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.  

A roofing scam pandemic is sweeping the nation.  So far, there have been scams uncovered in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Pennsylvania and even Canada.  These scams are being pulled off by different people and companies, usually in the form of door to door salesmen.  The good news is, if you know what to look for, you can avoid being taken for granted by these scams.   

The Down Payment Scam 
In this case, a roofing contractor will bid extremely low on roofing estimates, charge a hefty down payment, and then desert the job site with the roof incomplete.  Not only do you loose the money you pay as a down payment, but you need to hire another contractor to fix the roof.  How to avoid this scam:

• Research a roofing company before you hire them.  Some places to do this include the Better Business Bureau and Angie's List. 
• Keep in mind that if a price or a company looks too good to be true, they probably are.  Ask for references to hear past experiences with the contractor. 
• Ask to see their business license or check them online by searching for your local division of professional and occupational licensing.  Check Utah's DPOL
• Before you pay a contractor anything, be sure to have a contract stating exactly what the contractor will be accomplishing.   
• Most importantly, before hiring a roofing contractor, make sure that you have valid company information such as a phone number, address, and preferably a website.  You can check if they are valid in the local phonebook.  A company should always be open about their basic information.

Roofing Thieves Scam
This scam involves door-to-door salesmen.  Usually, one person will come to your door and offer a free roof inspection or repair.  Once inside and consuming your attention, another person will come into your home searching for valuables such as money and jewelery they can put into their pockets.  How to avoid this scam:

• Check a salesman's identification when they are approaching you for work.  Most valid companies will display these on their clothes and transportation. 
• Do not allow people into your home claiming to repair your roof for free.  There is no such thing as a free roof repair. 
• Before hiring a roofer and allowing them to work on your roof, get at least three other roofing bids.  Research all companies on the Better Business Bureau or Angie's List. 

The Mandatory Inspection Scam
These scam artists target manufactured homes because the homeowners often do not know who installed their roof.  They will call or come to your door claiming that your home is due for a mandatory inspection for your roof warranty.  They will then report the need for a large (unneccessary) repair that "the warranty does not fully cover".  How to avoid this scam:

• Know who installed your roof, as well as who the other contractors were who worked on your home.  If an inspector comes by cannot identify them, don't let them in your home. 
• Be familiar with your roof warranty.  Know if there are inspections necessary and how often they are.  It is also good to have a copy of your warranty so you know what costs are covered.
• Before allowing anyone to work on your roof, contact the roofing company to verify that the repair men are actual employees and were sent there for the reasons they claim. 

Free Roof Scam
In this situation, a roofing company claims to be able to offer you a 'free roof'.  After a hail-storm, they will come offering a free inspection for damage.  They will then report that your home needs a large repair or new roof.  However, they claim to be able to waive your home insurance fees, so in essence you will be getting a free roof.  This is not true, and you will end up paying every unnecessary penny.  How to avoid this scam:

• Check the National Weather Service to see if the hail storm was classified as being able to cause damage.  Also, check other areas of your property for damage.  If the hail didn't damage your plants, it didn't damage your roof. 
• Again, check the contractor's reputation through the Better Business Bureau or Angie's List.  If they have been conducting scams, it will most likely be reported there. 
• Ask for a second opinion.  Get a few different roofing estimates to ensure that the repairs they are claiming you need are valid. 

In addition to these tips, you can also check a roofing contractor against Brady Roofing's 15-point code of ethics before you hire them to be sure that they are a trustworthy company.  Brady Roofing has a great reputation on both the Better Business Bureau and Angie's List.  Contact us for a free roofing estimate  if you have any concerns about your roof.