Natural disasters like tornados, hurricanes and earthquakes can bring out the best in people, as strangers reach out to help others in need. Unfortunately, crises also bring out persons who choose to take advantage of the victims. Some of the most common "after-disaster" scams involve damage done to roofs.
Whether your roof got hit hard by a natural disaster or just needs to be replaced because it’s old, take certain precautions when it comes to hiring a roofing contractor. In 2011, BBB received more than 3.3 million inquiries from consumers looking to find a roofer they could trust – making it the most inquired about industry in the BBB system.
“Be sure to choose a reputable and reliable contractor,” says Claire Rosenzweig, CEO and President of BBB Serving Metropolitan New York. “A low-ball priced job may end up costing you more in terms of dollars, time and aggravation.”
BBB offers the following tips to homeowners who suffer roof damage:
Do your research. Check with your insurance company about policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Save all receipts even for temporary roofing repairs.
Stay calm. Although you may be anxious to get things back to normal, avoid letting your emotions get the better of you. Don't be pressured into making an immediate decision with a long-term impact. Be pro-active in selecting a company. Don’t just react to sales solicitations.
Shop around. For major repairs, take time to shop around and get 3-4 estimates based on the same specifications and materials. Check out references that are at least one year old to see how the work held up. Verify whether the contractor is required to be licensed or registered to do work in your area and if so, make sure the licenses are in order. Also, check with your local building inspector to see if a building permit is required.
Avoid high-pressure sales tactics. Be wary of door-to-door workers who claim to have left-over materials from a job “down the street” or who do not have a permanent place of business. If sales people go door-to-door, check to see if your community requires them to have solicitation permits.
Trust your instincts. Be cautious if a worker shows up on your doorstep to announce that your home is unsafe. If you are concerned about possible structural damage in your home, schedule an inspection with a professional engineer, architect, or building official. Do not permit someone you do not know and have not researched, to inspect your roof. An unethical contractor may actually create damage to get work.
Get everything in writing. Require a written agreement with anyone you hire. Be sure their name, address, license numbers and phone number are included in the contract. Read and understand the contract in its entirety, don’t sign a blank contract, and make sure you get a copy of the signed contract at the time of signature.
Clearly written proposals that are detailed and broken down into separate line items are a good sign that the contractor is being thorough and has prepared an accurate estimate. The following is a partial list of items your estimate or proposal should include:
- The type of roof covering, its color and manufacturer
- Materials to be included in the work, e.g., underlayment, ice dam protection membrane
- Scope of work to be done
- Removal or replacement of existing roof (partial or whole)
- Flashing work, e.g., existing flashings to be replaced or re-used, adding new flashing, flashing metal type
- Ventilation work, e.g., adding new vents
- Who is responsible for repairing/replacing exterior landscape or interior finishes that are damaged during the course of the work? Make sure the agreement states clearly who is responsible for any damages and costs that occurs as a result of the work. All items of concern and work to be done should be included in the contract.
- Installation method
- Approximate starting and completion dates
- Payment procedures
- Length of warranty and what is covered, e.g., workmanship, water leakage
- Who will haul away the old roofing materials and/or project waste (e.g. extra materials, packaging, etc.)? Is there extra charge for this service?
- Cancellation and refund policies
If one estimate seems much lower than the others and it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many fly-by-night contractors' below-cost bids seem attractive, but these contractors often are uninsured and perform substandard work or use substandard materials. Make sure to read the fine print. Some contracts contain a clause where substantial cancellation fees or liquidation damages are required if the homeowner decides not to use the contractor after insurance approval of the claim. In some instances you may be required to pay the full agreed price if the homeowner cancels after the 3-day cancellation period. If an estimate or contract is confusing, ask the contractor to break it down into items/terms you can understand.
Disaster victims should never feel forced to make a hasty decision or to choose an unknown contractor. BBB has BBB Business Reviews on more than 67,000 roofing contractors, and they are available for free at www.bbb.org.
For more tips you can trust, visit www.newyork.bbb.org.