Storm chaser or reputable contractor?

After a storm, a dozen roofers are knocking on your door. They all have a good pitch, but most of them won't be around to warranty their work. Here are the red flags, and what a reputable contractor like MTL does instead.

A homeowner Mark Larson worked with

She hired two roofers after a storm. Both of them took her money and disappeared.

The first contractor collected her insurance check and was never seen again. She still had the storm damage, and now she had no insurance money to fix it.

So she paid a second contractor a down payment out of her own pocket. He ran off with it too.

Her house leaked while she tried to recover. It took her years to get back on her feet financially. Neither contractor had a bad pitch. That's the problem.

Why storms attract bad roofers

Using your insurance after a storm is smart. Picking the wrong roofer is where it goes wrong.

You've paid premiums for years, and storm damage is exactly what that coverage is for. Storm chasers know it too. They follow hail from state to state, sell as many roofs as they can, and leave. Once the last shingle is on, they have no reason to care how it holds up, because they won't be around when it doesn't.

The question to ask isn't who has the best pitch. It's who will still pick up the phone in five years.

Red flag

"We'll cover your deductible."

It sounds like a deal. In Texas it's illegal for a contractor to waive, absorb or rebate your deductible, and it can pull you into an insurance fraud problem too. A roofer willing to break the law to win your job will make that money back somewhere: cheaper materials, rushed installs, underpaid crews.

Texas Business & Commerce Code §27.02

What MTL does instead

You pay your full deductible. That's the law.

Texas law requires every homeowner to pay their deductible, and MTL Construction Services won't play games with it. Your MTL Project Manager will show you exactly what you owe and when each payment is due, in writing, before you sign.

Red flag

Promises that never make it onto paper.

The pitch at your door doesn't matter. What matters is what they'll put in writing. If a roofer gets vague when you ask them to write down what they just told you, keep looking.

What MTL does instead

If MTL said it, it's in the contract.

Scope, materials, price and warranty are written down before you sign anything.

Red flag

Different shingles show up on install day.

You were sold one shingle. The bundles in your driveway are something cheaper. Most homeowners never check.

What MTL does instead

Your materials are named by manufacturer and product line.

Check the bundle wrappers against your contract when they're delivered. Your MTL Project Manager will walk you through what to look for.

Red flag

The old underlayment stays on the roof.

Some crews strip the shingles, lay new underlayment over the old, and shingle on top. It saves them time and dump fees. It's also a code violation, and it hides the wood underneath.

International Residential Code R908.3

What MTL does instead

Every layer comes off, down to bare wood.

Then your MTL Project Manager inspects the deck, and MTL Construction Services replaces any rotten or soft decking before a single new shingle goes on.

Red flag

A contingency agreement with a cancellation fee.

Some chasers add a $750 to $1,500 fee if you change your mind and hire someone else. It's pressure to keep you from shopping around. Watch for language saying they'll negotiate your claim "on your behalf" too. In Texas, a contractor can't act as your public adjuster, and a contract that says they will can be voided.

Texas Insurance Code §4102.163 and §4102.207

What MTL does instead

No cancellation fee. Ever.

The MTL Construction Services agreement has one job: putting in writing that you chose MTL to do the repair if you decide to move forward. If you don't move forward, it's void. If you decide to go with someone else, MTL cancels it. No fee, no argument.

Red flag

Nobody answers when something goes wrong.

A warranty is only as good as the company behind it. If they've moved on to the next hail storm, your warranty left with them.

What MTL does instead

A limited lifetime warranty, from someone who lives here.

MTL Construction Services stands behind it because MTL knows how the roof is installed. If a shingle fails, MTL comes back.

MTL Construction Services is a roofing contractor, not a public adjuster or a law firm. MTL does not negotiate or settle insurance claims and does not interpret insurance policies. MTL documents the damage, prices the repair and supplements what the claim estimate missed. Every decision about your claim is yours.

How MTL Construction Services works with you

You're in the driver's seat. Your MTL Project Manager sits in the passenger seat and navigates.

You decide when to hit the gas, when to hit the brakes, and which way to turn. Your MTL Project Manager gives you the facts about your roof — the photos, the damage and what a proper repair takes — so you can make each of those calls with confidence. Your MTL Project Manager navigates. You decide where we go and how fast.

Get a second opinion before you sign anything.

If someone's already knocked on your door, your MTL Project Manager will inspect your roof for free, show you the photos, and tell you honestly whether you have storm damage. No pressure and no cost.

Inspection Consultation