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Overview
A homeowner can do several things to avoid making a bad roofing choice. But before doing ANYTHING, decide NOT to get in a hurry to make a decision. We all want to get this unpleasant situation of a damaged roof behind us. That attitude can be disastrous when selecting a roofer because oftentimes the ones who do the worst jobs are the ones who are out there first canvassing neighborhoods. As for roofing, there is currently NO Required Roofing License in Texas, however, the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas has put into place, a voluntary certification program, that is actually more stringent than the recently failed licensing legislation.

Both the North Texas Roofing Contractors Association and the Roofing Contractors Association of Texas strongly urge consumers to demand professional roofing contractors handle roof related repairs. Many insurers will hire "general contractors" in their haste to "close the file" and take care of the COMPLETE job. The problem is that many of these insurer approved "general contractors" aren't truly qualified as professional roofing contractors and will "sub out" the roofing work to poorly trained or inexperienced persons.

Beware of adjuster/contractors. Many feel this arrangement is a conflict of interest. ALWAYS have your own professional EXPERT evaluate what ANY adjuster/contractor says is the scope of the loss. The temptation is to let the adjuster/contractor do the job because he seems to be on your side and may even come up with damages you missed. Some people even sign CONTRACTS with adjuster/contractors when they think they're just okaying a loss form! WAIT for your own expert's opinion! He may actually find more than the adjuster/contractor did. And you can rest assured that he is under no pricing pressure from the insurer.

Tips
Here is our top ten list of how to avoid a bad roofing job.

• Tip one: Don't abandon traditional shopping techniques. That is, do your research and investigation just as you would in any other not-so-urgent situations, being sure to get EVERYTHING in writing. When comparing written proposals, look beyond price and brand. Try to choose a professional who is a member of a trade association which offers continuing education courses and seminars. It means that company cares about expanding its knowledge and expertise as well as caring about new developments in the industry.
• Tip Two: Don't give a roofer a down payment or an advance. If you are asked to pay for materials upon delivery, be sure the materials have been paid for in full by the roofer and that you have a supplier's authenticated, paid receipt.
• Tip Three: NEVER automatically take your insurance adjuster's word for the amount of damage you have. A recent California survey conducted after an earthquake, revealed that property owners who hired an expert to assess their damages and present them to the insurer received an average of 25% more to make repairs. This goes double if you have an ACV or Actual Cash Value type policy. -- 25 sec --
• Tip Four: Most roof leaks are at openings in the deck such as chimneys and vent pipes where flashing is installed or at add-ons. Require your insurer to pay for new flashings and require your roofer to install them.
• Tip Five: Don't accept a "sign allowance" or any other offer to SAVE or avoid paying your deductible from a roofer. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW! When people do it, they are guilty of insurance fraud along with the roofer! The Texas Department of Insurance has beefed up their Insurance Fraud Unit and is on the look-out for this. Also, the Texas Penal Code specifically mentions the terms, "sign allowance", "rebate" and "false invoices" and clearly states that they are illegal. Also, if a roofer would lie to your insurance company by giving you a false invoice to save YOU some money, then he would almost definitely lie to YOU or 'cheat' the roof to make himself money.
• Tip Six: Check into impact resistant roofing materials. New Class 4 Impact resistant roofing materials can save you a substantial amount of money on premiums but their real savings may lie in the avoidance of the new 'GIANT' deductibles many insurers are pushing. Be sure, however, to get a price quote from your agent on the EXACT amount of savings with your particular type policy.
• Tip Seven: When applying for an Impact Resistance premium discount exercise extreme caution if you are going to have to sign a Cosmetic Damage Waiver especially on a metal roof. If you are ever going to sell the house, it may be wiser and less risky in the long run to decline the Impact Resistant discount on roofs that could sustain cosmetic damage or dents.
• Tip Eight: Be wary of roofers who knock on your door. Some are good but others walk and drive the neighborhoods because they have no previously established business. Ask ALL sales representatives and estimators for identification and business addresses. Looks are not always a good indicator of roofing skills and just because a person sounds knowledgeable doesn't mean he is! A person shouldn't mind showing you a valid driver's license and giving you a business address.
• Tip Nine: Check EVERY company out with the Better Business Bureau. The Bureau will have records of when the company was established, its owners name and other information. If there is no record of the company, they may not have been in the area very long. In the case of insurers, TDI has a web site with some limited information on past complaints. If you are victimized by an unscrupulous roofer OR insurance adjuster, take the time complain in writing to EVERY consumer protection entity you can think of, especially the BBB.
• Tip Ten: Specifying quality materials DOES NOT guarantee a quality roof although it is a good start. A roof is assembled ON SITE unlike products such as stereos and TV's. On a roof, the finished product can end up being a POOR assembly of GOOD components.

Consumer Advocates and places to complain and check out contractors and insurers
Complaints and/or information about roofers:

• The Better Business Bureau of Dallas County 214-220-2000
• The Better Business Bureau of Tarrant County 817-332-7585
• The Roofing Contractors Association of Texas (RCAT) 800-99 ROOF 1 (997-6631)
• The North Texas Roofing Contractors Association (NTRCA) 817-792-3674

Complaints and/or information about Insurers:

• The Texas Department of Insurance 1 800-252-3439
• And the Better Business Bureau

For a copy of these tips and a more detailed explanation of other roofing and insurance claim pitfalls, you can mail a Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope to My Damage Claim, P.O. Box 101505, Fort Worth, Texas Zip 76185. There is no charge for this information.

Within a few weeks, there will be a web site that will have this and other information on property damage. That Web site will be www.MyDamageClaim.com