Webbing/searching for answers and information

Okay, down to the nitty gritty. I have contacted 5 roofing companies in Valparaiso that offer free estimates for roofing. Two of the roofers were recommended by my next door neighbors, and the one other was recommended by my co-workers husband(the home builder). The other two were random choices from the phone book that had ads stating that they were licenced, bonded and insured, and offered three estimates. Why 5 companies do you ask? Well, in trying to learn more about the steps to tkae in hiring a roofer, I came across a very useful website through Google. http://www.essortment.com/all/roofingcostest_rdvd.htm
This website gives all sorts of pointers on how to get the best estimate for a new roof.
It also gave me some idea of what questions the contractors would ask when they come out to give me an estimate.

I also spoke with parents and coworkers about whether to do a complete tear-off or a second layer(look at me with all the roofing terminology!). I found out from my co-workers husband that the complete tear-off is a must if you are working with a previous roof that is already 20 years old.

The next important step is to figure out how much roof we really have. While the afore mentioned website didn't specify this, my home construction reference said that this is good because it will help you make sure the roofing companies are accurate and on the up and up.

I must say that this topic I have chosen has certainly allowed me to get to know my co-workers better. I am rather new at this facility, and it is good to get to met new people, especially my supervisors, throught this informal process of inquiry.

My other resource so far was the phone book and the online yellow pages. While I already had the first three contacts through verbal discussions with my neighbors, the yellow pages gave me the other two contacts. These were pretty much randoms, and chances are I won't use them, but this extra information gathering can't hurt!