Wednesday morning Stevan Buren Roofing had taken 15 weather-related calls.

With the severe storms that have dumped heavy rains, winds and hail throughout the North Texas area, roofing contractors have kept busy this week, to say the least, said Stacey Greenawalt, marketing director at Stevan Buren.

While such business is good for roofers, it can also bring out droves of fly-by-night contractors looking to take advantage of people who might be in shock they suddenly have no roof over their heads, she said.

Such contractors arent necessarily easy to identify, she said.

On their website, they have posted a list of seven questions people can ask for any kind of contractor, whether roofers, plumbers, electricians or other services:

Does the company have a physical location? Fly-by night contractors work from their trucks and easily disappear. Someone with an office you can find on a map (rather than a post office box) is more likely to be found again.

Does the contractor carry proper insurance? Contractors should at minimum be able to produce proof of general liability insurance and some will have coverage specific to their work.

How long has the company been in business? Some contractors are only in business during storm season.

Does the contractor provide a warranty? Stevan Buren suggests asking for workmanship and product warranties and said written warranties are the best.

Does the contractor have a website? A website can be checked from your phone even when the contractor is present talking to you.

Who does the actual work? Learn who is actually coming out to do the work and if there will be an accountable supervisor on site to talk to.

Can the contractor provide references? Reputable contractors will be able to provide plenty of satisfied customers to give references.

Greenawalt said their company will check with previous clients first when storms strike an area to see if any repair work is needed.

She said when their crews are working with previous clients they will also get approached by people needing repairs. The company picked up clients like this recently in Whitney after a January tornado.

It is that time of year when bad contractors come out, said Johnson County Sheriff Adam King, and people can fall prey to them if they dont take care to do research on the contractor.

He suggested to check the company on the Better Business Bureau site to see how they rank. There are other reputable sites to check like Angies List or Home Advisor.

We havent had reports recently, Cleburne police spokeswoman Detective Kelly Summey said of roofing scams, although reports came when a tornado struck Cleburne in 2013.

Still, she said, the police department wants people to be aware of fly-by-night contractors.

She said contractors should be vetted thoroughly, and also suggested the first place to research is the Better Business Bureau.

Also, any roofer doing business in Cleburne will be registered with the city of Cleburne as a contractor, she said. Be leery of people who come to your door telling you that you have roof damage. This is usually something you should already be aware of and if youre not, get a second opinion. Legitimate roofing companies will never ask for full payment in advance of fixing your roof. All estimates should be in writing and should be provided to you prior to any work being done.

Summey also said to remain aware of people coming up to talk about roofing or other contracting needs. Sometimes scammers will work together, luring a person outside so their partners can burglarize the home.

Additionally, she said to report any suspicious activity to police.

Read more here:
Wrecked roofs after storms can draw contractor scams - Cleburne Times-Review

By By Brittany Wiliams Staff Writer

SMACKOVER The Smackover-Norphlet School Board approved service contracts for the districts roofing and technology, as well as changes to several district policies at its meeting Monday.

The school board accepted Wilcoxs recommendation to accept a bid of $300,022 to hire Olivers Custom Roofing to complete the districts roofing project, pending approval from another professional. The bid also included a $4.50 unit price.

We had seven bidders, five that we accepted and we came in way lower than what the budget was. The low bid is (from) OCR which is in Holland, Arkansas, Wilcox said. That unit price goes either way because we have a lot of decking in the project. Basically a third of the decking was factored in on this price so if we had to add more, thats the number theyll use. If they have to give us credit (or) do not have to replace as much decking, thats the same number thatll be used to come back our way.

Board members also approved the superintendents recommendation to hire IK Electric to upgrade the districts wireless technology. The total cost is $112,884.02 for the improvements at Smackover and Norphlet campuses, Wilcox said.

District special programs director Teri Philyaw recommended several policy updates including amendments to Smackover-Norphlets wellness Policy No. 5.29 that board member Chris Long voted against.

I dont know how this is going to go with the new (federal) administration, but the policy was substantially updated to include the new U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations on local wellness policies, Philyaw said. That ones a really significant change but that was something we didnt have any control over so its pretty much what we got to do.

According to the USDA, the final rule implementing section 204 of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 requires schools that participate in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs to establish minimum content requirements for the local school wellness policies, ensure stakeholder participation in the development and updates of such policies and periodically assess and disclose to the public schools compliance with the local school wellness policies.

And if you dont? Long asked.

Philyaw answered, You dont get any child nutrition money.

Ultimately, all of Philyaws recommendations were approved though Long said that somebody got to speak up regarding Policy No. 5.29.

After reviewing the districts student-parent handbook in a committee meeting last month, Norphlet Middle School principal Keith Coleman presented changes recommended by the committee to the board.

Because its against the law to suspend students for truancy, the principal recommended that the minimum punishment should be detention hall and the maximum should be in-school suspension, removing out of school suspension. Though he previously objected this change, Long retracted his objection after he realized that the policy change gives principals discretion.

I personally wouldnt give them detention hall, Coleman said. Its not a step (punishment). Its a maximum and a minimum.

Among other approved recommendations are a description of the districts excused absence policy, requirement of parents immediately picking up students with transmittable live human host parasites from school and removal of Saturday School as a disciplinary action.

Board members also approved the resignations of Norphlet Elementary School principal Patti Vickery and Smackover High School physical education teacher Jerry Stegall.

The Smackover-Norphlet School Boards next meeting is scheduled at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Apr. 17 in the district office boardroom.

Brittany Williams may be contacted by email at bwilliams@eldoradonews.com. Follow her on Twitter and like her on Facebook @BWilliamsEDNT for updates on Union County school news.

Originally posted here:
Smackover-Norphlet approves roofing, tech upgrade - El Dorado News-Times

March 27, 2017 6:27 PM By Cristin Severance

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NORTH TEXAS (CBS11) Sundays storms caused plenty of damage. Now North Texans are trying to get their roofs repaired without being ripped off by bad roofers.

Texas is the only Gulf state that has zero roofing regulations, but a new bill being considered by state lawmakers could change that.

Republican State Representative Giovanni Capriglione of Keller has introduced legislation calling for a voluntary certification system.

Roofers would have to register with the state and maintain insurance to make the list. What we are trying to do is create a seal, said Capriglione. A good housekeeping type of seal but endorsed by the state, he said.

Steven Badger of the Zelle Law Firm says the problem is an epidemic in Texas right now. Right now there is absolutely nothing. There is no protection for Texas consumers from getting ripped off from these contractors.

He filed a class action lawsuit against House of Tomorrow, a roofing company accused of taking money without doing the work. Almost 100 victims have come forward since our first Consumer Justice investigation into the company. The company has since filed for bankruptcy.

Brenda Abdalla has a similar problem. She and her husband hired Metroplex Roof & Fence back in April 2016. There was a lot of damage in the area, so it was kind of like get in line and wait your turn. So I was okay with that.

They handed over a $4,000 check as down payment; the work still hasnt started. They wont answer their phones nothing! said Abdalla. Its just like they disappeared.

On Monday,an attorney for Chuck Fairchild, the owner of Metroplex Roof & Fence, released the following statement:

Metroplex Roof & Fence has the Abdallas on their install list and remains committed to installing a roof for them. The previous delays have simply been due to turnover, install crew shortages, and materials delays. Please ask the Abdallas to contact Metroplex (or myself) and we will get something scheduled as soon as they are ready to proceed.

After a year without answers, the Abdallas just want a refund.

As for the legislation, Rep. Capriglione says similar bills have died in the past. Hes urging Texans to contact their lawmakers to voice their support for the bill.

Cristin Severance is CBS 11's Consumer Justice Investigator. She is a seven-time Emmy Award winner who is passionate about creating change in the community, righting wrongs and protecting consumers. Her reports alert CBS 11 viewers to scams, rec...

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Roofing Legislation Calls For Voluntary Certification System CBS ... - CBS DFW

Kentucky fans who felt their Wildcats didnt get a fair shake in Sundays loss to North Carolina because of the officiating aired their grievances in a very strange way.

SportsLine

After the game, some burned televisions and couches in the streets . But some went a step further and tracked down one referee, John Higgins, on Facebook. Big Blue Nation apparently discovered Higgins owns a roofing business called Rooferees. They destroyed its Facebook page with hundreds of vulgar comments and poor reviews. Heres a sampling of some.

With a quick Facebook search, the company page has apparently been deleted although the website for the business appears to be fully functional.

Higgins may not have a Facebook page, but hes surely gotten a lot of free exposure from the whole thing. He likely wont be getting any business in the Lexington, Kentucky, area, but the business appears to be operated out of Omaha, Nebraska, anyway.

Excerpt from:
Kentucky fans trash referee's roofing business on its own Facebook page - CBSSports.com

Frisco seeking bids for construction drawings and re-roofing work Summit Daily News Frisco is also seeking qualified contractors for a re-roofing project at the Old Town Hall visitor center on Main Street and the day lodge at the Frisco Adventure Park. The scope of the work for these projects can be obtained online or at the Frisco ...

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Frisco seeking bids for construction drawings and re-roofing work - Summit Daily News

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Big Fish Contractingwill settle in Genesee Depot after the Genesee Plan Commission unanimously approved the site plan/plan of operation on March 27.

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Big Fish Contractingwill settle in Genesee Depot after the Genesee Plan Commission unanimously approved the site plan/plan of operation on March 27.

The 4.36-acreproperty is at the northeast comer of Commercial Drive and Highway 59.

The present site is a multi-tenant building with a plumbing contractor, vacant tenant space and outside storage.

Big Fish Contracting will use 3,528 square feet to operate a remodeling/construction company. The interior space will include an office, showroom, bathroom and a shop area. The contracting company wants to park up to three equipment trailers and/or work trucks outside on the property.

The contracting business will employ two full-time workers.The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Employee parking is on the southeast side of the building and can accommodate about 14 vehicles with additional parking at various locations on the site.

Read or Share this story: http://www.lakecountrynow.com/story/news/local/lake-country-reporter/2017/03/28/town-genesee-plan-commission-approves-site-plan-contracting-company/99746744/

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Town of Genesee Plan Commission approves site plan for roofing contracting company - Lake Country Now

Sioux Falls Roofers logo(Photo: Submitted photo)

David Holmquist knew when he went into roofing that he wanted to use his skillsto give back.

Holmquist has been a roofer in Sioux Falls for about a year and a half, and in October, he started his own company, Sioux Falls Roofers.

Now, he's looking for the community's help to give a roof away.

Holmquist is bringing the national No Roof Left Behind program to Sioux Falls for the first time this year.

No Roof Left Behind provides all of the shingles and materials needed for a new roof to a family in need, and a local contractor, in this case Holmquist, provides the labor required to get the job done.

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"I've ran into several cases where I know that the homeowner themselves simply could not provide a roof replacement for themselves," Holmquist said.

In the past, he's helped families in need through partnerships with churches who pay for roofing materials that Holmquist donated his time to install.

Through No Roof Left Behind, the community helps decide which home is most in need of a new roof.

Nominations are accepted through the end of May (yes, homeowners can nominate themselves), and then four finalists are selected.

The community then votes for one of the finalists to receive a new roof courtesy of Sioux Falls Roofers and No Roof Left Behind.

"We rely heavily on the community to be involved," Holmquist said.

If the program is successful this year, Holmquist hopes he can make No Roof Left Behind an annual event for Sioux Falls.

Nominations for No Roof Left Behind can be submitted starting April 1 at siouxfallsroofers.com. Finalists will be announced in June.

Read or Share this story: http://argusne.ws/2nEs2ob

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Sioux Falls Roofers seek community help in roof giveaway - Sioux Falls Argus Leader

There is a growing trend in homeowners to go in for metal roofs due to their many useful properties like being lightweight, durable, and fire-resistant. If you are considering installing a new roof for your home, it may be worth the while to take a close look at metal roofs, especially if you live in a place that sees very heavy snowfall. If you are wondering about the traditionally dull looks that metal roofs are associated with, you can take heart because nowadays there is a vast assortment of metal roofing materials available, right from sheet metal to shingles that have the looks of tiles. Some of the top reasons why metal roofs are finding favor:

When a metal roof is installed correctly, you can expect it to last as long as the structure of the house itself, a claim that perhaps no other roofing material can make. Metal roofs are so durable because it not only seals out water, but is able to shed snow with great ease, and also withstand winds of very high force. Metal roofs are also resistant to fire, and attacks from insects, mildew, and rot. Warranties differ from manufacturer to manufacturer but it is not unusual for homeowners to get coverage from 20-50 years.

Since metal roofing materials are typically available in sheets and sections, installation is very simple for experienced roofers likePerkins Preferred Roofing. This comes in very handy because when your existing roof has been stripped off, you would not want to take too much time over the installation of the new roof because inclement weather can jeopardize the safety of your household belongings, and of the entire house.

Metal roofs are very effective in not only reflecting the light and heat of the sun during sunny weather but also their heat conduction properties allow your home to be far cooler than comparable alternatives. Even though metal roofs are blessed with a low R-value, most roofers will allow for a dead air space between the roofing material and the roof deck to increase energy efficiency and insulation.

Typically metal roofs weigh between 50-150 pounds per 100 square feet or square as the unit of measurement is referred to in the roofing industry. This emerges as being extremely paltry when compared to tiles at 750 pounds or concrete at 900 pounds per square.

Metal roofs enjoy a Class A fire rating since they are by nature non-combustible. Class A ratings are given only to those roofing materials that are reckoned to be the most fire-resistant. However, you should be aware that if you install the new metal roof over an existing roof made out of wood or other combustible materials, the fire rating will automatically go down and you will lose one of the greatest advantages of metal roofs. This is the reason why, despite the extra effort and expense, it is always better to strip off the old roof before installing a new metal roof.

Since metal roofs are more efficient in shedding snow and water, they can be installed at a far less steep pitch than conventional roofing materials without the hazard of leakages. Generally, now homes that are designed to have metal roofs installed will have a pitch of 3 inches for every 12 inches length. The possibility of being able to lay flatter roofs increases the potential of you being able to consider roofs with greater aesthetics.

With the numerous advantages possessed by metal roofs, it is not difficult to see why they are increasingly becoming popular with homeowners. With the huge choice of metals and finishes, you can have superior aesthetics, functionality, as well as durability making it a win-win situation that is hard to dispute.

Read more:
Metal Roofs Why Go For Them? - TG Daily (blog)

In my 25 years in the roofing business, I have come across all kinds of contractors.

The good ones follow the rules and comply with the ever-changing state and federal regulations that govern our industry. The not-so-great ones dont.

Over time, a legal provision known as Assignment of Benefits has emboldened a cottage industry of roofers to abuse the system and take advantage of homeowners and their insurance companies.

It often works like this: A roofing-company employee, typically a salesperson, canvasses neighborhoods after a rain or hail storm, telling homeowners they are entitled to a free roof. They pressure homeowners into signing an Assignment of Benefits contract, known as an AOB, which transfers benefits of the homeowners insurance policy to a contractor.

When used appropriately, AOBs can help homeowners get work done quickly without having to pay money upfront. However, when abused, AOBs allow sketchy companies to do unnecessary work or inflate the cost before an insurance company can inspect whether theres damage or a new roof is needed at all. Then, if the insurer refuses the claim, the contractor files a lawsuit in an attempt to collect.

Unwarranted claims and lawsuits end up costing homeowners in the form of higher insurance premiums and give hardworking, respectable roofing companies a bad name. Especially fueling the situation are one-way attorney fees, which allow attorneys suing insurance companies to collect legal fees if they win, but dont allow insurance companies to collect legal fees if they prevail. Remove this incentive to sue, and much of the AOB problem goes away.

Homeowners should know that they dont need to sign an AOB to get roof repairs done and not all roofing contractors use them. However, contractors who properly use AOBs inspect roofs for damage, provide a written estimate and wait for the homeowners insurance company to send an adjuster. If the adjuster agrees to the claim amount, the homeowner can submit the claim on his or her own or sign an AOB to have the contractor handle it. Everyone is on the same page, so there are no surprises.

Unfortunately, bad contractors use AOBs to prey on homeowners with the promise of quick, hassle-free repairs. They build false trust with homeowners by saying they are working on roofs throughout the neighborhood. Homeowners stop listening once they hear free roof and dont understand what they are signing.

As president of the 780-member Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association, I support Senate Bill 1038 that would curb AOB abuse and put some of these dishonest contractors out of business.

We can no longer allow AOBs to be used as a weapon against good, honest roofers and their customers. We must take action to ensure the greedy action of a few doesnt hurt the rest of us.

George Ebersold is president of the Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association and general manager for Tom Tanenbaum Roofing Inc. based in Orlando.

See original here:
Bill helps weed out dishonest contractors who misuse Assignment of Benefits contracts - Orlando Sentinel

Bend roofing companies are still busy helping residents fix the damage caused by the winters historic storms.

The most prominent damage was created by ice dams, which form when ice buildup on the edge of a roof causes melting snow to back up and leak into a home.

Really, ice dams affect roofs of all levels, style and build, Craig Blanchette, project manager at Northwest Quality Roofing in Bend, said. Ice dams dont discriminate to say the least.

Blanchette said his company is booked until Memorial Day with people still needing roof assessments and repairs.

Northwest Quality Roofing, which serves all of Central Oregon, usually sees most of its business come from Sunriver and La Pine during a typical winter. This past winter, Blanchette was surprised with how many calls came from Redmond, Madras and Prineville, areas that normally have milder winters.

Our phones were ringing off the hook, Blanchette said.

Blanchette jokes the only way to avoid ice dams is to move to Los Angeles or Phoenix. Joking aside, he said, proper insulation and ventilation are a homeowners best defense against ice dams.

If we can eliminate our heat loss, and make sure our attic space is properly ventilated that is really going to help, Blanchette said. We cannot in our area completely prevent ice dams, but that is going to be a great start.

He also suggests heat tape or deicing wires but recommends having a licensed electrician install them. Another option is using roof rakes to rake off as much snow as possible once a storm stops. Residents should avoid going up on their roofs because it is not safe, and their weight could actually cause more harm to the roof, Blanchette said.

Blanchette, who has been working in the roofing industry in Central Oregon since 2000, said he has never seen the likes of this years winter storms. Every day he sees the toll the winter took on the region.

We have all been in it together, whether you are the contractor or homeowner or tenant, Blanchette said. It has affected us all.

Thomas Hunziker who co-owns AM-1 Roofing in Bend with his wife, Jennifer said this past winter tested all the new housing built recently in the High Desert. Hunziker, who moved to Central Oregon in 1989 and started his business in 1993, said he has seen many houses in the area not built to handle such a severe winter.

We had two months of way below average temperatures and it threw everybody for a loop. No one knew what to do, Hunziker said. What it did is it exposed every shortcoming in design and every mistake ever made.

Much of the work Hunziker is doing now is making visits to damaged homes, and educating the homeowners on what they can do in the future. He offers advice about adding insulation and ventilation to help avoid ice dams.

Like other roofing companies, AM-1 Roofing also has a full schedule of roof repairs and replacements. Most problems Hunziker finds are not roofing issues, but rather condensation issues inside an attic.

Hunziker worries other roofing business, some coming from out of town, are gouging people, and making promises they cannot keep.

Anyone who guarantees an ice dam will not be a problem again is crazy, Hunziker said.

Roofs are not designed to go underwater, he said.

Reporter: 541-617-7820,

kspurr@bendbulletin.com

See the original post here:
No roof is immune to ice dams, but this helps - Bend Bulletin