Designing the perfect roof for your dream home or vacation property entails more than just picking out what type of roof look cool. There are dozens of things to consider: From which contractor you're going to work with and what local weather patterns might affect the quality of your roof, to considering current roofing trends that may save you time and money. Therefore, designing your roof should never be a "shot in the dark" kind of project. Today, we're going to talk a little bit about what you, as a homeowner, should be looking for in a contractor. From there, we'll run through some things you should consider once you've chosen your trusted contractor, as well as how much of the project should be handled by you, and what parts of the building process should be left to the contractor.

Perhaps the most important aspect of the "preliminary" process, something you always want to be aware of before you start your roofing project is to do your research!

Unfortunately, in regards to grand rapids roofing and construction, research can help you compare your options much more clearly as well as help you pinpoint a trusted and reviewed contractor who can — and wants to — provide you with the best service for your money. A good place to start, if you haven't already received referrals from friends and family (or even in addition to), is to start by checking third party ratings websites such as Angie's List and Yelp! Both of which provide you with unbiased reviews from real customers, past and present. Most likely, there will be several contractors right of the bat, so reading through reviews, ratings and customer testimonies can definitely help weed out some of the less fitting ones.

Comparing reviews, ratings, prices and even the quality of their website and social media presence can help you vet a contractor more precisely, or at least narrow your search down considerably. If you're in a rural, small town with only a couple of real options, try to contact each one of them personally in order find out important details about what they provide, how they compare to other contractors, and if there are any promotions going on at that moment. Finding out key details such as the ones listed above can ensure you're prepared for the process that lies ahead, and that you're familiar enough with the contractors you're going to work with to allow for a seamless (used sparingly, of course) building process.

Of course, doing your research isn't all that's required when you're preparing a big project such as designing and building a roof for your home. A good contractor will not only give you the price of the project, but also break down the workflow for you. Staying informed throughout the entire process is always a safe and well-prepared action.