This Old House Reviews Team Roofing Review Methodology
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We are committed to providing detailed and unbiased reviews. This means earning your trust with transparent review standards and data to support our findings. We thoroughly research popular roofing companies to determine the best options for our readers, including analyzing customer reviews, secret shopping as a homeowner would, and interviewing industry experts. We use this research to create personalized review standards and closely compare roofing companies to make recommendations for various budgets and needs.
Roofing Research Process
Our research focuses on understanding each roofer’s service options, product specifications, and customer experience.
Customer Review Analysis
Customers share their experiences and perspectives by leaving reviews across various online platforms. We routinely read reviews on popular review sites for each roofer. We’ve read more than 30,000 reviews for roofing companies and synthesized common themes to help you better understand the companies you’re considering.
We note common pain points, complaint patterns, and how the company responded to customer concerns. These are the third-party review aggregators we primarily reference:
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Best Company
- Consumer Affairs
- Google Reviews
- Trustpilot
- Yelp
Secret Shopping
We interact with each company’s website and customer service team as a homeowner would. We also browse websites for popular home improvement retailers like The Home Depot to compare product specifications and pricing. Here are some of the steps we take:
- Browsing each provider’s website
- Requesting quotes online
- Calling customer service representatives to request quotes and ask questions
- Analyzing product specifications for various roofing materials
- Comparing average prices for materials and labor to determine which providers offer the best value for homeowners
Factors Evaluated to Compare Roofing Companies
We apply the data we gather to our review standards to rate companies. We evaluate each provider in six comparison categories: services offered, reputation, roof types, guarantees, customer service, and additional benefits.
We rate each provider across 24 factors within these categories. Each factor was assigned a point value in our review standards based on its importance to homeowners. These standards are on a 100-point scoring system, with the categories outlined below. Total scores are divided by 20 for a final 5-point rating scale.
Roofing Services Offered
We check whether roofing companies offer the following services. We award 10 points for roof repair or installation, five points for roof inspections, and one point for the remaining services.
- Roof repair or installation
- Roof inspections (damage and leaks)
- Replacing damaged joists or plywood
- Installing ventilation systems
- Installing insulation
- Weatherproofing
- Debris removal
- Underlayment installation
- Truss replacement
- Preventive maintenance
- Pressure washing
- Sealing, treating, or painting the roof surface
Reputation
We check each company’s BBB rating and deduct one point for every score below an A. We also check how many years each company has been in business. Those with more than 20 years of experience are rated highest. Those with less than 10 years are rated lowest. We also award points to companies that hold the proper licensing and insurance.
Roof Types
We check to see if each provider works with the following roof types:
- Shingle
- Tile
- Wood
- Metal
- Other architectural options
Guarantees
We evaluate whether the company provides a comprehensive or lackluster warranty or guarantee. Those that offer a warranty of 10 years or higher are rated highest. Those that don’t offer a guarantee are rated lowest.
Customer Service
We check whether the company provides the following customer service features. Those that offer the most features are rated highest.
- Free inspection
- Phone
- Online contact form
- Online payment
- Online chat
Additional Benefits
We also check whether the company offers any of the following additional benefits. We award two points for each benefit it offers.
- Recycles old shingles
- Drone inspection
- Offers gutter installation
- Blog/online resources
- Solar installation
Factor Weights for Rating Roofing Companies
Here are the designated weights for each of our categories:
| Review Category | Percent of Score |
|---|---|
|
Roofing services offered |
25% |
|
Reputation |
20% |
|
Roof types |
16% |
|
Guarantees |
15% |
|
Customer service |
14% |
|
Additional benefits |
10% |
How To Interpret Company Ratings
We consider roofing companies that score 90 or above excellent. Roofers that score between 80 and 89 are still considered good. Typically, these companies offer quality products and services but lose points for less consequential factors, such as less customization or a more limited product selection.
We generally don’t recommend providers that score between 70 and 79, but we include context about why we still recommend them if we do, as some may be a fit for different needs and budgets. We don’t recommend companies that score under 70 on our scale.
How To Choose the Best Roofing Company for You
Consider the following factors to find a roofing company that best meets your needs.
- Experience: Being in business for 10 or more years is a great mark of a reliable, reputable company. Roofers that provide poor service and materials don’t last long.
- Installation process: A roofer should always be transparent about the installation process. It’s a red flag if you notice a roofer being vague or unwilling to answer questions about the installation process. You should also ask what the company will do if you’re unsatisfied with the end result. The response will help you gauge whether the company stands by its work.
- Licenses and insurance: Reliable roofing contractors should hold the requisite permits and licenses for every job they perform, so check if they have them. Roofing companies should also have all the required insurance for their workers. You should never work with a company that can’t provide proof of employee insurance.
- Multiple estimates: We recommend getting at least three quotes to compare pricing and service options and find the best deal.
- Written financing terms: You should demand written financing terms if you have to finance your roofing project. A good roofing company should walk you through the contract and answer any questions about the project or payment.
About Us
We are an independent editorial team of subject matter experts who champion the categories and home services we recommend. From the beginning stages of research to the published review articles, our team works diligently to center your interests by identifying common pain points, connecting with people with firsthand knowledge and experience, and crafting content that meets the needs of our audience. We aim to help first-time homebuyers, potential sellers, budget-conscious homeowners, and others from all walks of life streamline their decision-making process for selecting their home services.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.