What You Need to Know About Roofers

Roofers West Chester install, repair, and replace roofs on residential and commercial buildings. They also work on skylights.

Roofing contractors need to be licensed and insured to operate in your state. You can verify this information by contacting your local licensing board and the Better Business Bureau.

Storm chasers are roofing contractors that travel around in the wake of severe weather patterns like hail and tornadoes. They are opportunistic, seeking to make a quick buck by repairing homes that were hit by a recent disaster.

Typically, they focus on homes that have obvious damage to their roofs from a recent hurricane or tornado. They may knock on your door, offer a free inspection, and then ask for an upfront payment.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that these contractors are a type of insurance scammer. They know how to trick you into signing a contract that waives your rights when filing an insurance claim. This gives them control over the entire check and means you don’t have any say in how the work is done.

One of the most common tricks is to create fake damage that they can then use as proof of a storm’s impact on your home. They may pound golf balls, hammers, or other hard objects into your roof, pretending that they’ve created holes. This is a dangerous tactic that can cause permanent damage to your roof and could cost you a lot of money in the long run.

Another common tactic is to undercut the prices of local roofers in order to get their attention. They do this by offering a limited-time deal that will only be available to homeowners who are in the same situation as you, so be wary of this strategy.

A local roofer will also have a better chance of answering your questions and addressing problems if you need to file a warranty claim in the future. They will also have a better chance of providing you with a quality roof and standing behind their work.

Storm-chasing contractors usually do not have established companies, so they are not around to answer your questions and address problems down the road. They often don’t care about following local codes or installing your roof properly. This can lead to leaks in the future and a complete replacement at some point.

To avoid these rogue roofers, look for the following signs when a contractor knocks on your door:

While it may not be the first thing on your mind when it comes to roofers, a retail sales company can make the short list of contenders. Usually found in the suburbs, these companies may be the best way to go if you have a budget and a time crunch. In addition to the traditional services, they also offer insurance-worthy home and property repairs. To make your life easier, they’ll even provide you with a complimentary estimate. A well-trained salesperson can help you narrow down your list of candidates to the top contenders. They also have the requisite high-tech tools and equipment for the jobs that come their way.

Unlike subcontractors, who receive a paycheck and a work order, an owner-operator is typically the one to call on a project. Depending on the size of the business, they may be able to designate themselves as an LLC, which may mitigate some of their liability for a fee. A top-notch owner-operator is a veritable force to be reckoned with. Managing multiple jobs at once is an art, and finding the right clients in a competitive market takes a keen eye and a well-honed network of industry friends. Taking the time to do it right can pay off big time down the line. The most important thing is to find the right niche to serve and the right people to do it with. The best way to accomplish this is to do your homework and have a clear vision of where you want to go. This should include a detailed work plan, an inventory of all necessary equipment, and a well-organized file cabinet containing the essentials.

Roofing businesses are often at high risk for accidents and lawsuits, which is why roofers need insurance to cover the cost of damages and medical bills in the event of an accident or a workplace injury. Without coverage, you’d have to pay these costs out of pocket, which would put you under financial strain.

The best way to avoid this problem is to be sure that all of your employees are covered by workers’ compensation insurance. This is mandatory in most states and will help cover any medical bills or resulting lost wages if an employee gets injured on the job.