Roofs can last a long time. According to This Old House, residential asphalt shingles, which are the most commonly used roofing material, will last anywhere between 15 and 30 years. You're going to need to hire a local roofer to come inspect and repair the roof over that time span, though. It's important to hire the right one, though. Here are three questions you can ask to make sure that you do just that.

1. Will Employees or Subcontractors Be Doing the Work?

While you also want to find out their status as far as being licensed and insured, most will put that information in a prominent space on their website or on the side of their vehicles. You want to make sure that the local roofer you hire is going to have their employees do the work. Sometimes a roofer may take on too much work and send subcontractors. This is dangerous since those people may not be licensed or insured. You risk having them do subpar work, too. If they use subcontractors, look elsewhere.

2. Can You Give Me an Itemized Estimate?

You want to make sure you know exactly how much you're going to be paying for the work that's being done on your roof. That means ensuring that there aren't any hidden fees. A reputable roofer will have everything listed on the estimate, and if there's anything that needs to be changed, they will tell you before doing anything.

3. How Long Will It Take?

While you want to hire people who are confident in their skills, you also want to hire people who are realistic. If they quote a really fast turnaround that doesn't take into account unexpected situations, then you run the risk of them finishing behind schedule. A reputable roofer will build that extra time into the schedule.

You can ask them other things, like their warranty, and if they will inspect your house before and after. By asking these questions, you'll be ensuring you hire the right people. At that point, you can relax while they do the work.

Are you looking for a local roofer who can do everything from rubber roofing to flat roofing to general roofing? We can do that. We work with all kinds of insurance, we're GAF certified, and we provide free estimates along with 10-year warranties on new roofs. Contact S & L Roofing today to learn more about how we can help you.