Hiring a Roofer without License, Bond and Insurance credentials

In this installment of our series on roofing problems, we’ll talk about hiring a roofer without license, bond and insurance credentials.

Roofing scams are common. It can be tempting to hire a roofing contractor because their prices are low. What are some of the reasons for the low prices?

Check the roofing contractor’s credentials. Are they licensed, bonded and insured? These are costly for contractors and sometimes a low bid means these credentials are not part of the product they are selling.

Roofers who aren’t local may present themselves at your door (particularly after a bad storm) and offer to do the job. But where will they be in the future, if something goes wrong? Can they warranty their work?

Some scams also involve people calling you and convincing you that expensive repairs need to be done.

The Fix

Be cautious.

Always check the license, bond, insurance and credentials of a roofing contractor. Professional roofing companies are proud of their experience and qualifications and will be happy to show them to you. Ask for references.

Good roofing companies are usually busy, and don’t need to solicit door-to-door. Check their reputation and ask for testimonials.

Beware of prices that seem too good to be true – they usually are. Make sure you understand exactly what is and isn’t covered by the quote. A reputable contractor will present you with a written quote with clearly defined details.

Lastly, all professional roofing companies have liability insurance, as required by the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. They’ll be happy to provide you with the proof of their license and insurance. If they cannot present proof of license or insurance, they are not a reputable contractor.

Stay tuned, in the coming weeks, for the next installments in our series on roof problems.