Ever heard the saying, “Failure to prepare is preparing yourself for failure”? It’s true! Before you sign a contract with Trunk Slammer Roofing, ask them these questions. If they’re legit, they’ll smile and oblige your request. If they get upset and storm away, you just saved yourself from a headache that a bottle of pills can’t cure. So go ahead and ask away!

Question 1: Can you send me a copy of your Tax ID number or business license?

Most roofers should have this on file. Make a quick call to the office and have them fax/email a copy to you.

Question 2: Will your liability & workman’s compensation insurances be valid during my job?

Go with your instinct here. If they shy away from the question or don’t give you a clear answer, insist of seeing the certificates before you agree to terms. In some cases it is better to see than believe.

Questions 3: Can you send me a list of references in my area?

A well established company should have a list of references ready to send on request. Be sure to call the references and feel them out. Ask them for positive AND negatives.

Question 4: May I have everything we’ve discusses in writing?

He said/she said doesn’t hold up in the courtroom. Written contracts that give detailed specifications, start times, payment procedures, etc do. Get it in writing and keep it for your records.

Question 5: How will you be involved in the process?

Most of the time, crews do the labor intensive work and the contractor supervises.  Ask how quality control procedures will be monitored and how many people will be on the roof.

Question 6: So you’re warranty covers everything right?

This should raise a red flag with your contractor because no warranty covers everything. They should be quick to disclose special circumstances involved with the warranty. Once they have told you specifics, carefully read the warranty details and compare.

By asking these questions you should have enough information from a contractor to make an informed decision. You’ll probably feel more comfortable with the roofer you choose, too. And remember, a shady roofer will be hesitant to provide you with information, but a quality roofer will appreciate your preparedness.

True story: A contractor was reroofing a home and found extensive wood damages. He notified the owner of the damages and told him it would cost a few thousand dollars to replace. The owner replied, “Okay, do what you need to do.” The owner would check on the progress daily, even bring the workers drinks to keep them hydrated. When the job was completed, everyone was happy and shook hands.

A few days later the owner received a $2,300 wood bill from the contractor. After a few weeks the roofer called the owner and asked him why he had not paid the balance. The owner replied, “I’m not paying for that, I didn’t sign anything!”

Long story short, they went to court and the contractor learned a $2,300 lesson on the importance of change orders. The judge ruled in favor of the homeowner and the contractor was left with taking a loss on the job as well as court fees. Ouch! Change orders change things.

Most people don’t understand the importance of change orders. They are for limiting customer misunderstandings, promising quality work and maintaining a flow of information between the parties. Below are some ways you and your roofer can avoid confusion and stay on the same page.

1. Speak with your contractor, not paid laborers, about any changes you would like made to work outlined in the original contract.

2. Anticipate a change in the time and cost required to complete the project.

3. Deal with the project supervisor or someone who has the ability to approve the change order.

4. Make sure the changes are made in writing, then signed and dated by both parties.

5. Have changes to scope of work and price added to the original contract.

6. Discuss terms of payment for the change order.

7. Make sure the terms of the change order have been addressed before making final payment.

Following these guidelines should keep everyone happy and out of trouble (and the courtroom). Consistent communication is the most important aspect of ensuring a change order is processed correctly. And remember, verbal communication is worth nothing. Get everything in writing!

Back in Hollywood’s golden era came one of the most enduring films of all time, Gone with the Wind. It is a story of having something one day and losing it the next. With a backdrop of the Civil War, the film goes on to explore the aftermath of the disaster and its effects on the people involved.

You’re probably wondering what this has to do with roofing and hurricane claims. The after effects of this storm might have you feeling like Clark Gable’s character Rhett Butler when he says to Scarlett “Frankly dear, I couldn’t give a darn (Rated G version)!” Guess what? You better give a darn! You might say, “My roof looks okay so there must not be any damage.”

Many folks don’t react to a roof problem after a storm because they didn’t lose any shingles that have gone with the wind (yes I’m done milking the title for lame puns…well maybe not). They won’t react because they don’t have any visible leaks. A majority of leaks on a roof go undetected for months, sometimes years. The leak starts out small and is absorbed by the wood decking and insulation in the attic until it becomes so bad that a brown stain forms on the ceiling. At this point you could have wood rot and mold issues.

A roof system can appear intact on the surface, but be completely destroyed beneath. How is this possible? Simply put, uplift occurs during a storm. Your roofing material can be lifted up and set back down again just like spreading a sheet when making your bed. When you spread the sheet it doesn’t lay perfectly tight, it tends to have ripples and wavers until you go around and tighten it. The same is true for your roof. However subtle it may seem, your roof may have lifted. Another common issue is that shingles have been lifted (flapping) individually, rendering the seal on the bottom edges ineffective. Flapping causes a subtle crease in the shingle and removes granules from the folded line. This is where the sun’s UV rays accelerate the deterioration your roof system. In short, you roof may look fine but it may be a total loss.

The concern I have for property owners is that their roof may not have “gone with the wind”, but their chances to file a claim will be if not filed within the allotted time. Check the claim period deadline with your insurance company, the state insurance commission, or www.fema.gov. A claim and subsequent inspection is free so take advantage of the service. Until next week, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

The title of this article is reminiscent to the days of the old Vaudevillian Theater magicians. This phrase is an excellent demonstration of how a “bad” contractor can take advantage of you.

Many people would consider the phrase, “You get what you pay for!” cliché, but in the world of contracting the meaning of this phrase couldn’t be more important.  When considering this saying there are two different points to think about.  You can never get something for nothing and there are those who will give you as little as possible for the money you paid.    

People naturally gravitate toward the idea of “free stuff”.  The thought of getting something for free has been ingrained since we were children, watching movies about rubbing magic lamps to making wishes over a birthday cake.  The best thing to do is accept that there are no “free deals.”  Often these deals come with a catch, “Order in the next ten minutes and you will also receive our deluxe new improved yada! yada! yada!…” You get the point.  

When making a deal with a contractor you need to protect yourself and your wallet.  Don’t expect the world for the lowest bid!  When you have picked the lowest bid you have likely chosen the guy that wants the business badly enough to say, “Pick me, I’m cheap.”  This guy will have to make up his profit by using lower quality materials, cheap non-insured labor or not doing all that was promised. 

How do the magician contractors get away with this feat of prestidigitation you might ask?  The most effective form of misdirection is when you ask, “Does this include _________?”, and they reply “sure it does!” If it’s not in writing they are not obligated to do it, unless you pay more in the form of extras or sign a change order. Often times a property owner is too nervous to push their concerns and ask detailed questions or they simply don’t know what to ask. Contracts can obligate the homeowner to use the same company for any additional work.  The extras are typically based on a dollar amount per man, per hour, plus the material with a handsome mark up, along with overhead and profit. This is standard for most contactors, and this formula can be fair. The problem arises when a contractor uses this clause to compensate the low bid he gave you in the first place.

My solution is simple; Request that your contractor give you a per piece cost for additional wood work. This can be in the form of per sheet of plywood or a per foot cost for lumber. This price should include labor, materials, nails, clean up, etc.  You should request photos of any additional work so you can count the number of plywood sheets replaced or linear feet of lumber installed. Doing this keeps the contractor honest and justifies the completed work.

This is just one tool to help you become “rip-off” free. Leave no room for misdirection, unanswered questions, or plain old hocus pocus during your next project.   After all there are some really good contractors out there, and we try to be one of them.

Good day class and welcome to Roofing 101. Now before we get started I would like to mention that although this subject may be as fun as chewing on a piece of chalk, the information provided can, and will save you a bunch of cash-o-la!

Let start with what may seem obvious to most people but many don’t realize. The “roof” is the surface on top of your house that you can see from the outside looking up. Please don’t take this as sarcasm because it’s not. A great many people think that the roof and the ceiling are one and the same. Please let me explain. I often come across customers that say to me after we finish their roof, “why didn’t you finish the inside of the roof”? I would then explain to them that the area they are referring to is called the ceiling, I would then politely refer a good painter/ drywaller to help them out.

There are only a few general types of roof which include shingle (a majority of roofs), tile, metal, wood shakes, or slate. There are a bunch of websites to look at what I’m writing about. For the sake of time I will discuss the main components of the shingle roof system. The shingle roof consists of the field shingle which is the majority of shingles you see on your roof when you look at it. The next part would be the cap, or ridge shingles. These shingles are the ones you see on the…uh…how do you say… oh yeah the ridge, or hip portion of the roof. One thing I would like to make you aware of is the fact that shingles are not the mechanism that keeps you dry when it rains. The underlayment, or “felt paper” under the shingles is what keeps you dry. The shingles are there to protect the underlayment, and add architectural appeal to the home (in most cases). The reason this is important is because the area of underlayment is where roofers tend to cut the corners. Insist on a minimum of 30 lb felt. Peel and stick is even better. Even if it costs a little more now it is well worth the longevity in your roof system life that you’ll appreciate years from now.

There are two major shingle types. First is the 3-Tab shingle. These are less costly but only last 20 years or so. The other type is the architectural or dimensional shingle. These come with a 30 year warranty and look a lot better. They do cost a bit more, but the thing you need to understand is that the cost difference for this type of shingle is only about five to six hundred dollars for an average size home as opposed to the 3-Tab. The actual value of the home, if not the perceived value for resale, is usually more than the upgrade cost now. In short, ask for a little better stuff, and get a much better roof system to protect your home and family. Until next time stay dry so you spend your time thinking more about things you enjoy, and less about things like this.

Hello dear readers, once again it’s that time of year when the Harvest Moon shines its light for all the ghosts, ghoulies, vampires, zombies, and let us not forget, the sheer terror of the Hannah Montana clones. They descend upon your neighborhood like a top -notch crack squadron of ARMY Rangers in search of glory in the form of sugary treats.

However scary the season might be, nothing is scarier than making a bad decision with regard to choosing a contractor. This is a mistake that can cost you a lot. This is not limited to money, but also time and quality of life. Whenever asked, “What is the best way to select a contractor?” most people would say, “Get some references.” Being a contactor I say to you the consumer, that this should be your last tool to protect yourself. That’s right, references are not the best litmus test to pick a contractor. Please allow me to explain. If you ask a contractor for three references and last year he did 100 projects and royally messed up 97 of them, what 3 references will he give you? See what I mean? Let me give you an example. I personally know a contractor in the area that is notorious for doing less than stellar work. He comes out with his “aw shucks, yes sir posture” and sells you a scope of work. You being the smart consumer will then in turn ask for some reference with which he says, “No problem!” He then hands you (with earnest) a neatly typed list of three or five people he’d like you to check out. Unfortunately, what you don’t know is that two of them are family members (wife included, using her maiden name by the way), one is his best buddy (named “Buddy” . . . no kidding true story!), and the two customers he did do a good job for last year. Hey, even a broken clock is right twice a day right? How did I find this out? Simple, I heard him bragging about it at the local contractors supply yard. Long story short, even Jeffery Dahmer had a reference to get his job. So what do I do?

#1 Call local government jurisdiction that they have their license with.

#2 Call your city/ county fraud unit (yes someone is in charge of this in your local area government).

#3 Check any trade organizations that they claim to belong to.

#4 Give your state attorney office a jingle.

If you do need references try to get ones that are local to you so you can do a drive by and chat with them face to face for a little bit.  Although references may not be the best method to validate your contractor, they can be a handy tool in order to establish the quality of work by going out to see the completed projects.

C.H. Ferris

General & Roofing Contractor, TX & GA

State Registered Roofing Contractor FL

B.A. Communications & Sociology

The Price of Business radio show is proud to announce the addition of Chris Ferris as one of our program’s new Advisors who specializes in hurricane recovery issues.  “Chris brings an excellent track record who brings years of expertise to our show each week.”

About Christian Ferris

Christian Ferris was born in Wash. DC but grew up in the mid west Ohio, Nebraska, and WV.  After his graduation from high school, he volunteered in the US Army. He proudly served in the 82^nd Airborne Division in two combat campaigns: (1989) Operation Just Cause Panama and (1990) Desert Shield Storm.

After enlistment ended (1992) he attended West Liberty College and received a B.A. in Communications & Sociology.

Ferris then worked in the sales and marketing field. First, in radio and print; he functioned as a marketing director for an Austrian specialty tool company where he had the opportunity to travel and learn international negotiation.  He was able to spend the next ten years marketing and developing companies within the home improvement industry.

He founded The Fellowship Group, LLC  not only as a roofing and waterproofing  contracting service, but also  research and development and new roofing services franchise development (e.g., The Original Roof Tune-Up TM, The Mobile Roofing Factory TM, The Roof Butler TM).

Another key reason that the company was formed was due to the frustrations with the lack of ethics pervasive in those industries, and his recognition that if someone tried to do this business properly, they could develop something very substantial and long lasting.

They have 3 branches including Houston, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, and Orlando, FL (Main Office).

He is blessed with a beautiful wife, Brenda, a daughter (7), and son (13)

He is earnestly involved in the community, currently sitting on the board of directors for the local food bank, as well as working closely with his church’s youth group.

Roofing (shelter) is one of the fundamental core needs of people.  Ferris says that “If someone does this business the right way they will always have work.”  That is the story of The Fellowship Group as well.