Sometimes we’re all at the mercy of Mother Nature.
Joe, a Brooklyn native and father of two, had been living in his Staten Island home for about 2 ½ decades when he had his first (and only) roofing disaster. “We had a very bad rainstorm and the water was pouring into the house,” he recalls.
Needless to say, that’s not a good situation to come home to.
It’s pretty impressive when a house with several skylights holds up to decades of exposure to the elements. But when those things start leaking, nothing else really matters. That was the problem Joe now faced.
Fortunately, Joe didn’t have to roll the dice with the first available roofing contractor, or waste precious time getting multiple estimates. A friend of his had been through a similar roofing ordeal and felt comfortable vouching for B&B Siding Contractors LLC.
Joe remembers it well:
“The next day the B&B guys came. They sent this guy Steve out—wonderful guy. He got up on the roof and determined the water was pouring in through two skylights.”
Our vetted roofing contractor Steve handily sealed off Joe’s skylights, restoring them to like-new condition before permanent damage to the home could occur.
“They were professional, on time, everything they promised they adhered to,” says Joe. “If everyone was like this then it would be a better world.”
Pictured: Joe’s new skylight will keep his home secure and dry. While it took only 4 hours to install, the labor and hardware are warrantied for 10 years.
If you’re a homeowner, there’s a good chance you’ve been burned by a contractor or two. As we’ve written before, over 65 percent of the roofs we repair or replace are less than 10 years old—the product of poor workmanship by other roofing and siding companies.
“This is the first home repair or upgrade where I ever had the job fulfilled,” states Joe. “They checked every box and made my life beautiful, happier and hassle-free.
“And the job came out beautiful. It’s gorgeous.”
There are several lessons to Joe’s story about the benefits of hiring a local roofing contractor and avoiding low quality work and roofing scams.
1. Responsiveness
One of the benefits of working with a transparent, licensed, local contractor is that they’re available in emergencies. When you have a fiasco like what Joe experienced, going local is frankly your only choice. But if the contractor is someone you know—or someone a trusted friend knows—that’s all the better. Which leads us to our second point:
2. Assurance from direct referrals
Being able to lean on a direct referral not only saved Joe precious time collecting quotes, but ensured that everyone’s incentives were aligned. Quality contractors appreciate, and often depend on, word-of-mouth referrals. And homeowners enjoy greater peace of mind when the guy working on their roof has been referred by a friend or colleague.
If a local contractor botches a job, not only is it bad for business, it can fray relationships. Simply put, you’re more likely to have a happy outcome when you go local.
3. Compliance with local ordinances and quality standards
It might seem like “doing things right” is a matter of character and common sense, but zoning and permitting requirements can be complex. They also vary from one place to another. This is based on climate conditions and the priorities of local authorities.
A local contractor is much more likely than an out-of-towner to be up-to-date and compliant with local ordinances.
While there are no zoning or permitting requirements for roofing in our borough of New York, this is worth considering wherever you may live. A local contractor will know more about climate conditions that lead to ice damming and rot. So even if zoning isn’t an issue their local knowledge will help you avoid snafus.
Need a roof repaired or replaced? Contact B&B Siding Contractors LLC today for a free quote.
You pay tomorrow what we quote you today—no surprises. At B&B Siding Contractors LLC, we give accurate estimates and stick to them.
4. Avoidance of common scams
Hiring a local contractor eliminates the well-documented risk of fly-by-night contractors who show up after a storm, perform superficial repairs, and leave. Although scams run by these “storm chasers” are widely documented, people unfortunately fall for them because of competitive pricing and high-pressure sales.
Going with local contractors also reduces the risk of falling prey to other scams, such as the disappearing down payment. In the event of a dispute, local authorities can more effectively deal with roofing companies licensed where you live.
In summary, there are several key benefits to hiring a local roofing contractor:
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When you have a referral from someone you trust, there’s less need to spend time worrying and scrutinizing multiple proposals. (That said, a contractor who takes offense if you’re collecting other proposals should be viewed with suspicion.)
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The contractor has more local knowledge and greater accountability to local authorities.
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In the event of an emergency, you can get same day or next day service.
No homeowner should have to replace his or her roof 5 – 7 years after it’s built or repaired. When you need your roof repaired or replaced, look at local roofing companies first. You won’t always get the lowest price, but you’ll sleep better when the job is done.