How long does a roofer need to learn the craft of roofing? Consider the climate of Des Moines; a good roofer needs to experience all seasons, all kinds of weather which tax and tear apart roofs. Would two years be enough? Five? How does experience shape the way a roofing contractor works?
Experience
You do not want your house to be the experiment. You want the roofing contractor who installs a shingle, composite, or metal roof to have done such installations before. Roofing is never a “by the book” job. Every home offers its own challenges, from chimneys needing flashing to multiple ridges and valleys.
Select a roofing contractor who can point with pride to other jobs similar to yours. Consider the kind of roof projects your house may need:
- Steep, low/flat, or varied slopes
- Gutters
- Multiple gables
- Soffits and flashing
Make sure your roofer can prove experience with the same kind of roof, using the same materials you select.
Certifications
Contractors acquire certifications not just from state licensing boards and the Better Business Bureau, but from manufacturers as well. The more certifications a roofing contractor has the wider that company’s experience. You can see the quality built into a new roof when you see certifications from the manufacturer of your roofing materials.
Certifications are not handed out like mailbox flyers. The manufacturer of a roofing product allows only some installers to offer the highest level of warranties, as a way to protect both product and customer. For example, Owens Corning does its own background check on each roofing contractor. If a contractor has already proven they do quality work and then passes an actual test, that roofer earns the Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor certification.
Years
A good roofing contractor stays busy all year long. In the Des Moines area, weather may cut down on winter roofing work, but talented roofers can also install siding, windows and doors, and complete other year-round projects.
The years roll by and every year is an opportunity for the company to improve, to forge better customer relationships, to get more training. Quality of workmanship and service is more important to them than longevity.
It takes real focus for a roofing company to stay in business for a decade. To stick around through the ups and downs of changing economies for two decades takes grit and hard work.
Look for a company that has proven its worth through at least twenty years; you know those roofers have earned your trust to do right by your roof.
For an exceptional residential roofing experience, contact us at VanWeelden Company today! You will be happier, and your home will be better, for it.
VanWeelden Stands Above
The view from the roof of a Des Moines residence is special. Our roofing crews stay busy, but every now and then they can stand and look out at the beautiful neighborhoods, the expanses of other roofs. We are literally standing above the crowd, and from our perspective, we will always stand out.
With more than twenty years in the roofing business, we have learned a thing or two about residential roofing. We have experience with all types of installations. We have crew members who have received multiple training workshops from the best manufacturers in the business.
Our decades of experience extends beyond roofs. We have office staff members who have encountered just about every challenge which exists, whether with insurance, invoicing, financing or charitable work.
Consider whether you want your roof in the hands of a company who is just beginning or one which has proven its worth hundreds of times over the years.
Certifications
We are proud of the associations we have forged with manufacturers, business groups, and consumer watchdogs. We hold all these certifications, each one earned through hard work and outstanding customer service:
- CertainTeed Master Shingle Applicator
- DaVinci Masterpiece Contractor
- DuPont Tyvek Certified Installer
- EcoStar Gold Star Applicator
- GuildQuality Guildmaster with Distinction
- Home Builders Association Member
- National Roofing Contractors Association Member
- Owens Corning Top of the House Contractor
- Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor
VanWeelden holds state License Number: C100881. Consumer bureaus give VanWeelden more than a thumbs-up. The Better Business Bureau gives us an A+ rating. Houzz has given our company four consumer awards. The honors and certifications go on and on.
Testimonials
A roofer has to be mighty brave or mighty foolish to solicit and advertise every customer review. At VanWeelden we stand behind our work, not just with strong warranties but with personal pride. We strive for 100 percent customer satisfaction. You can see for yourself, at Guild Quality, what our customers think. Across nine metrics, no grade below a 95 percent. Six scores of 99 percent or higher.
