Wrecked roofs after storms can draw contractor scams – Cleburne Times-Review

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.

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Wrecked roofs after storms can draw contractor scams - Cleburne Times-Review