The Dangers in Finding a Roof Contractor

It can happen to anyone. First big rain of the year and it starts: either a drip-drip or the darkened stain on the ceiling above. You know it's probably coming from a leak in the roof. You know it's not a cheap or easy fix. You need to find a roof contractor and that's not easy, either. Professional roof work is one of the most susceptible areas for unscrupulous contractors or even outright crooks. Like so many areas of home improvement, demand far exceeds supply leaving a profitable hole for would-be scammers. This is particularly true in places like Houston, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, and Philadelphia, where the size of the cities and local conditions drive up demand where reputable roof contractors simply can't keep up.

Common Scams

Inadequate repair—Much of the actual roof repair can occur underneath the finished roof. This makes it easy for someone to come in, do just enough to temporarily stop a leak, and then cover the area.

Inventing unnecessary repairs—Not all leaks or damaged roofs are the same. Some may need extensive work, some may need nothing more than a glorified patch. Again, it's easy for someone to get up on your roof and make up how bad the situation is.

Over-charging—This is common to all home improvement projects but, because roof repair is already susceptible to con-artists, it becomes more prevalent.

Consumer Protection is There, so Use It
It may feel like your government isn't working for you, but most state authorities have noticed the problem and are trying to do something about it. State licensing is helping close some of the more glaring holes for scammers. In California, for example, it's against the law for a roof contractor to do work over $500 without proper licensing. Most states have similar laws and guidelines. Obviously, no system is perfect and the crooks aren't going away any time soon. All this is why ServiceMagic provides a more comprehensive screening and background check system to help you find a reputable roof contractor.

Try to Buy Yourself Some Time
If your roof is in disrepair, you may feel like a repair can't wait—and it shouldn't. You should immediately start talking to roof contractors and finding one you feel you can trust. With that said, you should look at the situation and talk to several contractors about the urgency of your problem. Don't hire a contractor solely because they can be there tomorrow working on the problem. If a roof contractor is backed up a couple weeks on his or her work, there's probably a good reason for it. Putting down buckets to catch water may seem like an intolerable situation but, finding yourself up a creek (and living in one) from a poor hire will quickly put those buckets into perspective.