How to Hire a Roof Cleaner

6 Important Questions to Ask Your Roof Cleaner
Your roof is an investment in your home, so make sure you are choosing the best roof cleaner for the job. High-pressure pressure washing devices, toxic chemicals and walking on your roof wrong, can all damage your roof and reduce it’s lifespan. In addition, while it is always smart to get several bids on a roof cleaning job, remember that the lowest bid is not always the best. An unreliable roof cleaner might cut costs by hiring inexperienced workers, not carrying insurance or using the quickest (not the safest and most effective) way to get the job done. Price, however, is only one factor to consider when choosing a roof cleaner. Knowing the important questions to ask will help you find the best one.

How long have you been in business?
A disreputable company is not going to stay in business for long, so finding a roof cleaner who has been in business for a while means you can count on their workmanship. Another advantage of an established company is experience – the longer a roofing cleaner has been in business, the more experience the workers have. Most importantly, an established company is not likely to disappear overnight and leave you with any grievances or a worthless warranty.

Are you licensed and insured?
A reputable roof cleaner contractor should carry insurance, especially Workers’ Comp code 5551 (which allows a worker to work on roofs) and liability coverage. Please remember that Power Washing Workers’ Comp code (#9014) does not cover a worker when working on a roof.  Hiring a contractor without adequate insurance can leave you open to liability for injured workers, as well as the expense of paying for any damages the contractor might do to your property. A few hundred dollars can quickly turn into tens of thousands if an uninsured worker falls off your roof. Without a license you become the employer.  In addition, your contractor should not mind showing you a license. In fact Florida requires any roof cleaner to be licensed in order to protect consumers from fraud and substandard work.

How do I know your employees will do a good job?
Walking on a tile roof requires specialized skills. Effectively cleaning your roof means killing the mold and algae not blasting it off the roof onto your other surfaces with high-pressure tactics. High-pressure pressure roof cleaning will also place undo stress on your roof materials – this can cause the underlay to rip, thus creating leaks. A good contractor’s employees will have the proper training to care for you roof properly and the landscaping that surrounds it.

Do you have references?
Some important questions to ask references include if the work was done correctly and on time, if there were any hidden costs, and if the contractor honors its workmanship with a guarantee or warranty. A good contractor will not hesitate to refer you to satisfied customers. Keep in mind that unhappy clients probably will not be included on the list, so be sure to check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints filed against the company. Read reviews on unbiased sites like Google, Yelp, Angie’s list and more. Repeated references to the same issue could spell a problem.

What am I paying for?
Do not just settle for a verbal quote. A good contractor will put it in writing and spell it out in a contract. Every roof is different, from how old the roof is, to square footage to how dirty it is (it may not be as dirty as you think!). Be wary of online or over the phone estimates – get the price in writing with no clause it can change once they get to your property. A good contractor will visit your property before giving you an estimate or contract so there are no surprises and everyone is happy.

Is your work guaranteed?
Reputable roof cleaners take pride in their workmanship and guarantee their services. Fiddler Roof Cleaning™, a roof cleaner serving South Florida, offers a 2-year warranty on its roof cleaning ( * restrictions apply ).

Do not be afraid to ask these questions; a reputable roof cleaner will be happy to answer them. If a roof cleaner will not answer your questions or is hesitant to provide any documentation you request, consider it a bad sign and move on.