Beware of shady roofing contractors: red flags when hiring a roofer

We tend to picture shady roofing contractors in Florida and other hurricane states, but they work in Nashville and Knoxville too. A roof is a big investment, and the wrong contractor can leave you paying for repairs, or another new roof, far sooner than you should. Knowing the red flags when hiring a roofer protects you from contractors who cut corners, take a deposit and disappear, or talk you into work you do not need. Here is what to watch for, from the first knock on the door to the contract on the table.

Red flags when hiring a roofer: the unsolicited pitch

If a mailer arrives with a picture of your roof and a line like 'our satellite, drone or records show your roof has damage and needs repair or replacing,' be skeptical. Aerial imagery is useful for measuring a roof, and we use it for that, but it cannot confirm hail or wind damage. That takes someone walking the roof and photographing what they find. Tennessee law also makes it an offense to use a drone to photograph private property with the intent to conduct surveillance. And what records are they talking about?

The same goes for someone who knocks on your door after a storm saying they just noticed damage while working down the street. Reputable roofers are busy after severe weather. Our guide on how to avoid roofing storm chasers covers this pattern in depth.

Pressure tactics and offers that sound too good

• Pressure to sign today. 'We are only in the area this week' or 'your insurance will not cover it unless we file now' are sales lines, not facts.
• An offer to cover or waive your deductible. Your policy expects you to pay your deductible, and a contractor offering to absorb it is asking you to misrepresent the cost of the job to your insurer. Walk away.
• Promises that insurance will approve the claim. No contractor controls your insurer's decision.
• A demand for full payment, or a large cash payment, before work starts. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance advises generally paying no more than one third up front, with terms in writing.
• Prices far below every other bid, with no explanation of what is different.

Check out every company before you invite it to your home

This applies to roofers, siding companies and painters alike. Check out any contractor before you ask for an inspection or a quote, even a free one. Look for:

• An A or A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau
• A steady record of reviews on public sites such as Google and Facebook, built over years rather than all at once after the last storm
• A state contractor's license you can confirm at verify.tn.gov
• Current certificates of general liability and workers' compensation insurance
• A local office with a real address

What the first visit tells you

Once a company has earned a visit, look at who shows up and what they arrive in. Established roofers drive vehicles marked with their name and phone number, and their people look and act like professionals. Look at whatever they leave with you, even if it is only a business card. Ask questions and pay attention to the answers: does the person explain what they found, show you photos and give you time to decide? Make sure you feel comfortable with the person standing in your driveway.

Bargain roofers use bargain materials

Anyone can walk into a home improvement store and see what shingles cost, so a rock-bottom bid has to save money somewhere. Often it is in the parts you cannot see: cheap underlayment, the wrong nails or too few of them, skipped ice and water shield in valleys and eaves, or reused flashing. Inexperienced crews add their own problems, such as nail guns set to the wrong pressure that overdrive nails, or shingles installed without following the manufacturer's instructions. The result can be shingles that blow off in the first strong wind, leaks, and a manufacturer that will not honor its warranty because the roof was installed incorrectly.

We cover these in more detail in cheap roofing is not worth it and mistakes inexperienced roofers make.

Red flags in the contract

• Blank spaces to be 'filled in later'
• No company address, license number or named contact
• A one-line scope such as 'replace roof' with no materials, brand, color or tear-off details
• No start or completion dates
• Payment terms that are vague, or a deposit due before you sign

Our post on roofing contract essentials shows what a complete contract should include.

If you already signed with the wrong contractor

Stop paying until you have confirmed the contractor's license. Call your insurance company directly to check the status of any claim. Keep copies of the contract, messages, photos and receipts. If you signed a roofing contract that depends on an insurance claim and your insurer then tells you in writing that all or part of the claim is not covered, Tennessee law lets you cancel the contract with written notice before midnight on the third business day after you receive that notice. You can report a contractor to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and the Better Business Bureau, and it is worth getting a second opinion from an established local roofer before any more work is done.

Call Mobley Brothers Roofing & Renovation

We have fixed plenty of problems left by shady contractors. Mobley Brothers has been roofing in Tennessee since 2007, holds Tennessee contractor license 59116, is fully licensed and insured, and is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau in both Middle and East Tennessee. Whether you need roof replacement, storm damage roof repair or help with a roof insurance claim, we will show you what we find and put it in writing. Call our Lebanon office at (615) 455-3131 for Nashville and Middle Tennessee, or our Knoxville office at (865) 205-0800 for East Tennessee. You can also send us your details online and we will get back to you.