Quality metal roofs offer top protection in severe weather, if homeowners do their homework.
The recovery effort from the damage caused by Hurricane Helene is sure to be a long, difficult road for many homeowners seeking to repair or rebuild.
Unfortunately, the challenge can be made that much harder by less-than-reputable opportunists and con artists who sometimes prey on unsuspecting homeowners, especially at a time when the demand for quality contractors is extremely high. It’s a danger the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) is warning homeowners about, especially as re-roofing activity spikes in areas like Florida and the Carolinas.
According to Renee Ramey, MRA executive director, with the high demand caused by disaster recovery efforts, homeowners need to be on guard for unscrupulous installers trying to pass off inferior material from unknown sources and offering too-good-to-be-true discounts or “deals.” MRA also offers expert information and advice from leading manufacturers and installers to help guide homeowners looking to repair or replace their roofs in hurricane and severe storm regions at www.metalroofing.com.
“Sadly, fraud happens in times of high stress, high demand and when homeowners are trying to get repairs done quickly,” said Ramey. “The best advice is to proceed with caution, do your homework and thoroughly evaluate any offers, ‘deals,’ or claims, especially if they seem to good to be true, because they probably are.”
Homeowners should be suspicious of any contractor who demands cash or full payment upfront, has no physical address or identification, steers you to a specific lender or tries to act as the intermediary by asking to file insurance claims on your behalf, or wants your personal financial information prior to starting the repair or lending process. Always make sure any contractor or roofer is licensed and insured, verify their web and physical address, ask for references, get cost estimates, schedules and other agreements in writing, ensure they have the right permits and try to get at least three different quotes to compare before starting the project. FEMA also offers homeowners in disaster recovery areas additional tips to help avoid scams.
As a nonprofit trade organization, Metal Roofing Alliance helps homeowners find quality installers by working with member metal roofing manufacturers, who vet contractors before they are qualified to become an MRA member. Even so, patience and persistence are key; in times of extremely high demand and massive rebuilding and repair needs, lead times for good contractors can be very long and many are completely booked for months. However, to make sure a job is done well, it can be worth the wait. MRA advises that before a metal roofing project starts, good questions for homeowners to ask include:
To ensure maximum, long-lasting protection for their home, MRA also offers extensive resources for homeowners to arm themselves with knowledge prior to investing in a new metal roof. The latest edition of the MRA Residential Metal Roofing Buyer’s Guide is now available for free at https://www.metalroofing.com/news/download-mra-residential-metal-roofing-buyers-guide/
About Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA)
Representing metal roofing manufacturers in the United States and Canada, the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA) was formed to help educate consumers about the many benefits of metal roofs. The main objective of MRA is to increase awareness of the beauty, durability and money-saving advantages of quality metal roofs among homeowners, as well as to provide support for metal roofing businesses and contractors. For more information, visit MRA.