How To Spot A Bad Roofer in Houston

In Texas, anyone can set up shop and call themselves a roofer. There’s no licensing or registration required. This means that there are plenty of roofers to choose from in the area, but also that there’s a higher likelihood of roofer fraud or bad roofers. How do you know the roofer you choose is one that can be trusted? Make sure you do your research before hiring anyone and listen to your gut when it comes to red flags. Here are a few warning signs to look for when it comes to bad roofers:

Lack of Communication

Have you ever had to work with someone who was chronically difficult to reach? You called and left messages only to have to call again a few days later because you hadn’t heard from them. It can be difficult to feel confidence that someone like that has your customer satisfaction in mind or can be trusted with a project. If you are interested in a roofer who you find it nearly impossible to reach, that may be a sign that this isn’t the best roofer for your project…or the best roofer in general.

Lack of References

A good roofer should be able to show that they’re reliable through their past work. Even if they don’t have years of experience, they should have something to show that they know what they’re doing. A portfolio or a list of references is key. References are past customers who can be contacted and asked about their experience and the end result. Be sure to ask for references when interviewing any roofing contractor. If they refuse to give references, you’re better off finding a roofer who will. 

Lack of Insurance

Just because roofers aren’t required to be licensed and insured in Texas doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be. An insured roofer means that in the event that an accident happens on the job, you as the homeowner will not be held liable. General liability insurance and worker’s compensation are good standards to have in terms of insurance from your roofer. If your roofer is not insured, you’re taking a risk in hiring them and they’ve shown that they’re not as concerned for you as a customer.

Lack of Good Reviews…. Or Any Reviews

9 out of 10 people read online reviews before making any sort of purchase. Truth be told, reviews are a great place to get an idea of what it will be like working with a company before signing a contract. If you search for the roofing company and you either find all bad reviews, or worse, no reviews at all, you should rethink your decision. This could be an indicator that the company isn’t doing great work, or they may even be restarting their business under a new name to get away from some previous bad reviews. 

Never be afraid to ask WHY the company doesn’t have reviews. 

(FYI: We are proud to be one of the top rated roofers in the Houston area.)

Thoroughly study any roofing company before you hire them so you can have confidence in their ability to take on your roofing project. Have any questions for us? Contact Houston Roofing today for more information or to get started with a free quote.