DON’T FALL VICTIM: IF A RE-ROOFING PROPOSAL SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, BEWARE

Especially in the aftermath of disaster, be on guard and do your homework to seek out reputable resources

Key Points

• After disasters, when re-roofing demand is especially high, beware of opportunists and con artists who try to pass off too-good-to-be-true deals and inferior materials.

• When re-roofing after natural disasters, advice to help protect yourself includes proceeding with caution, being patient and doing your homework.

• MRA offers important questions to help vet an installer before you hire them to re-roof your home.

In the aftermath of a disaster when needs are overwhelmingly high, take care not to fall victim to "too good to be true" proposals and estimates.

After major hurricanes, wildfires and other disasters when the demand for home repairs, replacement and re-roofing is at its highest, MRA issues an important warning for homeowners to heed.

Disaster recovery and clean-up are challenging enough, but unfortunately, they can be made much harder by less-than-reputable opportunists and con artists who sometimes prey on unsuspecting homeowners, especially at a time when the demand for quality contractors is extremely high.

According to Renee Ramey, MRA executive director, with the high demand caused by disaster recovery efforts, homeowners need to be on guard for unscrupulous installers trying to pass off inferior material from unknown sources and offering too-good-to-be-true discounts or “deals.” MRA also offers expert information and advice from leading manufacturers and installers to help guide homeowners looking to repair or replace their roofs in hurricane and severe storm regions at www.metalroofing.com.

“Sadly, fraud happens in times of high stress, high demand and when homeowners are trying to get repairs done quickly,” said Ramey. “The best advice is to proceed with caution, do your homework and thoroughly evaluate any offers, ‘deals,’ or claims, especially if they seem to good to be true, because they probably are.”

Homeowners should be suspicious of any contractor who demands cash or full payment upfront, has no physical address or identification, steers you to a specific lender or tries to act as the intermediary by asking to file insurance claims on your behalf, or wants your personal financial information prior to starting the repair or lending process. Always make sure any contractor or roofer is licensed and insured, verify their web and physical address, ask for references, get cost estimates, schedules and other agreements in writing, ensure they have the right permits and try to get at least three different quotes to compare before starting the project. FEMA also offers homeowners in disaster recovery areas additional tips to help avoid scams.

As a nonprofit trade organization, Metal Roofing Alliance helps homeowners find quality installers by working with member metal roofing manufacturers, who vet contractors before they are qualified to become an MRA member. Even so, patience and persistence are key; in times of extremely high demand and massive rebuilding and repair needs, lead times for good contractors can be very long and many are completely booked for months. However, to make sure a job is done well, it can be worth the wait. MRA advises that before a metal roofing project starts, good questions for homeowners to ask include:

1. Where is the metal roofing material manufactured?

2. What type of metal is it and what protective coatings does it have? Is it verified for residential use?

3. What kind of product and installation warranties are offered, are they transferable and how long is the product guaranteed to last?

4. What verifiable safety, performance and environmental standards, testing and regulations do the manufacturer adhere to?

5. What type of performance ratings does the product have for conditions such as severe weather and fire protection?

6. What customer service support does the manufacturer offer should an issue, problem or question arises?

7. How long has the manufacturer and installer been in business? What is their track record?

8. Does the manufacturer have favorable reviews from other customers and credible, third-party business rating organizations?

9. Are they members of industry-leading trade organizations, such as the MRA?

To ensure maximum, long-lasting protection for their home, MRA also offers extensive resources for homeowners to arm themselves with knowledge prior to investing in a new metal roof. The latest edition of the MRA Residential Metal Roofing Buyer’s Guide is now available for free via the Metal Roofing Alliance website.