Con Artists
Hiring a Roofing Contractor
Legitimate roofing contractors have an undeserved image problem. Here’s why:
someone looking like a roofer shows up at your door. He’s not a legitimate
roofer, but a con artist. He might be driving a truck, perhaps with a
legit-looking company sign on its door. Maybe he claims to be working nearby
and says he will give you a great deal. Or possibly he tells you he’s seen a
serious problem on your roof that needs immediate work. You’ll be asked for a
deposit, or to pay for supplies up front, and you’ll be offered a ride to the
bank. In return for the money, you get a promise he’ll come back tomorrow. You
never see him again. Sometimes the con artists may go on the roof to pretend to
do work. In one such case earlier this year, a 75-year-old Florida
woman was duped out of $500 for a “repair” that consisted of spray-painting
her roof.
The key to recognizing this scam is: you
weren’t looking to have any work done; rather the “roofer” showed up at
your house, soliciting the work. Scams like this infuriate real roofers and make
them eager to prove and protect their reputations. Here are a series of steps that
homeowners should follow when hiring a roofing contractor.
First, ask for background information:
•
Get references of jobs completed nearby and, unlike many consumers, follow them
up. Make the phone calls and drive by the houses. The residential roofing
industry has many small, local firms, and references are the best gauge of their
quality.
•
Ask where the contractor will purchase supplies. Call the supplier to check that
the contractor is in good financial standing. If a contractor doesn’t pay a
bill, the supplier can put a lien on your house.
•
Check to see if they have a Business License and Bond in the county/state they are
licensed in. You can call the City Building Inspector for a reference and
confirmation of current standings.
Ask around
for a referral from people who have had previous work done and are satisfied
with the contractors performance and workmanship. A good contractor won’t hesitate to provide this
information—it’s standard practice. If it all checks out, then before the
contractor makes a proposal and you sign a contract, have them inspect the
attic. Many contractors recommend this step because what
seems like a roof problem may in fact be an attic ventilation problem. Expect a
charge for this service. If you want an independent opinion on what work is
needed, you can also call in a roofing consultant.
Next, the contract should include:
•
Clear specifications of the work to be done—what’s included and what’s
not. It should specify the materials to be used, down to the manufacturer, model
and color of the roofing.
•
Manufacturers Data sheets, which are specifications that show the materials meet applicable
national standards. You also need a reference to an application standard, worded
something like: “All work will be completed in accordance with
manufacturer’s specifications. The contract must also state
that the installation will meet the building code, which is very specific and
prescriptive.
• A
brief list of the accessories included, such as vents and flashing.
•
Especially if the old roof will be removed, the contract should include an
inspection of the roof deck, and a unit price (i.e., a price per square foot)
for any necessary repairs. If there’s a problem, you’ve pre-arranged what it
will cost to fix.
•
While its not unreasonable to pay a deposit, you should never pay for the total
amount up front. In some areas it is common practice to pay 50-75% for the
purchase of materials, dump fees, gas expenses and labor pay by the contractor
and the balance upon completion of the job.
If you’ve been
prudent in choosing a contractor, and done your homework, the result should be
good. Homeowners should look at buying a roof with the same interest as buying a
car.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hill Country Roofing
P.O. Box 704
Spiro, Oklahoma 74959
(830) 549-7678 Cell
(830) 303-6400 Office