At the tail end of last year, some of the worst ever wildfires hit Ventura County and Malibu, causing more than $1.6 billion worth of damage. Since the catastrophe, there has been frenzied rebuilding as people try to restore their homes and get on with their lives.
During times like these, however, unscrupulous contractors can move in, offering cut-price services to desperate people who want to rebuild and get on. Unfortunately, many of these “contractors” providing these roofing services are doing so unethically. They often come from out of state and don’t have the necessary licenses to work safely in California.
As a licensed roofing contractor, we always strongly advise that you do not choose a roofing contractor who isn’t licensed, bonded, and insured. Homeowners who use an unbonded, unlicensed, or uninsured roofing contractors put themselves at risk. As the owner of the property, you could be liable for any damage or injuries incurred while contractors work on your property. And because of the lack of legal status, your regular insurer may decline to cover the costs of any litigation – just what you don’t want when you’re trying to get your life back on track.
So how can you ensure that your roofing contractor has the right license?
Check The Contractors State License Board
Every roofing contractor licensed to operate in California must have a contractor license number. Before employing the services of any roofing contractor, ask them to provide you with their license number. Then hop onto the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) website and select the “check license” option. Next, enter the number into the box provided and click search. The search result will tell you the current status of the building contractor’s license and whether they are legally permitted to work in the state.
Check The Better Business Bureau Database for Licensing
The Better Business Bureau is an agency dedicated to helping regular homeowners find contractors in their area that they can trust, including those who restore roofs. If you go onto the BBB’s website and search for “roofing contractors,” you can find information and reviews for all of the contracts accredited and licensed to operate in your area. The BBB ranks individual contractors according to a rating scale, with the top being A+.
Finally, it’s worth noting that in the state of California, all contractors have to provide workers’ compensation insurance to members of their team. This coverage provides wage replacement and medical benefits to employees who get injured on the job. In some states like Texas, this is not a requirement.
It is, therefore, much better to go with a roofing contractor that you can trust. While you could spend time searching through databases checking up on a particular contractor, why bother?
At Greatway Roofing, we are licensed, bonded and insured, meaning that if something does go wrong, you won’t have to pay compensation out of your homeowners’ insurance. With us, you can rebuild your roof and your life with peace of mind.