These three kinds of professionals seem alike. However, as outlined below, there are some significant differences between general contractors, roofing contractors in Phoenix, and roofers. 1
Getting a new roof is confusing, not just because many choices are available. Homeowners also have options regarding installers. It’s essential to get this choice right. At best, poorly-installed roofs create additional maintenance issues. At worst, another professional must essentially reinstall the roof.
The professional roofers at Four Peaks Roofing genuinely take pride in their work. Our approach is simple: we plan our work, then work on our plan. Our goal is always to do our job as quickly and thoroughly as possible. That way, our customers can get on with their lives and have the peace of mind of knowing they have a solid roof over their heads.
Roofer
Quite simply, a roofer is a person who works on roofs. Frequently, a roofer works typically on a roofing contractor’s crew or is someone who happens to know a few things about roofs. They have limited skills and limited responsibilities. They do the “grunt work,” like ripping off existing shingles, closely inspecting the sheathing, replacing or repairing the decking, and installing the new roof.
Furthermore, under state law, roofers must keep their worksites clean and observe all applicable safety requirements.
However, roofers cannot work independently. Frequently, they work under someone else’s license since, as mentioned, they’re often roofing contractor crew members doing extra work on the side.
So, roofers know nothing about planning, design, or financial matters. They also don’t know, and quite frankly don’t care, about a customer’s preference. They show up, install the roof, and go home.
A roofer is a lot like a shade-tree mechanic. Someone else provides the parts, and they do the labor, often at a reduced price. Roofers and shade-tree mechanics can usually handle straightforward jobs. But if any complications arise, they quickly get in over their heads, and they don’t have a safety net.
General Contractors
A general contractor, a step up from a roofer, is often a jack of all trades and a master of none. As the name implies, they work on all residential and commercial repair or improvement projects. General contractors have expertise in many areas but usually don’t specialize in one area.
Furthermore, a general contractor is a project manager. General contractors might delegate some work to subcontractors but cannot delegate the legal responsibility for doing that work properly. It’s good to know that homeowners have some recourse if a subcontractor botches a job. That responsibility doesn’t change the fact that a subcontractor made an error, and you, as a homeowner, must deal with the consequences of that error.
Finally, general contractors are often more expensive than roofing contractors. Typically, a general contractor is a middleman who hires other people to do the work.
Roofing Contractors Phoenix
The first two groups are workers. But a roofing contractor (aka a roofing company) is the whole enchilada. These companies include sales professionals, designers, foremen, roofers, and others who only work on roofing projects. These professionals, and not independent subcontractors, do all the work on the entire project, from when you step onto the sales floor to when the installation crew finishes.
Because these companies are so experienced, they’ve seen it all before. When complications arise, and they nearly always do, roofing companies know how to deal with them.
All that being said, roofing companies don’t exclusively focus on roofs. Some roofing companies also deal with related areas, like windows and siding. So, a single company with substantial home exterior expertise performs all the necessary work to make your house a home.
Four Peaks Roofing offers roofing solutions for homeowners and businesses in Arizona, just like you. Contact us today and take the first step toward having an attractive, trouble-free, and long-lasting metal roof over your house.
Source:
[1] https://roc.az.gov/license-classifications
