractor is part of local and/or national industry associations.
A well established roofing contractor should be a member of trade associations. Look for associations with organizations such as SICBA, WSRCA or TRI.
• Find a contractor who is a certified installer of the products they offer.
Certified installers are trained and adhere to strict installation guidelines. They can often offer significantly better warranties, giving peace of mind for years to come.
• Research your contractors reputation.
Does the contractor have online reviews to support them? What do other homeowners and contractors have to say about their work? Local material suppliers work with hundreds of contractors per year, and can be extremely helpful when researching installers and products.
• Ask the contractor for references of previous customers.
A good company will have a long list of satisfied customers they are more than happy to share with you for contact.
• Does the contractor have a business address, phone, and email address?
An established contractor should be able to provide a business address, phone number, and business email. These are all signs of a stable company.
• Does the contractor use unsupervised subcontractors?
Subcontractors are often used by companies who are short-handed or unable to retain employees. Subcontractors often receive very little, if any, project oversight.
• Does the company provide estimates and contracts in writing?
All job specifications and pricing should be supplied in writing for the protection of both the customer and the contractor.
• Does the contractor provide a workmanship warranty? Is it in writing?
It can be a red flag if a contractor is unwilling to provide you documentation that your roof will be serviced in an event of failure.
What Sets Peaks Northwest Roofing Apart
Our goal on every project is to install a top tier roof system that far exceeds expected lifespan.
We are a GAF MASTER ELITE® Roofing Contractor with over 20 years of roofing experience.
Standards that set Peaks Northwest Roofing apart include:
•Owners on the roof.
Our company owners will be involved with your project from start to finish, ensuring any obstacles are expertly addressed, all questions are answered, and top quality is achieved.
• Use of GAF Roofing Products
America’s top selling brand. GAF offers best in class shingle seal strip and best in class warranty.
Click here to see for yourself why we install GAF shingles!
•Use of Ice/Water shield around penetrations, in all valleys, and in any low slope or transition areas.
Ice and Water shield is a self adhering waterproof underlayment designed to protect your home where water travels most. Mandatory in many counties, Peaks Northwest cuts no corners and uses it on every roof we install.
• Use of ASTM Rated true asphaltic underlayment.
No light weight, low rated, or fully synthetic underlayments are used on our roof systems.
• Use of Hot Dipped Galvanized roofing nails only.
Hot dipped galvanized roof nails will resist moisture for over 60 years, as opposed to roughly 15 years with the industry standard Electro-Galvanized nails.
• Use of Algae Resistant modified shingles. (StainGuard)
As a standard, any roof we install includes an algae resistant formula that is built in to the shingles. Algae resistant shingles are warrantied to fight organic roof staining and growth such as algae and moss, greatly extending the life and appearance of your roof.
• Use of painted steel pipe flashings and vents instead of plastic, rubber, or bare steel.
Plastic, thin rubber, and bare rusted flashings are one of the top causes we encounter for leaking roofs. We install painted steel vents and flashings to ensure that all roof components last as long as the roofing itself.
• 6-nails-per-shingle installation for 120mph+ wind resistance. (AKA Storm-Nailing)
4-nails per shingle is the industry standard/minimum. We install 6 nails in every full shingle we lay to guarantee your roof can withstand the strongest winds.
• 26 gauge painted steel flashings, including in all valleys. (No thin gauge or bare metal)
Valleys are the focal point of water flow on adjoining roof planes, and should be protected as such. In addition to the use of Ice & Water Shield, we install 26 gauge painted steel flashing in all roof valleys. We also use 26g painted steel on all perimeters, chimneys, skylights, and wall transitions.
•Use of heavy weight, algae resistant Hip & Ridge shingles.
We use upgraded heavier weight hip and ridge shingles to better ensure wind resistance. These shingles also greatly enhance the look and definition of a finished roof.
“We take pride in keeping you dry!”
