The roof on your stable or pole barn is the first line of defense when protecting your animals and other precious contents inside your barn. Whether you have a metal or asphalt roof, your roof will begin to wear over time, and a replacement will be necessary.
There are many factors to consider before, during, and after your barn or stable’s roof replacement. You want to ensure you’re hiring an experienced roofer who can quickly and expertly replace your barn’s roof with minimal disruption to your property.
At AIC Roofing and Construction, we are locally owned and operated and have served the Central Kentucky community since 2003. We are experienced in replacing asphalt and metal roofs for various horse and other use barns, including pole barns, stables, timber frame stable barns, and gothic-style barns.
We always provide our customers with transparent information so they can make informed, confident decisions for their property. It’s important to us that you have the best roofing experience – even if you don’t hire us for your project!
In this article, we’ll explain important factors to consider and how to evaluate potential roofing contractors for your barn or stable properly.
Who Should You Contact to Replace Your Pole Barn Roof?
If it’s time to replace your roof, you want to contact a roofing company with specific experience with barns and stables. Many logistics involve a barn roofing project that an average construction or roofing company may not have experience with—for example, job site clean-up. Cleaning up roofing nails is important on any project, especially when dealing with horses and livestock. It’s also important.
Whether you are considering a metal or asphalt roof replacement, we recommend getting 2-3 bids from experienced Lexington roofing companies. This will ensure you’re getting a fair price and assessment. We’ll discuss narrowing down the right roofing contractor for your horse barn below.
Ask These Questions When Interviewing a Roofing Contractor for Your Barn
After researching a few roofing contractors in Lexington, you’ll want to get bids from at least 2 or 3. To help you cut through the typical sales pitch of a roofing company, we recommend you ask the following questions:
· How long have you been in business?
· How many roof replacements have you performed on barns or stables?
· What steps do you take to clean the job site afterward?
· What is the estimated completion time for this project? What is your crew size?
· What type of warranty do you offer?
· Will someone supervise the job site?
· Do you have any special certifications or awards?
These questions will help you understand the roofing company’s expertise and how they will handle your project. You want to ensure you hire a company that will fit your unique property well.
In addition to reviewing bids, take note of your first impressions. If a company is late, rude, or unresponsive while trying to win your business, it’s unlikely they’ll improve once you’ve signed the contract.
Comparing Roofing Bids
Once you’ve received a few bids on your roofing project, it’s time to select a contractor. Roofing bids are not created equal, and it can be challenging to make an apples-to-apples comparison. Remember, expensive does not mean quality, and cheap does not mean value. You must look at the price and full range of services and materials you’re getting to make an informed decision.
We recommend considering these factors when comparing roofing bids:
Warranty: Two types of warranties apply to a standard roof replacement. These will vary depending on the materials and the contractor you choose. The first type of warranty is a craftsmanship warranty. This warranty covers issues related to the installation of your roof. Most contractors offer a five- or ten-year workmanship warranty – while some don’t offer this warranty at all. Another important factor with the in-house warranty is the length of time the contractor has been in business. If a company goes out of business, this warranty will not apply. A higher bid with a better warranty may be the best value for your barn or stable in the long term and should be carefully considered in your final decision.
The second type of warranty is the manufacturer’s warranty on the shingles. These vary depending on the quality or grade of shingle you choose and also the manufacturer. The average shingle warranty would cover material defects with the shingles, which means the shingle manufacturer would pay for the removal and replacement of the shingles at any time during the 50-year life span (the life span differs between products and grades).
Materials: It’s important to consider the grade of materials being quoted for your roof replacement. A lower bid may be quoting the lowest grade of materials. It’s important to analyze the specifics to compare apples to apples.
Installation Specifics: These may not be spelled out in your roofing bid – but you should inquire about them. When replacing the roof of a horse barn, livestock barn, or other used barn, the importance of a smooth installation process cannot be understated. Consider these 3 installation specifics before making a final decision:
Timeframe: A larger crew will be able to complete your project faster, meaning less time you have to find alternative housing for your horses or livestock.
Jobsite Supervision: A job site supervisor (think of this as onsite customer service) ensures a continuous line of communication during your roof replacement. A job site supervisor also oversees the construction process to ensure your project is completed quickly and to the highest standards. While this level of customer service may not be mentioned explicitly on a bid sheet, it should be considered for your final decision.
Next Steps – Contacting a Trustworthy Roofer Experienced with Horse Barns & Stables
After reading this article, you now know more about how to get started with your horse barn or stable’s roof replacement. You also see the importance of hiring a roofing contractor experienced with barns which will be mindful of your property. Hiring a less experienced roofer simply because of the price will likely lead to headaches – like picking up stray nails for months after your roof replacement, for example.
We take great pride in our quality craftsmanship and are proud to have earned stellar reviews from our clients. If you still have questions about your horse barn roof replacement, we’ve got answers in our Learning Center! From how much your roof replacement will cost to the different types of metal roofs, we must answer even your toughest questions.
AIC Roofing and Construction has served homeowners in Louisville, Lexington, and Richmond since 2003. We are in North America’s top 2% of roofing contractors to obtain the GAF MasterElite certification. If you’re looking for a trusted Lexington roofing company with experience replacing barn and stable roofs – look no further! Contact us today to schedule your free roof inspection.
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