Colorado residents from Erie to Aurora will soon need new roofs. If you are one of them, you don’t want to be scammed.
Mike Stephens has worked in the Colorado roofing industry for 15 years and says that once you know what you’re doing, the process can be relatively stress-free.
He’s seen storms like the ones seen on Tuesday and Wednesday before and says if you suspect your roof has hail damage you can do a preliminary investigation before you hire a roofing contractor.
“Look at the base of all your downspouts. If there’s granulate there the same color as your roof, there’s a good chance you’re damaged,” Stephens said. “The other point is whether your vehicle has any damage. Any visible metal trim, aluminium, window panes, all of these will indicate damage and if it is visible you should normally get someone to help.”
In the event of damage, it is important, in his opinion, to have an official inspection carried out as quickly as possible.
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“The most important thing is to document that you caused damage that you suffered, because that way your insurance company can’t deny it. If you feel like the insurance company is trying to deny something, you can request an additional examiner … You can request a third-party examiner,” Stephens said.
He says that when looking for a roofing contractor, it’s important to do some research and watch out for red flags that the company might be trying to scam you.
“Check with your local jurisdiction to see if they’re licensed,” Stephens said. “Many scam companies come and ask for your first check as a deposit to start work. So that’s a big red flag.”
He says some companies will ask for money up front to pay for the materials, but even then you can still protect yourself.
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“Ask to pay the supplier directly, then you will not suffer any loss. You paid for something, but got something in return,” Stephens said.
He says you shouldn’t be afraid to hire an outside contractor. Just do your due diligence.
“When a catastrophic storm like this happens, there aren’t enough roofers here to meet the need. So there will definitely be foreign companies. But make sure they’re licensed,” Stephens explained.
He also recommends withholding full payment until your new roof has passed inspection.
Michael Abeita
www.cbsnews.com
https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/roofing-expert-gives-tips-protect-yourself-catastrophic-hail-storms/
