Roof Replacement
Common Sense for Home Owners
About Discounts, Certificates and Deductibles

Many roofing companies will attempt to get your business by giving you a "discount" or "certificate" equal to or slightly less than your deductible that will reduce your "out-of-pocket" expenses.  While it is perfectly "legal" for the roofer to give your this certificate, in reality it is a reduction in the replacement cost of your roof and belongs to your insurance company.  It is YOUR responsibility to notify your insurance company of these discounts or certificates, not the roofer's.  Failure to do so, and to in effect  'reduce your deductible' by this method is INSURANCE FRAUD.  
Remember the roofer does a job and gets paid, and moves on.  How it is paid for is between you and your insurance company.  BE VERY CAREFUL. 		Do Not Pay in Advance
Code Considerations
  • Know your local building codes. (Call your city or county building Inspector)  Contractors can cut corners by ignoring local code requirements.  By doing so, they can lower their price and increase their profits.
  • Common code violations:
    1. Valleys - Correct valley installation calls for one layer of ice shield installed on the deck, covered with one layer of felt, then 20" wide valley tin, and finally covered with the shingles.
    2. Eves - In many areas ice shield is required along all eves extending 24 inches beyond the inside wall.
 Download an Estimate Comparison form.

This form will help you compare estimates and your estimates to your adjuster's statement and general standards.
You Should See:
  • A list of names of workers on the project along with a sighed statement  from the contractor that he has on file I-9 forms for all workers. (The I-9 form is the immigration required form that verifies that the worker is a legal resident of the US and can work here,  Ultimately, you are responsible for the legality of the workers on your roof,)  (Click here for a sample certification statement you can insist that your contractor fills out and signs before he starts.)
  • Insurance Certificates:
    1. Workers Compensation!!! Extremely important.  It protects you if one of the workers becomes injured on the job.  For roofing employees this insurance is very expensive and some companies try to get along without it.  If the worker is not covered my the employer, you can be made to pay for injuries.  As a home owner, you have the right to be given a copy of this insurance certificate before work starts.  IT IS THE LAW!!!!!
    2. Liability Insurance: All reputable contractors carry liability insurance to cover any damages that may occur while working on your house.  Do not allow the work to start until you have been given a copy of this insurance.
You should have:
  • A written estimate showing all work to be done in detail and a signed certification that the total cost of the project will not exceed the estimate except under conditions stated on the estimate.
  • A written certificate of completion and warranty when the job is complete, and BEFORE you issue the check.