When we have our...ahem...occasional rain storms here in Vancouver do you find yourself running with buckets or cooking pots to catch the drips falling from the ceiling? If your house is that far gone you're going to need more than a good roofing contractor to fix the problem.

If you think about it, your roof is your first line of defense against whatever Mother Nature tosses at your home. The time to go ahead with a roofing project is before the roof starts to fail and to do that you'll want to hire a qualified, licensed and experienced Vancouver roofer. At Handy Canadian we've compiled a directory of Vancouver roofers and general contractors who can fix your leaky roof or give you a brand new one.

Each listing will give you a snapshot of the contractor's operation. There will be a brief description of services and specialties offered, license information, service area covered, contact information including a link to their site and many have customer comments and ratings as well. Our Handy Canadian Vancouver roofers directory is a great place to start your search.

But before you sign that contract...

Cost is always an important consideration for any homeowner considering a roofing project but the real focus should be on value, not just dollars. Value can be defined as having the end product (your new roof or repairs) meeting your expectations and full satisfaction. And the way you ensure that happy ending is to fully vet the contractor you choose.
Here's a quick list of things to consider:

• In Vancouver roofers are required to have a Certificate of Qualification. Earning a certificate is no easy thing and requires about 4 years to obtain. It involves both classroom work and years of apprenticeship. Make sure your roofing contractor can show you a copy of his C of Q.
• Apprentices may work on your project but it has to be done under the direct supervision of a journeyman who holds a C of Q. Ask your roofer if apprentices will be working on your job.
• Ask for a copy of the roofer's Certificate of Insurance. Things can go wrong on a roofing job and you want to make sure that the contractor has adequate coverage to cover any property or people that may be damaged or hurt. If you don't understand the certificate, call the roofer's insurance company for qualification.

The most telling characteristic of a roofing business is its reputation. Consider the following:

• How long has the roofing firm been in business in Vancouver under the current management?
• Expect the references that are provided to sing the praises of the contractor from the top of the CN Tower but call them anyway. Time passing may have changed their tune.
• Check with the Vancouver Chamber of Commerce to see if there are any unresolved complaints against the contractor.
• Run the roofing firm's name through Google and add + complaints and see what you get. Just remember everything you see online isn't necessarily the truth.
• Drive by past projects to get a feel for the attention to detail and the quality of the material.

Vancouver is the most livable city in Canada with its Stanley Park, Granville Island, and its rating of Best City in the Americas from Conde Nast, but none of that counts if you're living in a house with a leaky roof. Now's the time to fix it and this is the place to start looking for that perfect roofer.

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