Lately, I have experienced what so many may already have -- the ambulance chaser but in another, completely perverse and weird form - THE ROOF CHASER. It is no surprise that Colorado has seen its share of bad storms this past year- between November of 2008 and July of 2009, Colorado has had some pretty intense wind and hail storms, tornadic activity, and thunderstorms that leave you thinking, "where do I live again?" Traditionally known as a drought-state, this year, Colorado has had plenty of flooding and hail.
So, it is not a surprise to see so many roof chasers descend on Colorado. We had such an experience this past weekend. Not only is our door step and handle inundated with flyers daily, we had the proverbial pop-in - a guy who walks door to door, handing out brochures, leaving his card, and trying to talk up his roof. Well, as any idiot who has an internet connection knows, it is not hard to get a decent roof on your house - the question is, "who puts it there." That is where the comparisons come in. Who do you trust to be up on your roof installing a new roof the proper way? That is the key when you are deciding which roofer to use. You should (1) verify what product is being used (2) is it hail and impact resistant and (3) how is it being installed - what nails and how many per square. When it comes to new roof installation, workmanship and warranty is key. So, it is important to work with a local company and someone you trust.
The best way to find a good roofer is through word of mouth and then do research on them - through the better business bureau (bbb) and the internet. You can find out a lot about a company by their zip code. Many companies have descended on Colorado just to get some business and then they will head right back out - who knows if they will be in business when you need them again? I did some research on the roof chaser that came by our home and it turns out they're Georgia-based. The guy who gave me his card had a Colorado number on his card but on his website, it was an area code local to Atlanta. Interesting. In any case, beware if you need a good roofer. Many companies pride themselves on getting you money from your insurance and claim to get $20K for roofs when really, you can do the job for under $10K and do it well. It is interesting how much they are willing to do for your business but remember, the key is reputation and workmanship. Do your homework - after all, it is a "roof over your head" and they do not come cheap.
