The 3 Ugly Truths About Roofing

  The fact is we believe you deserve to know the truth, and nothing but the truth, if you ever need a roofing contractor. 

Having your roof repaired or replaced is a matter that deserves serious consideration and an absolute professional performing the job. As with any other industry, there are shady and dishonest roofing companies out there, but also reputable and reliable ones. 

After reading this, we hope you will be more informed, and counting us among the good guys. Now, let’s get to the list:

1) Our marketing methods are annoying (but we do offer something valuable)

Read before you hang up!

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If you live in an area that’s prone to extreme weather, you’re probably familiar with the scenario: a hailstorm, strong winds, a tornado or a hurricane hit your area. Depending on the severity of the natural phenomenon, you could be: 

• Shocked and scared, or even worse, suffering a personal or material loss. 
• Concerned about your home, your car and other possessions.
• Not impressed: you have lived here for years, and last year’s storm was ten times worse!

No matter how you feel about what just happened, one thing is sure: within hours, sometimes even minutes, your phone will be ringing and roofing companies will be knocking on your door to offer you a free roof inspection. 

There’s no way around it, roofers will try to contact you at the worst possible time. 

However, unless your home was destroyed or damaged beyond repair, you should actually schedule a roof inspection, and here is why: 

These annoying companies are contacting you because they know there is a good chance your roof was damaged. They also know that if you have home insurance and your roof has enough damage (more on that later), your insurance company will be paying for the repairs or replacement.

The storm that hit your area didn’t seem like much? There could still be damage: depending on a variety of factors, even quarter-sized hailstones could cause dents and holes on your shingles, and leaks will eventually form. 

In other words, we are calling or standing at your doorstep because we know you might need us. This is what we do for a living, and we are experts at identifying storms that could have damaged your property.

NOTE: If you are getting 10 to 15 calls a day, be very firm and ask to be added to the company’s Do Not Call list. Additionally, make sure you register with the National Do Not Call Registry. 

2) Not all roofing companies are created equal

Nobody wants to be stuck with a weak pawn…

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Right now is the perfect time to establish a VERY important difference: some roofing contractors will push and try to sell a repair even if there’s not enough damage, and suggest a cash contract. It’s possible that they’re offering you a cash contract because they know there’s not enough damage (AKA you don’t need extensive repairs).

Other roofing companies (like us) are Insurance Restoration experts, and will only work when they are 100% sure that the Home Insurance company will be paying for the damage. We will inspect your roof, and if there is not enough damage, we will let you know and be on our merry way.

If it’s the case, you as a homeowner have just gained peace of mind knowing your roof is in good condition. On the other hand, if we find damage, you know something needs to be done about it. Since we focus on Insurance Restoration, you also know your home insurance company will be shouldering most of the cost of the repairs. You will have to pay the deductible, but it is usually $500 to $1,000, while a roof replacement for an average house will cost anywhere between $10,000 to $15,000! 

You might be thinking, “Why so much urgency, though? These REHAB guys are showing their true colors and pushing for a sale”. Well, we’re not. Here are two things you should have in mind:

• Most insurance companies will only pay for 100% of the damage if the insurance claim is filed within a year after the weather event happened. Life is hectic, and unless you already have leaks, there’s a good chance you will postpone the whole thing and end up paying money out of pocket when the repairs become absolutely necessary.
• If your roof was damaged, there’s a very good chance many other roofs in the vicinity are in the same situation. Reputable roofers in your area will be fully booked by the time you decide to do something if you wait too long.

 3) There are some really bad roofers out there

Hiring the wrong roofer could result in an absolute disaster and a huge headache.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

Remember Kitchen Nightmares? Imagine going through a similar situation, only with the person fixing the roof over your head. 

We can’t deny some roofing companies are terrible, but the good news for you is there’s also great, reliable roofers. They have been in business for years, they truly care about quality and their customers, and they deliver.  

If you ever need to have your roof repaired, do your research; make sure the roofing company you will work with is trustworthy and professional! 

Here are a few things that you should check before signing any kind of contract with a roofing contractor:

• They should have a permanent local presence: this ensures they will know and comply with the local building codes and regulations. In addition to that, local companies rely on word of mouth for referrals, so they have a real, tangible interest in doing a great job. 
• They should be able to show their credentials: ask them for their license, insurance, and any other required paperwork in your area.
• They should have positive reviews online: check on Google, Facebook, Yelp, etc. A company’s BBB rating is also a pretty good indicator of how committed they are to their business.
• NEVER, EVER, EVER do business with a roofer that offers you to perform the job for cheaper so you can keep part of the money your insurance company will be paying. That’s insurance fraud and completely illegal. We will be publishing a complete post detailing the insurance claim process from start to finish in a few days so you can understand exactly why, but for the time being, remember it will cause all kinds of nasty trouble. 

 If you found this post while doing your research because you need a roofing contractor, we hope it helps you make a better decision and avoid nasty surprises. We will continue posting frequently to dispel many of the myths and assumptions about the roofing industry, because nobody should have to worry about the roof over their head.