Choosing a roofer after a storm, without getting stung

After a significant hail event this metro fills up with roofing crews from out of state. Some are excellent. The problem is that a workmanship warranty is a promise from a company, and a company that leaves in October cannot keep one in year eight.

Here is how to tell them apart without being unfair to the good ones.

Nine questions

1. What is your local address? Not a mailbox, not a truck. Ask what is at the address.
2. How long have you worked in this metro? Then check it against the state licence record and the review history.
3. Who does the work? Employed crews or subcontractors. Both can be fine. An evasive answer is not.
4. Are you certified by the manufacturer whose shingle you are quoting? Most enhanced material warranties require it, and it is checkable in about a minute.
5. Will you meet my adjuster? The answer should be yes without hesitation.
6. What does your workmanship warranty cover, and for how long? Get it in writing before you sign, not after.
7. What happens if you find rotten decking? The honest answer involves photographs and a supplement, not a number invented on the day.
8. Can I see a job you finished three years ago? Anyone can show you last week’s.
9. Will you waive my deductible? The correct answer is no. Anything else tells you what you need to know.

The deposit question

Be careful about large deposits before materials are ordered. A reasonable deposit covers materials on a direct-pay job. On an insurance job there is usually no need for one at all, because the first settlement cheque arrives before the work starts.

Contingency agreements

Many companies ask you to sign a contingency agreement at the inspection: you agree to use them if the claim is approved. These are legal and common, and they are how a contractor justifies the unpaid time spent on your claim.

Read the cancellation terms before you sign. A fair agreement lets you walk away within a few days. An unfair one attaches a percentage of the settlement if you change your mind, which is a fee for having a roof inspected.

The unglamorous signal

Ask who answers the phone in January. Storm season is spring. A company that is quiet, local and still picking up in the middle of winter is a company that will be there when a nail pops in three years.