GENERAL FAQs
1When should I replace my roof?
We recommend replacing your roof when it is 17-22 years old, the average life-span of a roof in Georgia. 90% of the roofs we replace are between 17-22 years old. Please don't wait too long, though. Many people aren't aware that your insurance company can deny your claim based on “Negligence” or waiting too long to report damage. If you have any concerns about the health of your roof, let us give it a free professional inspection.
2How much does a new roof cost?
Roof size, pitch, and materials are the three main factors that determine cost.
However, if you have storm damage and your insurance approves your damage claim, a new roof will generally cost exactly what your deductible is.
3What material should I choose for my new roof?
We install composite, or asphalt shingles. This type of shingle makes up 95% of the roofs installed in Georgia.
4How many bids should I get?
We recommend getting as many bids as you’d like. But beware of the roofing company that charges very low prices, this can be an indication that corners will be cut, or inferior materials will be used. A reputable roofing company like C. T. Bates Roofing will always provide our best price, be upfront about the work that will be done, the materials that will be used, and stand behind the job that we do.
5What is your process for free estimates?
We provide free, detailed estimates that we e-mail you as soon as possible. This typically takes about 24 hours, depending on your roof. Our estimators are almost always available and can get your estimate started as soon as you call.
6When can you start?
Any good roofing company should have a lead time of 1-2 weeks, depending on time of year. Demand is always high for our services; so, even though there are roofing companies that can start this week, we are worth the wait.
7How long will it take to install a new roof?
This will depend on the size, pitch, and complexity of your roof. Small to medium size houses usually take 1 day. Larger projects can take up to 2-3 days, or more.
8Who will be doing the installation work?
We strive to choose installers that are clean, respectful, and highly skilled in the roofing trade. They will treat your home as if it were their own. Attention is given to the smallest detail. Visit our “Warranty” page for details on our workmanship warranty.
9What if my home currently has a leak?
We always try to move leaky roofs up on the schedule, so they can be completed as soon as possible. Depending on weather and project lead time, it often makes sense for us to implement a short-term repair until our roof replacement crew can start work.
10How do I know if my roof needs to be replaced?
There can be multiple signs that your roof needs to be replaced. If a leak has made itself visible inside the home, it likely has caused some additional damage to the roof deck itself as well as the drywall inside the home. Even if you don’t see a leak, it could still be time to replace your roof. If the roof is sagging, shingles are missing, the fiberglass mat is showing through, shingles look old and worn, shingles are curling at the edges, or shingles have little to no granules left on them, it may be time to replace your roof. If you have one or more of these conditions, please don’t wait! Many homeowners are not aware that your insurance company can deny your claim based on “Negligence” or waiting too long to report damage. If you have any concerns about the health of your roof, let us give it a free professional damage assessment.
RESIDENTIAL ROOFING FAQs
1How much does a roof cost?
The price of your roof will vary based on the size (total square footage), pitch, and which material is chosen. C. T. Bates Roofing can provide a free detailed estimate that we e-mail you as soon as possible. This typically takes about 24 hours, depending on your roof. Our estimators are almost always available and can get your estimate started as soon as you call.
2What should I do if I think I have storm damage warning signs?
Don’t wait to get it checked out! You may be eligible for a full insurance covered replacement. Visit our “Insurance Damage Claim” to learn what storm damage is, how best to identify it, and the process of getting your insurance to cover it.
3What's the difference between shingles?
There are two major shingle types available in today's market; these include “three tab” and “architectural shingles”. Unlike a thicker laminated architectural shingle, the three tab version only consists of one layer of material, making it much more prone to penetration and blow off. Architectural shingles are the heaviest and thickest by far, making them very durable but also much heavier and higher in cost. In Georgia, we have seen a shift away from the more inexpensive and short term 3-tab shingle, and it has since been replaced with the much more durable and technologically advanced architectural shingle. Another consideration is each shingle's ability to resist high winds. The wind rating for a 3-tab shingle is 60 mph, while an architectural shingle can withstand winds up to 110 mph.
4How long will a roof last?
Our CertainTeed architectural asphalt roofs are warranted for 30 years. However, the lifespan of your roof greatly depends on the upkeep. Routine annual maintenance is important and will ensure your roof will perform at its best while looking beautiful year-round.
5Will the color and type of shingle I choose affect my home’s resale value?
Yes, it absolutely can. It’s best to pick a neutral color when thinking of the resale value of your home. It’s been found that neutral and darker colored shingles are more appealing to buyers. When selecting a color, it's often ideal to correspond the shingle color with the siding, gutter, and trim that accents your home. Also, local realtors suggest that selecting decorative and longer lasting Architectural shingles add on average 4% to a home’s total value.
6Can the color of my roof affect my home’s internal temperature?
It can, but there are ways to minimize this effect. While the outdoor temperature may be 70 degrees, a darker colored shingle will absorb sunlight and conduct more heat than a lighter colored shingle. This results in a higher temperature transmitted into the attic and rooms below. By choosing a lighter color shingle, you can potentially lessen the heat absorption of your roof, reducing the temperature and creating a more efficient system. All of this however is very dependent on if your home’s attic is properly insulated and has healthy air flow. A properly ventilated attic allows for constant airflow, which translates to better efficiency of the home’s heating and cooling system. We install the manufacturer's recommended ridge vents, which substantially improves your attic's ability to ventilate and ensures a long and cool life for any new roof.
7Does the shingle brand I install on my roof really matter?
It absolutely does! This is one of our biggest frustrations with the roofing industry today. There are many shingle manufacturers producing a wide variety of shingles at various levels of quality. This means that every shingle is NOT created equal. At C. T. Bates Roofing, we proudly install CertainTeed LANDMARK Series shingles, which contain the highest amount of embedded streak reducing copper available across all shingle companies today. Our shingles are also backed by a 30-year warranty. And the best news is that you get superior quality without inflated prices. Learn more about the products we use and the warranties we offer on our “Straight Talk About Warranties” page.
8Who will be performing the work on my home?
We only select installers that are clean, respectful, and highly skilled in the roofing trade. They will treat your home as if it were their own. Attention is given to the smallest detail.
9What warranty will my roof have?
It all depends on what shingle type you choose. No shingle or shingle manufacturer has the exact same warranty, so to get the details on one specific shingle, please call us or visit our “Straight Talk About Warranties” page to learn more. We know that warranties are very important to our customers, so we strive to be as transparent and upfront as possible about what our warranties do and don’t include.
REPAIR FAQS
1Why Should I repair my Roof?
Even if you have no interior damage, it's still crucial to maintain and check up on the health of your roof from time to time. If the damage inside has reached the point of being visible, that means your roof already has exterior damage. These problems should be addressed right away to prevent further damage. It’s what you can’t see that is usually the biggest problem in the end.
2Can a handyman repair a roof?
We recommend hiring a licensed and insured, professional roofing contractor. There are many complexities to roofing that require a specially skilled set of hands to complete. Visit our “Licensed & Insured Lie” page for important information about insurance that all contractors should carry that protects you the homeowner.
3Can a roof be repaired instead of replaced?
Yes, absolutely. If your roof is well within its lifespan and has minimal damage, a simple repair can be performed. Most often, though, we find the reason a roof needs to be repaired can be directly linked to storm damage, in which case we may suggest that you make an attempt to have your insurance cover the cost of the repair or possibly a full roof replacement. If the roof is beyond its useful life, or a repair starts to become cost prohibitive, a reliable roofing contractor will inform you of these issues and provide you with a recommendation to move forward in another direction. The only way to know for sure is to have your roof and project looked at by a professional roofing company experienced in both repairs and roof replacement, like C. T. Bates Roofing.
4How much does it cost to repair a roof?
Much like roof replacement, your roof’s size, pitch, and materials are the three main factors that determine cost. Every home and project is different and requires a skilled set of eyes to determine price accurately. We are proud to offer free repair estimates.
5What is the minimum for roof repairs?
Most services have a minimum fee, roof repairs are no different. The labor and expertise of an experienced roofer means that the repair will be done right the first time. Beware of the roofing company that charges very low prices, this can be an indication that corners will be cut. A reputable roofing company like C. T. Bates Roofing will always provide our best price, be upfront about what work will be done and what can be expected of the repair, and stand behind the job that we do. We are proud to offer free repair estimates.
INSURANCE FAQs
1Will my rates go up if I call in a claim?
There are many factors that go into answering this question, including your policy coverage, prior claim history, your loss type and how long you have been with your carrier. The best source for the answer is your local insurance agent. Based on a storm damage claim being considered an “Act of God'' or not the homeowners fault, we find it very uncommon that your rates will increase if you file a claim. As roofing contractors we deal with hundreds of customers, insurance companies, and claims, and we very rarely hear of our customers rates increasing.
2How much will it “really” cost me to use my insurance to replace my roof?
Your deductible and that's it. As long as all of your damage is covered and included on your insurance adjusters report, you will never have to pay a penny more than your deductible. We don’t believe in hidden fees and pop up costs at C. T. Bates Roofing.
3If I suspect roof damage, who should I contact first?
If you suspect roof damage after a storm, you should contact a reputable roofing contractor in Georgia first. A state licensed contractor like C. T. Bates Roofing can assess the damage, verify it was caused by a storm, and help you file an insurance claim.
4Will my roofing contractor be there during the insurance adjuster’s inspection?
Absolutely. Once we complete the initial free inspection, you can contact the insurance company to schedule the inspection from the adjuster. We will be happy to meet with the adjuster to verify that a storm did in fact cause the damage.
Tip: C. T. Bates Roofing will not charge you for the initial inspection or for meeting with the adjuster. We like to use those opportunities to show you our attention to detail and our unparalleled customer service.
5What do insurance adjusters look for when inspecting the roof damage?
The same things we look for during our free inspection, storm damage. To qualify for roof replacement coverage, the adjuster will need to identify signs of wind damage, hail damage or damage caused from falling limbs or other flying debris. The inspector will also look for signs of damage, such as curling, creased, broken or hail bruised shingles. Or any other obvious signs of damage in and around your home.
6Can I get more than one estimate for roof repairs?
Yes, you can. However, multiple estimates are not always necessary. You simply need to make sure that the contractor will charge equal to or less than the insurance company’s estimate. This however does not mean you should choose the cheapest estimate and pocket what's left over. We’ve seen this time and time again and are here to tell you that deciding to go with a contractor that far underbids all other estimates is a recipe for disaster. The homeowners that choose to do so end up paying much, much more in the long run. Visit our “Why Choose Us” page to learn more about the dangers of choosing the wrong contractor.
Warranty FAQs
1Why not just pick the contactor with the longest warranty?
It’s important to be careful when selecting a contractor based on their warranty alone. Many roofers offer 15, 20, and even 30 year long workmanship warranties. At first that may sound great, but what are the dangers of these long warranties? Many roofing companies use unreasonably long warranties as a sales tool. They get the job based on their warranty alone and pay their installers for the speed of their installation instead of the quality. This results in installation mistakes. When the problems start popping up and the warranty calls start rolling in, the company simply closes down, or the owner dissolves the old company and starts up again under a different name. Homeowners, who fall victim to such companies, regularly call us asking us to fix the mistakes of a past company because they are no longer in business.
2What does my warranty NOT cover?
Warranties protect against defects in the material or workmanship; they don’t warrant that a product will work correctly if there are outside events that affect the product’s performance. In the case of a roof, damage caused by natural deterioration, storm damage, maintenance negligence, or other external events is not covered by product or workmanship warranties. This kind of damage may be covered by a home warranty or your homeowner’s insurance, however.
Still have questions?
We know that the process of getting your roof replaced can be daunting but we’re here to make the process as easy as possible. We’d love to hear from you and answer any questions you have! Call us today at (678) 776-2648