If you own a home in West Central Florida, you belong to a class of tough and resilient homeowners. You may dread the devastating hurricane season, but it’s a part of your homeownership journey while living in the “Sunshine State”.
Like a phoenix, you rise from the ashes and rebuild your home. If anything, you’re likely to emerge stronger from every hurricane you weather.
Naturally, some homeowners fare better than others. And it boils down to the professional contractors you hire post-hurricane. Are you better off hiring a general contractor or a roofing specialist? Or a contractor who specializes in both?
Ideally, it comes down to the damage you’re looking to repair. A general contractor will help you fix the rest of the house. But if you’re grappling with extensive roof damage, hire a roofing specialist.
At Westfall Roofing, we deliver best-in-class roofing repairs in West Central Florida.
General Contractors
Most people hire general contractors because they promise an all-in-one solution. These are generalists who handle different types of construction jobs. General contractors are certified home-improvement contractors who serve as the primary contact. They’re licensed to handle the entire home-building process. You may hire a general contractor to build a new home or carry out the renovations after a hurricane.
As your primary contact, a general contractor doesn’t generally tend to roof renovations. Instead, they subcontract the work to specialists such as roofing contractors. Their primary role is to schedule these specialists to do the actual work. General contractors are knowledgeable and skilled in the home construction process. But they’re not the best choice when repairing or re-roofing your home. Despite handling many projects, they don’t have a specific area of expertise. Because of this generalized knowledge and demand for it, they often have very long lead times before they can get to your particular project.
If a hurricane devastates your roof, hire a roofing specialist to fix a roof leak. Unlike general contractors, roofers are experts with significant skills and experience in roofing. General contractors tend to have minimum requirements before they will come out to work on a place, so if you have minor leaks (which can lead to significant damage over time) you may find it difficult to find a general contractor to help.
What’s more, general contractors don’t always do the work themselves. Instead, they’ll often send it out to a subcontractor. Hiring a general contractor to fix your roof after a hurricane may cost you more. General contractors are usually more expensive in the long run because they apply a markup to every job.
Some contractors straddle both lanes. They hold general contracting and a roofing license. Such a company will likely deliver better results than a typical general contractor. They’ll be well-equipped to handle both general and roofing repairs.
Roofing Contractors
Professional roofing contractors deal exclusively in roofs. They have specific knowledge and expertise in roofs and roofing materials. Roofing contractors fill their ranks with supervisors, roofers, and other skilled crew workers. Such contractors have significant knowledge and experience in roof installation and repair.
Roofers dedicate their professional lives to fixing roofs. Roofers also repair the gutters, fascia board, attic insulation, and chimney areas.
Hiring a professional roofing contractor guarantees the work is done on time and within budget. They’ve refined the post-hurricane re-roofing process to an art form. Roofing companies also have the skills and experience to handle complex projects. You can count on them to address unexpected roof leak problems quickly and efficiently.
Hiring a professional roofing company also guarantees the best results following weather damage. Roofers rely on their extensive experience to give you an accurate quote. They accurately estimate the amount, type, and cost of the materials needed. Roofers can safely handle and dispose of discarded materials.
Unlike general contractors, roofing contractors don’t farm out the repairs to subcontractors. They have the tools, skills, and technicians to do the job.
In Florida, contractors need a roofing license to undertake a roofing job. It’s illegal to hire a non-licensed contractor to fix your roof leak, even after a hurricane. These legal provisions protect homeowners from exploitation and ensure the best results. They make it easy for you to hire a qualified contractor to fix the type of roofing on your house.
It’s tempting to overlook the state’s license requirements and hire an unlicensed contractor after a weather disaster. But, hiring an unqualified contractor may lead to roofing problems later.
For starters, it may invalidate your insurance coverage. It may also subject you to criminal penalties.
Ultimately, hiring a general contractor might cost you more money. You end up paying both the contractor and the subcontractor.
The Westfall Roofing Company Advantage
Westfall Roofing is a leading roofing company in West Central Florida. We specialize in roofing installations, re-roofing, and repairs following weather damage. Our reliability, commitment to excellence, and customer service have earned us accolades.
We’re an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor. This is a prestigious network reserved for less than 1% of the roofers in the US who:
- Carry a general liability cover of at least $1 million
- Have passed installation craftsmanship inspection
- Screened for financial stability
- Have carried the same business name for at least three years
- Have exceptional customer service experience
Our extended service history in West Central Florida makes us the perfect partner to repair your roof. We have extensive experience repairing hurricane damage in Florida. Our technicians ensure each roofing project meets and exceeds your expectations.
Let Us Help You Restore Your Home
You can count on our experience and skilled workforce for quick and efficient re-roofing. Our professional contractors will fix your home quickly and efficiently after a hurricane damages your roof.
Contact us today for a free estimate or discuss your roofing repair needs.
