It also put me in control of my project. Instead of being told by the roofer what I needed, I told the roofer what criteria had to be met to satisfy me. And I did it with confidence, because I had taken the time to learn about roofing. I decided there are three important factors of roofing to address for a good quality roof:

1. Materials;
2. Workmanship;
3. A systematic design for combining 1 & 2.

If all three factors satisfy my level of quality, then the final result should be a roof that satisfies my expectations.

Here is where I made a decision that was critically strategic: focus on materials and design before searching for workmanship. Before looking for a roofing contractor, I decided first to find the materials and design that made me happy. This decision put me in control of hiring a roofing contractor.

Use the internet to learn about roofing materials. Manufacturers have technical instructions specifying their installation requirements in order to meet their warranty criteria. Knowing those requirements is important, because your homeowner’s insurance will only cover damage to your roof if it was installed according to manufacturer’s installation requirements. After careful consideration, I chose Owens Corning because of the features of their shingles, their roof system concept, their transferable warranty, their reputation, and the number of roofers I spoke with who swear by Owens Corning shingles.

Whatever materials manufacturer you choose, make sure you know the reasons for your choice. My list of criteria for the systemic design of my roof.

1. Tear off all layers of shingles on the roof
2. Inspect the decking and make repairs
3. Remove all metal fixtures
4. Remove old ridge vents
5. Inspect gutters and down spouts
6. Install synthetic underlayment
7. Install starter shingles on all eaves and rakes
8. Install cool rated architectural shingles with a 135 mph wind rating
9. Install new ridge vents the full length of all ridges and color coordinated wind turbines 10. Install new ridge and hip shingles for a final, classy touch I was ready to find a roofing contractor because I had chosen a materials manufacturer and had developed a systemic design for my roof.

I looked for a contractor certified by Owens Corning to install their materials. I looked at contractor web sites to get a feel for how they align with my design criteria list. After much deliberation, I chose All About Roofing, LLC in Surprise, AZ. When I met with Logan from AAR and talked about my criteria, he took a low key approach, listening and not trying to pressure me in any particular direction. He didn’t rush through his visit but gave me the time to express my needs. I was satisfied with what I heard from Logan about AAR, but had one final request before signing a contract.

I wanted to interview the owner of AAR and quiz him about his business model. Logan set it up, and I met with Devin and Logan at the AAR office. Devin welcomed the chance to talk about his company and the vision he had. I learned about his passion to make his customers happy through high quality workmanship. I was there about an hour and all my questions were answered. I signed the contract and scheduled the installation. AAR and I created a customer-contractor partnership that benefited us both.

I highly recommend All About Roofing, LLC., Surprise, AZ., to install an Owens Corning Roofing System on your home. The quality of their work is excellent. If you have residential roofing needs, I recommend you them to you.