There is not any such thing as being over protective when it comes to your home as well as your finances. There are several roofing contractors out there which are willing to bend the rules to simplify things for themselves, resulting in problems for you as well as your roof. Even honest contractors make mistakes every once in a while. That’s why it’s important to know these 4 simple ways to protect yourself when choosing a roofing contractor.
Workers Compensation
Problem: You hire a roofing contractor to repair a leak on your roof. One of their employees decides not to use proper safety procedures and falls, breaking his leg. The employee holds you responsible to pay his medical expenses, because he was hurt on your own property.
Solution: Roofers Compensation is a type of insurance covering roofing injuries. In case a roofing contractor has workers compensation, any injured employees are entitled to recover expenses for hospital bills and being unemployed. Be sure that your roofing contractor has workers compensation in order that you are saved the difficulty and expenses of paying those bills yourself.
Liability Insurance
Problem: Your roofing contractor leaves your roof uncovered after removing your shingles. That night there’s an unexpected storm. Water seeps into your home and damages your sheet rock, carpet plus some nice furniture. Your roofing contractor has liability insurance, but there are exclusions preventing coverage of the interior of your building. You wind up paying to fix the damages yourself.
Solution: If damage occurs to your house or building that is the fault of a roofing contractor, you want to be sure they will have good liability insurance. This can cover anything from broken windows to damaged interiors as stated in the situation above. Some contractors have liability insurance, but their insurance provider offers so many exclusions that it is almost like there is absolutely no coverage at all. Search for coverage that doesn’t exclude water damage and mold caused by leaving a roof open.
Business License
Problem: You hire a new roofing company to focus on your roof. A couple of months later you notice a leak. You try to contact the business, but can’t find their information. You try to look them up by their business license and you find that there is never a small business license issued for that company. You’re forced to cover the repairs yourself.
Solution: Check ahead of time that your roofing contractor has a business license. If they don’t possess a license, it may be a sign that they have no idea what they are doing. The company could easily disappear or go out of business.
In the state of Utah, your roofing company should have a shingle license and an over-all roofing license to set up a pitched roof. A flat roof installation only takes a general roofing license.
An over-all contractor is legally able to install a roof with out a roofing license should they have a general contractor license. However, there were lots of cases of general contractors branching out and installing roofs themselves if they lack the correct training. This causes problems for building owners and home owners. It is perfect for a general contractor to have a roofing license besides their general contractors license.
In Utah, the number for an over-all roofing licence is S280. The general contractors license is B100.
If your roofing contractor is in the center of working on your roof and you also find that they have given fraudulent business license information, (in Utah) you have the choice to terminate their service right away. You are not required to pay anything to the contractor since they were operating illegally. You can then find a qualified contractor to repair your roof and finish the job.
Lien Waiver
Problem: Your roof has been completed and you pay the contractor. However, a few weeks later, the contractor’s supplier contacts you requesting a fee for the materials installed on your own roof. You discover your contractor didn’t pay his supplier and that you are now in charge of that payment. It has happened and can eventually you.
Solution: Be sure you request a lien waiver when the job is completed and before you pay. A lien waiver simply states that when the contractor does not make his payments to a supplier or employees, you aren’t responsible to cover them. It is ultimately in place to safeguard the house or building owner from paying twice. If you have the lien waiver before you pay, it is conditional upon your payment. However, once sustainable roofing has cleared, the lien waver becomes unconditional without the additional paperwork.
