Watch That Roof Overhead
Seniors Choice Newsmagazine
February 2006
- By Rudy Loeser -
One of the most commonly recurring horror stories is the one in which a hapless homeowner falls prey to the roofing racket. More often than not, the victims are senior citizens on fixed income. Every now and then, you may read about yet another incident in your daily paper. It goes like this:
A workman rings the doorbell on a quiet street, perhaps a street in a gated Community and tells the homeowner who answers the door: "Hi, I'm Charlie Brown from the C. Brown Roofing Company. We're just finishing a job down your street and I wondered whether you'd be interested in having your roof fixed. I noticed that some of your tiles seem to be loose and, unless this is fixed, you may have a real problem come the spring rains, which will cause extensive damage to your roof structure and costly repairs. Looks like the raccoons got in there."
Three times out of ten, he'll get the undivided attention of the homeowner and the permission to prepare an estimate. What comes next is the appearance of the crew in a nondescript truck, because you've signed a work order.
While the roofer and his helper climb all over your roof, they'll discover that the damage is greater than it had looked from the ground and you'll be told the bad news. "It's up to you, ma'am. We can fix it while we're here or you can let it go, in which case you're looking at a lot more. Up to you."
At which point, the home owner will, two times out of five, agree to have the roof fixed right then and there. And that is where the horror story begins. At the time you read the story in your newspaper, you'll probably feel sorry for the poor homeowner who has been taken to the cleaners, and tell yourself that this couldn't happen to you. Right. Not this time. Give it a couple of years, maybe a change of address, and you'll have forgotten what your read about the roofing racket and the unscrupulous practitioners who prey on the unsuspecting public, with shoddy work, expenses you hadn't really agreed on, and a bad example of a respectable trade.
We decided to get the low-down on the roofing trade from an expert. We spoke with Ross Laing, president of Laing Roofing Ltd., who is also a director of the Canadian Roofing Contractors' Association of BC, chairing the portfolios of education and training as well as risk management, and represents British Columbia on the Board of the Canadian Roofing Contractors' Association.
It is acknowledged in the trade throughout North America that B.C. leads the continent in terms of training, education and requirements for aspiring roofing contractors. According to Laing, the BC conditions are based on the strict German model, which conforms to the stringent guidelines for all trades. In practical terms, this means that, to become a roofer in British Columbia, one absolves the Association school's program of technical education and hands-on training in order to earn journeyman's papers.
Just what is the function of the Roofing Contractors' Association of BC beyond the above-mentioned program of training and technical education? It has a full warranty program with millions of dollars of cash reserves designed to indemnify the Association's members against claims, particular in the architectural and institutional sectors of the business, with a 40 - year record of claim settlement. Obviously, this program is designed only for registered members of the RCABC. The requirements for membership include a journeyman ticket, delivering a $50,000 bond to the RCABC, and operating a full commercial sheet metal shop for at least three years.
But to get back to square one: How do you, as a homeowner, make sure that you won't fall prey to some scam artists roaming your neighbourhood?
a) ask to see the person's journeyman's ticket.
b) ask to see evidence of their membership in the RCABC
c) ask to see evidence of liability insurance.
d) call the RCABC at (604) 882 9734 and verify their membership or have them recommend a reliable roofer in your community. As a last resort, call a commercial roofing contractor who has been in business in your community for a number of years and ask him for a referral.
I asked Ross Laing, who is a board member of both the B.C. and Canada Associations, whether, if asked, he could, and would, recommend a small contractor with a good background in residential roofing, if anybody were to call him. Absolutely, because his company is not in the small residential contract business.
Having known and respected the man for well over 15 years, I'll endorse his judgment without qualms. |
