“Unfortunately, our industry doesn’t have the best reputation,” says Pete Scudder, owner of Scudder Roofing Company in Marina. “I think contractors are second after car dealers in the number of customer complaints received.”
The National Roofing Contractors Association has compiled a list of questions and guidelines to use when hiring a roofing contractor, from asking for license numbers to knowing what to look for in a proposal. You can find the list at www.scudderroofing.com/how_to_choose_roofing_contractor.htm.
Mr. Scudder points out a few items that are potentially more important than others but that homeowners often forget to consider. “Make sure the people working on your home are actually employees, not subcontractors,” he says. “If they’re not employees, they may not be covered by insurance, which makes you liable if they’re injured on the job.” Mr. Scudder also advises to check with vendors that provide the materials to ensure the contractor is certified to install that particular product. “Sometimes the contractor will fail to pay the vendor, and the homeowner discovers the vendor has placed a lien on the house. Make sure you get proper lien releases from the vendors.”
Despite these setbacks, the roofing industry is seeing a Green revolution. “We’re really excited about the Greening of our industry,” says Mr. Scudder. “It’s not just about solar power. More and more roofing products are recyclable and manufactured using sustainable processes. When we tear off a roof, that demolition material is recycled instead of going into a landfill.” California has also adopted laws mandating the use of reflective roofing materials, which reflect the sun’s energy instead of absorbing it and creating more work for air conditioning systems. “These materials were originally used on commercial buildings,” says Mr. Scudder, “but now they’re making their way onto residential roofs. It’s a great trend.”
