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1. 
   hammer1 | Aug 10, 2012 07:59am | #1

   For the most part, roofers are installers, framers are builders. Roofers don't generally build. That doesn't mean some roofers aren't builders or some builders aren't roofers but if a company advertizes they are roofers, they usually just install roofing materials.

   You should be looking for a general contractor, particularly one that does additions and renovations. They may hire framers or roofers to do those parts of the job or they may do those tasks themselves.

   I grew up old school in the carpentry trade. The same workers would clear the lots, build the roads, dig the foundation, set up the forms, mix and pour the concrete, build all parts of the house, frame to finish which could include doing the electrical, taping the drywall, painting as well as making the cabinets, staircases, siding, roofing, basically, everything. Over the years, all that has changed. It was a waste of time and resources to use skilled carpenters, at their wages, to do less skilled jobs. All the various tasks in building became specialized. Today, an excevation company comes in, clears the lot, digs the hole and often has the footings poured in a day, compared to old school which could take weeks. Liability and workers comp insurance are based on the type of work you do. A job like roofing is potentially more dangerous than installing cabinets, therefore the insurance costs are much higher if you do roofing. It makes more practical sense to let the roofers carry their own insurances and deal with OSHA compliance. While they are doing the roof, we can be doing other things more suited to our skills and pay scale.

   In doing small jobs, like an addition, the contractor may opt to do tasks like the roof because the job is too small to make bringing in a roofing company cost effective. Contractors that do smaller jobs run the gammet from professionals that are not only competant but have the equipment, training and compliance issues taken care of, to fly by nights that shouldn't be allowed to own a hammer. An easy way to sift out the chaff is to ask for proof of insurance as well as their OSHA compliance plans. Pros will have all that in place, wannabes won't even know what you are talking about.