Sometimes Charleston sees sideways falling rain. Palmetto bugs find their way into crevice. The salt in the air may nibble away shingles with the gusto of a hungry bird. Roofs are champions, battling a war over your head every hour, not just cover for you here. So, choosing Roof replacement contractors Charleston is not something you do on a lark or over a cup of weak coffee.

Starting here, reputation is important but not everything. One eyebrow should be raised by a slick website and many five-star reviews, not both. Explore a little. Go knock on the door of a neighbor. Find out whether their contractor parked their truck on the grass or the street. Search for stories rather than only ratings. As advised by the ancient sea captain, rely on your instincts but look for leaks on the hull.

Charleston’s homes reflect the variety of her seafood and grits. Some people own homes with slate roof suited for European aristocracy. Others slink down in tiny, crumbling cottages with tin repairs. The dance is asphalt two-step, copper cha-cha, shingle waltz, and your contractor needs to know. Find out whether they have treated your house style. Never accept a “Sure, we can do that.” Help them to spill the beans. Exists a hitch? Last time, how did they manage the unplanned rainstorm? Did a raccoon pay a visit while working? You want someone with grit, not only a checkbook.

Allow me to address licensing. After heat waves and hurricanes, you would think every roofer would play it straight. Never gamble your mossy cobblestones on it. Request evidence. Too is insurance. You want not the bill if a ladder collapses and someone twists an ankle. Make sure the papers in some glovebox is not accumulating dust. It should be as recent as the market fresh catch is.

More than you would think, materials are important. Some ensembles provide choices sharp enough to cut through a crab shell. Others, not so much as that. Don’t let a contractor guide you just toward what’s most convenient in their vehicle. Perhaps you are looking for something that laughs at hailstones. Perhaps you are looking at solar panels since the sun here appears as it should be paid for. Seek for possibilities. Don’t let your roof be a last-minute consideration.

Money speaks, but it can stutter. Get your quotes put in writing. Clear line items ought to be better than a beautiful Charleston morning. Look for expenses buried like gators in the marsh. Don’t pay it all at once as either Pay a little now, a little when the job starts; the rest at the end when you find sunlight nowhere except the windows.

At last, hunt chatter in your own bones. Did they fast call you back? Did they sound fatigued while answering your millionth question? Both homecomings and hurricanes shape gut instincts. Trust them. Get a rocking chair and closely examine those contractors; they will soon be climbing on your best shield.