What is a Roofing Contractor, and What Exactly Do They Do?

7/15/2015

Within the roofing process, a quality contractor plays a significant role in your asset and investment. So we ask – What defines a quality contractor and what exactly does a roofing contractor do?

Installing an effective roofing system is an important investment—one that is not to be approached half-heartedly, as quality roofing solutions are designed to last a long time. Excellence in the manufacturing of roofing materials is crucial, and how well the installation is performed plays an equally important role in the durability and efficiency of an applied roofing system.

With this in mind, it is easy to understand the significant role of a quality contractor in the roofing process. So we ask – what defines a quality contractor? Let’s begin with the basics: what does a contractor do exactly, and what kind of licensing and credentialing should I be looking for? We’ll start with the basic, and follow up with another blog entry about finding a credentialed contractor.

• Understanding Roofing Contractors
• Licensing and Credentialing

Understanding Roofing Contractors

In simple terms, the term “roofing contractor” is a designation that is given to a professional who oversees or executes a roofing project. The roofing project may be either residential or commercial.

A roofing contractor is like an auto mechanic, in that they each provide an important service that the average person knows little about and cannot fully see or evaluate the quality of service delivered. This is why it can be difficult to assess the expertise and qualification of a roofing contractor superficially. This is where credentials come in….

Licensing and Credentialing

It is easy for the average person to get confused when trying to understand the difference between a roofing contractor having a license or having a credential. In practice, roofing contractors can be both licensed and credentialed, but licensing and credentialing are not synonymous:

Licensing refers to the process of obtaining permission from relevant authorities to practice or undertake projects within a geographic area, usually a township, county or state.

Credentialing refers to obtaining credentials or certificates from reputable issuing bodies (often manufacturers). These credentials/certificates are given to roofing contractors or companies following the successful completion of specialized training courses or programs.

Credentialing is a statement that attests to the knowledge and expertise of a roofing contractor or company. Put another way, licensing signifies “permission,” and credentialing represents “competence.”

Make sure to check back for our follow up which will cover the how and why of choosing a credentialed contractor.