Be Safe When Choosing a Roofing Contractor

04/07/2011

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There is no such thing as being over protective when it comes to your home and your finances. There are plenty of roofing contractors out there that are willing to bend the rules to simplify things for themselves, resulting in problems for you and your roof.  Even honest contractors make mistakes every once in a while.  That’s why it’s important to know these 4 simple ways to protect yourself when choosing a roofing contractor.  

Workers Compensation
Problem:  You hire a roofing contractor to fix a leak on your roof.  One of their employees decides not to use proper safety procedures and falls, breaking his leg.  The employee holds you responsible to pay his medical expenses, because he was hurt on your property.  

Solution:  Roofers Compensation is a type of insurance covering roofing injuries.  If a roofing contractor has workers compensation, any injured employees are entitled to recover expenses for hospital bills and being out of work.  Be sure that your roofing contractor has workers compensation so that you are saved the trouble and expenses of paying those bills yourself.


Liability Insurance
Problem:  Your roofing contractor leaves your roof uncovered after removing your shingles.  That night there is an unexpected storm.  Water seeps into your home and damages your sheet rock, carpet and some nice furniture.  Your roofing contractor has liability insurance, but there are exclusions preventing coverage of the interior of your building.  You end up paying to fix the damages yourself.

Solution:  If damage occurs to your home or building that is the fault of a roofing contractor, you want to be sure they have good liability insurance.  This will cover anything from broken windows to damaged interiors as mentioned in the situation above.  Some contractors have liability insurance, but their insurance company offers so many exclusions that it is almost like there is no coverage at all.  Look for coverage that doesn’t exclude water damage resulting from leaving a roof open.

Business License
Problem:  You hire a new roofing company to work on your roof.  A few months later you notice a leak.  You try to contact the company, but can’t find their information.  You try to look them up by their business license and you find that there was never a business license issued for that company.  You are forced to pay for the repairs yourself.

Solution:  Check ahead of time that your roofing contractor has a business license.  If they don’t have a license, it could be a sign that they don’t know what they are doing.  The company could easily disappear or go out of business.

In the state of Utah, your roofing company should have a shingle license and a general roofing license to install a pitched roof.  A flat roof installation only requires a general roofing license.  

A general contractor is legally able to install a roof without a roofing license if they have a general contractor license.  However, there have been a lot of cases of general contractors branching out and installing roofs themselves when they lack the proper training.  This causes problems for building owners as well as home owners.  It is ideal for a general contractor to have a roofing license in addition to their general contractors license.  

In Utah, the number for a general roofing licence is S280. The general contractors license is B100.

If your roofing contractor is in the middle of working on your roof and you find that they have given fraudulent business license information, (in Utah) you have the option to terminate their service right away.  You are not required to pay anything to the contractor because they were operating illegally.  You can then find a qualified contractor to fix your roof and finish the job.  

Lien Waiver
Problem:  Your roof has been completed and you pay the contractor.  However, a few weeks later, the contractor’s supplier contacts you requesting a payment for the materials installed on your roof.  You discover that your contractor did not pay his supplier and that you are now responsible for that payment.  This has happened and can happen to you.

Solution:  Be sure to request a lien waiver when the job is completed and before you pay.  A lien waiver simply states that if the contractor fails to make his payments to a supplier or employees, you are not responsible to cover them.  It is ultimately in place to protect the home or building owner from paying twice.  If you receive the lien waiver before you pay, it is conditional upon your payment.  However, once your payment has cleared, the lien waver becomes unconditional without any additional paperwork.  

Protect Yourself
Though it may be uncomfortable, it is important to protect yourself from issues like these.  Ask to see proof of your roofing contractor’s workers compensation, liability insurance and business license.  Also, be sure they are willing to sign a lien waiver once your roof is completed.  

If you choose a trusted, experienced contractor, most of these issues will not be a problem in the first place.  Find reviews and testimonials for your contractor to see what some of their other customer’s experiences have been.  Brady Roofing has a great reputation and has current roofers compensation, liability insurance and a business license.  We always sign a lien waver when completing a roof.  Contact us for more information or to request a free estimate today.  
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Roofing Safety Procedures

03/08/2011

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When deciding whether to inspect your roof, do a repair, or walk on your roof for any other reason, there are several steps you can take to ensure your safety.  These safety procedures are often overlooked, causing accidents that can effect a person and their family for years to come.  However, if you invest just a small amount of time educating yourself of the potential dangers of your roof, you may avoid these incidents all together.

One of the most important things you should know is to avoid getting on a steep roof unless you have proper safety equipment.  For example, a safety harness will prevent any falls from doing serious damage.   If you do not have access to safety equipment, or if you are inexperienced on a roof, you may want to call a roofing company to inspect or repair your roof.

Even regular and low sloped roofs require precaution.  Before climbing on your roof, ask yourself the following questions:
  • Could the roof be slippery from dew, ice, rain, snow, etc?  If so, wait until your roof is dry.
  • Is there debris on the roof?  Sawdust, wood, shingle particles and even leaves should be swept up frequently.
  • What type of shoes are you wearing?  Rubber-soled boots will generally provide good traction, as opposed to leather-soled boots.  Be sure your shoes are not badly worn.  
  • Is the roof stable?  If you suspect a leak or any other problem that could effect your roofs stability, be very careful when you walk - testing each area before putting your full weight on it.    
If you encounter any issues that could pose a hazard, call a roofing company immediately.  They should be better trained to know the hazards and prevent any further damage to your roof or themselves.

There is a vast array of safety gear available to roofing employees.  These devices would include harnesses, slings, ropes and cleats, among many other items.  Each roofer should easily find the safety equipment that best suits their needs.  However, as many as 80 percent of installers do not use these safety devices.  

You may be wondering how the use of safety equipment would affect you and your property?  Statistics show that the use of roofing safety gear increases productivity, meaning the job will be completed faster and with more efficiency.  Also, roofing companies that show care in keeping their employees safe will be more likely to ensure that your property is kept safe and intact.

When faced with the task of picking a roofing company to work on your property, ask about the safety precautions they may or may not have in place.  Brady Roofing adheres to all of the current OSHA (occupational safety and health administration) requirements.  They also take great care in keeping your property and anyone on it safe during construction.  

For more information on safe roofing and procedures, review our quality control checklists.


Contact us with any questions.

Request a free estimate today!
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How to Choose a Roofing Contractor

05/17/2010

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When you are looking for a roofing contractor, you may be wondering how you can pick the right one.  It will never hurt to ask your roofing contractor questions and get more background information.  If these questions make the contractor uncomfortable, then you should probably use a different contractor.  You should always get bids from at least 2-3 roofing contractors to compare price and quality.  What questions should you ask these contractors, and what are the red flags to watch out for?  To ensure that you have the best experience possible with your roofing contractor, we have some guidelines on how to choose the right company for you.  

The first and possibly most important thing you can look for is each company's past experience.  When you pay for a new roof, you are really paying for the roofing company's reputation and experience.  Ask for references you can contact and addresses where you can view their past projects preferrably spanning over a few years. Check out each company on the Better Business Bureau, Angie's List, or a similar company that will show any listed complaints or success stories.  You also want to ask your company if their employees are trained and certified to install your roofing product.  You would be surprised how many contractors teach their employees through "trial and error" on their clients roofs.   

Secondly, you will want to check if they are licensed and insured.  You can check for a business license at the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing.  It only takes a moment to look your contractor up online.  You can learn a lot about a company by simply checking to see if they are meeting general guidelines such as a business license. 

There are two types of insurance you want to check for: liability and workers compensation.  Liability insurance protects you from any damage that may occur to your home or roof.  If an uninsured contractor doesn't seal up your roof during the roofing process and it rains overnight, you may need to pay to fix the damage yourself or take the contractor to a small-claims court.  Workers Compensation protects you from an employee suing you for being hurt on your property.   

Third, ask if you will receive a contract and a lien waiver.   Few people are aware that a roofing manufacturer can charge you for the roofing materials on your roof if your contractor does not pay for them.  Even if you pay your contractor in full, you may end up paying for those materials again.  Ask for a lien waiver to avoid this issue before you pay the final bill.  Also, before your roofing contractor performs any work on your roof, ask for a signed contract stating what is going to be done.  This will protect you from any misscommunication or fraud.   

If you take these steps when choosing a roofing contractor, or any contractor to work on your home, you may be saving yourself a lot of time and money in the long run.  If a contractor can meet all of these requirements, chances are, your roof will be installed correctly and look beautiful.  To find a roofing contractor that meets all of these requirements, contact Brady Roofing for a free estimate.
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Blog Talk Radio Today!

04/06/2010

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I had an interview on Blog Talk Radio today.  We discussed 3 questions you should ask your roofing contractor, as well as some roofing tips and considerations.  To listen, click below or go to www.blogtalkradio.com/bradyonline.
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