Frequently Asked Questions

Is this roofing and/or company licensed and insured?

Overhead Solutions, Inc. is fully licensed by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce, as well as a fully insured company. We provide you with proof of this information on our first meeting.

How many estimates should I get before selecting a professional roofing contractor? What is the best way to judge an estimate?

Although you may have received a reliable fair estimate from the first contractor interviewed, you should usually obtain three estimates to help you determine which one is best for you. In judging the cost of a job, you should evaluate the following:

1. Will the contractor stand behind their work? Are they easily reachable and located?
2. Does the proposal of the roof system include ventilation and waterproofing shingle underlayment to protect your home?
3. What is the quality of the product choices offered? Expect to pay higher prices for designer or architectural shingles.
4. Most important: never judge the value of various proposals from the lowest bid received. A low price can signal a lot of discrepancies and shortcomings in the reliability of the contractor.

What are my payment options?

Each roofing, gutter & downspout project is different and at Overhead Solutions, Inc. we can come to your home and give FREE estimates and recommendations on the life left on your roof. Most times if 50% or more of your roofing shingles are curling, cracking, or missing it is time for a new roof. Often times with damaged areas on a roof or siding you can avoid replacing your whole area if you take care of the problem right away. Overhead Solutions, Inc. offers 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE for unexpected problems that may occur on your home.

How do I find a professional roofing contractor?

Referrals are the best place to start. Ask a neighbor or a friend who may have had a roof replacement and get their opinion on their contractor. Second, local suppliers are working with reputable contractors on a daily basis. Third, internet searches or yellow pages! Contractor websites can give you a lot of information on the company. Don't forget to always ask for at least 3 local references of work in your area!

Does my roof come with a workmanship and manufacturer's warranty? Are they transferable?

A workmanship warranty is set forth by the roofing contractor. Their warranty details should be in their written contract. Also be sure to ask when you will obtain your copy of the workmanship warranty from the contractor.

The product or manufacturer warranty is set in concrete by the manufacturer. It is limited and fixed. It cannot be altered by actions of the homeowner or the contractor. It is the responsibility of the contractor and the homeowner to read and comprehend all the terms and conditions of the warranty. It's important to understand if there is paperwork to fill out for the manufacturer's warranty and if so is it your responsibility to fill out the paperwork or the contractors.

Are there different roofing, gutter & downspout material options I can choose from?

Most times roofing, gutter & downspout material ordered for a job is based on customer preference and color choices. Overhead Solutions, Inc. offerers 4 different shingle manufactures to choose from. Certainteed, GAF, Owens Corning, and IKO manufactures. When we come to your home, we show you samples from different manufacturers and go over key benefits of each shingle as well as shingle warranty with you. This is also when you are able to see the different colors that each manufacturing company offers. Overhead Solutions, Inc. also offers a special program to our customers that allows us to take a photo of your home and show you before and after pictures with different colors and types of roofing material! For those customers that are thinking of a complete color change on your home but just can't imagine what it will look like on the whole project...this is your best tool!

How do I need to prepare my home before re-roofing work will begin?

This is a very important question. Re-roofing is a dirty, loud, and messy job. Make sure to ask the contractor any specific requirements they may have before the start of work. Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Remove all fragile items from walls, ceilings and shelves. Such as figurines, etc. If in doubt, take it down.
2. Remove items around perimeter of the house that could be hit by falling roofing material such as cars, boats, furniture, grills, etc. Ask the contractor their practice for protecting your plants and flower beds.
3. Be prepared for NOISE! There will be constant hammering for the duration of your project. You may want to plan on some time away from the house while the job is in progress. If you have animals easily startled by loud noise you may want to take them out of the house too.
4. Roofing antennas or satellites will be removed and put back in the same location; unfortunately from time to time you may need to have your satellite company come to realign the dish to their system.
5. Use caution when outside during job. Please keep kids and pets away from the construction site for safety.
6. If you need to leave during the project make sure your car is out of the garage or driveway. Contractors will use your driveway for dump trailers or dumpsters to collect debris during the project.
7. In order to properly clean up the roofing debris around your home it is best to have your grass cut short and leaves raked up from your yard. This will help when we run the magnet through the yard to collect any metal debris that may have been missed. During winter roofing projects with snow on the ground, it is important to understand that cleanup will be done to the best of our ability. As debris falls into snow banks we will remove what we see but when that snow melts you may find additional debris. We WILL be back in the spring when the snow has melted to do a final cleanup of the job site.

How long will the project take?

How do I know if my roof, gutters and/or downspouts need to be repaired or fully replaced?

Each roofing, gutter & downspout project is different and at Overhead Solutions, Inc. we can come to your home and give FREE estimates and recommendations on the life left on your roof. Most times if 50% or more of your roofing shingles are curling, cracking, or missing it is time for a new roof. Often times with damaged areas on a roof you can avoid replacing your whole area if you take care of the problem right away. Overhead Solutions, Inc. offers 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE for unexpected problems that may occur on your home.

What is the typical duration of a re-roofing project?

The time of a re-roofing project varies widely on the size and complexity of the roof. A small, uncomplicated roof job can usually be finished in a day or two. A large, complex project can last sometimes a few days. Once started, however, a job should not be interrupted for any reason other than weather.

Note: Bad weather and extreme temperatures can interrupt or postpone roofing projects. Safety of the workers is the first consideration, in both hot and cold weather. Windy, wet, and icy weather present dangers on a roof. Shingles are also affected by temperature extremes. Cold weather will delay activation of the sealant. This is not a reason to delay a project unless the shingle manufacturers prohibit installation at low temperatures for warranty purposes. Experienced installers who exercise care can usually avoid this problem.

How long is reasonable to expect to wait after I select a contractor for work to begin?

Weather permitting, a common period from contract signing to job start is two to six weeks. This can vary a great deal depending on the time of year and the contractor's backlog. Job start delays and postponements are a fact of life in this trade which is highly dependent on weather. However, the contractor also has a responsibility to you to be straightforward about their availability right from the start. They should also advise you on a timely basis about any changes in the schedule originally set.