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Home and building owners beware of unlicensed roofing contractors

Colorado Roofing Association (CRA) wants to help home and building owners make informed decisions when it comes to replacing and maintaining their roof systems.

COLORADO, USA — PAID CONTENT BY COLORADO ROOFING ASSOCIATION

For most people, a home is much more than a physical structure. A home is where life happens, and the Colorado Roofing Association (CRA) wants to help home and building owners make informed decisions when it comes to replacing and maintaining their roof systems.

“Your home or building’s roof is its first line of defense against the elements,” said Debbie Hathorne, Executive Director for the CRA, a non-profit organization committed to improving the Colorado roofing industry. “At the CRA, our goal is to eliminate roofing scams in Colorado by educating homeowners on how to hire reliable roofing professionals while promoting the ethics, education, and image of the roofing industry through the actions of our members.”

Unfortunately, not all roofing contractors in Colorado are legitimate. In fact, unreputable and un-licensed roofing companies scam countless homeowners out of their hard-earned money each year, and sometimes what seems like the best deal could end up costing you more in the long run.

So how can homeowners be sure their roofing contractor is legitimate? One way is by choosing a contractor that is properly licensed and insured.

Roofing Contractor Licensing Requirements in the State of Colorado

There is no statewide roofing license or registration requirement in the state of Colorado. Rather, roofing contractors must be licensed with each Colorado city or county jurisdiction where the work is to be performed.

Home and building owners are encouraged to ask roofing contractors for their local license number, and then confirm that number with the local city or county building department to ensure the license was issued by them and is current.

The Risks of Hiring an Unlicensed Roofing Contractor

A roofing contractor that is not licensed within the city or county where your home is located may also not be aware of local building codes for your area. Some Colorado municipalities have very address-specific roofing requirements, and a contractor unfamiliar with those requirements may perform work that is not up to code.

A large number of home and building owners have been dragged into litigation involving uninsured contractors. If an employee of an unlicensed contractor is injured while on your home or building, you may be responsible for their injuries or disabilities. In addition, you probably have no protection in the event damage is done to your property or the property of others by the roofer during the course of the work.

Unlicensed contractors will likely be unfamiliar with local building codes in your city or county.  Often ending in a poorly installed or poorly designed roofing system that may not be up to code. This is worse than no job at all, and may end up costing you more in the long run.

If an unlicensed roofing contractor does not pay the suppliers whose materials are used on your project, you may find a lien placed on your property even though you have paid for the work. This means you may end up paying for the same materials twice.

If you do use an unlicensed, uninsured contractor, don’t be misled into believing that your homeowner’s or personal liability insurance policy will automatically protect you. In many cases, you may be liable for the suit.

All in all, most home and building owners have found that using unlicensed, uninsured roofing contractors is not worth the risk.

Learn more about how to protect yourself from roof scams and unlicensed contractors at TrustedColoradoRoofers.org.

RELATED: How to know your roofing contractor has you covered

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