I was at an author’s event one recent Saturday afternoon and noticed a man wearing a black T-shirt with the name of a roofing company.
“Are you a roofer?” I asked.
“Yes,” he replied. “I wrote a book.”
“What’s it about?”
“Roofing,” he replied.
This ought to be good. If there’s a more corrupt industry in Texas, I don’t know what it is. Texas is the only Gulf Coast state that doesn’t license roofers. It’s open season. Anybody can call themselves a roofer.
My consumer activism began because of roofers following a mid-1990s hailstorm. I had no idea how dangerous dealing with roofers could be. They are smooth talkers.
The first roofer I hired roofed the wrong house. He reroofed my neighbor’s accidentally and still tried to get paid. When he told me he was going to do my house anyway because I had signed a contract, I swatted him away like the bug he was.
My replacement roofer (recommended by my insurance agent!) ended up filing bankruptcy and leaving nearly 100 customers in the lurch. He served time in prison.
Since then, I’ve fought for a roofer’s license, but it’s so obvious that top Republican and Democratic state leaders don’t want it. They say they don’t want to burden the small business owner with added regulations.
Oh, please. Cry me a river. Meanwhile, fly-by-night operators run rampant.
Roofers’ ethics?
Back to the roofer’s book. Keller roofer Sean Becker has written a book called Roofs That Last. I’ve read it, and it’s a smart guide showing how not to get burned.
Sean requires that crews working for his company, Becker Roofing & Exteriors, agree to sign what he calls a “Subcontractor Ethical Agreement.”
Roofing ethics? Seriously? Now he’s got me interested.
Here’s a sample of a couple of the many rules: “Entire worksite must be cleaned thoroughly with no debris, nails or trash left behind for the homeowner to find.”
“Smoking cigarettes on homeowner or neighbor’s properties is prohibited,” is another.
15 things to know before hiring a roofer
I asked Sean if he could do me — and you — a favor and come up with a list of questions to ask when hiring a roofer. I’ll share 15 of them below. Perhaps you should save this story, but I hope you never need it.
1. Research a company online for positive and negative reviews.
2. Does the company have any certifications that indicate its owners engage in continuing education to ensure the company follows industry standards and regulations?
3. Before doing work, does the company do a thorough property inspection report, not just of exterior but also the attic?
4. How long has the company been in business? Does it have an office? Forget the salesman. Who is the actual owner?
5. Does the company pull permits from your city government in compliance with local building codes?
6. During non-storm times, does the company roof year-round? If yes, that shows a commitment.
7. Check if the company is certified by a shingle manufacturer. This helps the company to extend warranties.
8. Does the company remove felt for a visual inspection to find any underlying issues?
9. Ask the company if it can replace all the flashing, including what’s behind the siding.
10. Will the company have an on-site representative to oversee the work?
11. Ask the company whether it will provide short-term and long-term warranty repairs?
12. Confirm with an insurance company whether a company is insured. Insurance protects you from liability in case of any accidents or damage during the roofing process.
13. Ask about attic ventilation, making sure it follows your city’s building code.
14. Does the company promise a 24/7 storm response during severe weather conditions?
15. Ask about ratings of the products used by the company, including wind speed and hail-impact ratings.
And remember to get it in writing. Verbal promises and commitments mean nothing when things go wrong.
Save these questions
I wish I had known these questions to ask 28 years ago when I tangled with my first Texas roofers. But back then, I didn’t know how fouled up the system was — and is. In the absence of a license, I was unprotected.
Nothing has changed. Someone in Texas gets ripped off every day.
Now, at least, you won’t make the same mistakes I did.
If you’d like to get a copy of Sean Becker’s Roofs That Last, go to his website: www.brexteriors.com/resources. Or call 817-898-7175.
Become a citizen of Watchdog Nation
Join Dave Lieber and learn to be a super-consumer.
Watchdog newsletter: Sign up for The Watchdog’s FREE weekly newsletter to keep up: click here.
Subscribe: PLEASE support The Watchdog’s brand of straightforward journalism designed to save you time, money and aggravation. Treat yourself to a digital subscription (and make him look good!) by visiting https://dallasnews.com/subscribe
Watchdog Home Page: You can’t afford to miss The Watchdog’s two reports each week. Follow our latest reporting always at The Watchdog home page which features all recent columns.
Watch this free training video from Dave: https://youtu.be/uhUEUCNKGjc
Facebook: Connect with The Watchdog on our Facebook group. Search for “DallasNews Watchdog Posse.”
The Dallas Morning News Watchdog column is the 2019 winner of the top prize for column writing from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. The contest judge called his winning entries “models of suspenseful storytelling and public service.”
Read his winning columns:
* Helping a waitress who was harmed by an unscrupulous used car dealer
