Destin Roofing understands that there’s a lot to consider when choosing a roofing contractor for your Florida business or home. Aside from obvious factors like costs or location, there are also laws, licensure, warranties and more. Below you’ll find a guide on the main roofing laws and regulations Florida has in place for contractors, along with important questions to ask your roofing contractor before getting any project started.
Are You a Licensed Roofing Contractor?
All roofing contractors in Florida must have a license issued by the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB). They can go about licensing in two ways: a registered contractor or a state-certified contractor.
Registered Roofing Contractor
To become a registered roofing contractor, a roofer must prove their expertise through examinations that meet local county or city requirements. They must also “register” with the state, meaning they have proof of workers’ compensation and liability insurance.
Those last two details are important. Workers’ compensation will keep you from getting sued if a worker gets injured on the job and liability insurance will save you from having to pay to fix damage to your home caused by the roofing team.
Also, because registered contractors can only work within the areas where they have demonstrated competency, they aren’t allowed to work in other areas in the state. Be sure to check if your roofer is using a license outside of their registered area. Hiring a contractor that isn’t registered within your city or county is the same as hiring an unlicensed contractor. This goes against Florida law and can result in a fine to the consumer of up to $5,000.
State-Certified Roofing Contractor
To become a state-certified roofing contractor, a roofer must complete a state exam administered by the Construction Industry Licensing Board. This certification is the main difference between a registered roofer and a state-certified roofer. While a registered roofer can only work within a specific area, state-certified roofers can work anywhere within the state.
Now, you may be wondering: are registered contractors as good as certified contractors? The answer is: it depends.
Registered contractors have proven their competence for their city or county, but requirements for each location often include specific limits of insurance, state registration, and surety bonds. And while registered contractors have demonstrated their expertise, some locations within a state may have fewer requirements or regulations than others. On the other hand, state-certified contractors, such as those at Destin Roofing, have met the requirements and regulations for all areas within the entire state of Florida.
If you want to check if your roofer is licensed in Florida, you can search myfloridalicense.com, the official site of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. You can search for a contractor by name, license number, city or county, or license type.
Do You Provide Workmanship Warranty?
Once you’ve made sure your roofer is either registered or state-certified, it’s important to check if the roofing company provides a warranty. Every trusted contractor should offer a warranty on their workmanship, as this protects the consumer from careless or lazy work that requires repairs or a full roof replacement later on.
For instance, Destin Roofing offers a 10-Year Workmanship Warranty, which ensures you will receive a full decade’s worth of quality roof protection.
Do You Provide a Written Contract?
When discussing contracting work, you and your roofer will have discussion on how the job is to be carried out. Such discussions aren’t official until your roofer provides a written contract of agreements that includes critical details such as costs, the project length and an expected payment date.
A roofer that practices ethical business will include all of these details within the agreement and will expect payment after the job is done. You can pay a deposit, but the full amount shouldn’t be paid until the job is completed to your satisfaction.
How Long Have You Been in the Roofing Business?
Finally, once you’ve made sure your roofer is licensed, provides a warranty and a written agreement, it’s important to check how long your roofer has been in business. A roofing company with an established business history not only demonstrates success and reliability but also means they likely have plenty of customer references to offer and various examples of their work for you to look over.
For instance, Destin Roofing has served Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Santa Rosa Beach, Navarre and Crestview since 1981. Our reputation can be verified through organizations like the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, and various other avenues. A reputable, trustworthy contractor will have gained a similar reputation in the surrounding area and have the years and references to prove it.
Contact Destin Roofing!
Taking the time to ensure your roofing contractor can provide quality and professional installation from the start will protect you from unforeseen repairs down the line. If you’re looking for a state-certified contractor within the Destin area with a strong reputation in customer satisfaction, then look no further. Whether it’s roof repair, roof replacement, or roof leak repair, Destin Roofing has served Florida homeowners for decades and is ready to help you today!
