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Roofing Scams Uncovered: What Every Texas Homeowner Should Know With the new year underway and storm season just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to discuss some of the common pitfalls in the Texas roofing industry. In Texas, the roofing industry operates in a largely unregulated space, leaving homeowners vulnerable to deceptive practices and subpar workmanship. Your roof isn’t just another part of your house—it’s the critical structure that protects your family, belongings, and investment. Choosing the right contractor after a hailstorm, for routine maintenance, or during a home sale is a decision that carries significant weight. RCAT Executive Director Sarah Ramon and RCAT Member Mike Eyman recently sat down for a candid discussion on these issues, which you can watch here. In this blog, we’ll expand on the key points from their discussion, reinforcing the crucial topics they explored and providing additional insights to help homeowners and contractors navigate the Texas roofing industry with confidence. Even if you’re a roofing contractor yourself, we encourage you to read along and share this blog with homeowners who could benefit from this essential information! Do Your Homework After a hailstorm or severe weather event, it’s common to see contractors knocking on doors, eager to offer their services. While some are legitimate professionals, many are “storm chasers” who prey on homeowners’ emotions and urgency. As Mike Eyman points out, “It takes significant hail or wind damage to create the kind of devastation that requires immediate tarping. Yet, some contractors rush in, exaggerating the damage, and push homeowners to sign agreements before the hail even melts.” RCAT emphasizes the importance of doing your homework before signing anything. Unlike many states, Texas doesn’t require roofing contractors to carry specific roofing insurance, register with the state, or meet licensing requirements. This lack of oversight puts the responsibility squarely on homeowners to verify their contractor’s qualifications. That’s why one of RCAT’s fundamental goals is to make the roofing industry safer for consumers. Every contractor listed in the RCAT Member Directory has been intensely vetted to ensure they meet the association’s high standards. This includes verifying that they’ve been in business for at least a year, carry roofing-specific insurance, and operate with professionalism and integrity. By choosing an RCAT member, homeowners can trust they’re hiring someone who has gone above and beyond the minimal requirements to prioritize safety, quality, and accountability. These efforts are central to RCAT’s mission of raising the bar for the roofing industry while protecting consumers across Texas. The Role of Insurance in Protecting Your Home Insurance is one of the most misunderstood aspects of hiring a contractor, especially after severe weather events like hailstorms. s Many contractors display general liability (GL) policies to reassure homeowners, but as Sarah Ramon explains, “A GL policy that doesn’t specifically cover roofing work is as good as worthless when something goes wrong.” Imagine your roof is open during repairs, and a sudden storm floods your home, causing significant interior damage. Without roofing-specific insurance, you’ll have no recourse for filing a roof damage insurance claim or addressing related issues like leaks. This is especially concerning in Texas, where storm damage to roofs is a common occurrence, and homeowners often face challenges when making a hail damage insurance claim. RCAT helps mitigate these risks by requiring its members to carry proper, roofing-specific insurance. This ensures that homeowners are protected in worst-case scenarios and don’t face additional financial burdens. RCAT also encourages homeowners to take an extra step: call the insurance agent listed on the contractor’s policy to confirm that it covers the scope of work, providing peace of mind that your roof storm damage repairs are in capable and accountable hands. Identifying Roofing Scams and Deceptive Practices The Texas roofing industry has its fair share of deceptive tactics, ranging from contractors manufacturing damage to fabricating manufacturer defects. Mike Eyman shares a troubling story about a contractor creating fake hail damage to trick homeowners and insurance companies. “These scams not only hurt homeowners but also damage the industry’s reputation,” he says. These fraudulent practices often leave homeowners with denied claims and costly repairs, compounding the financial and emotional toll of storm damage. Another common roofing scam involves unqualified contractors claiming to be manufacturer-certified to inspect roofs for defects. “If someone knocks on your door claiming a manufacturer sent them, be cautious,” Sarah Ramon warns. Legitimate contractors don’t operate this way, and homeowners should always validate credentials to avoid falling victim to such ploys. To combat these issues, RCAT created Safe Roofs Over Texas, a consumer resource and awareness platform designed to educate Texans about the risks of hiring unqualified contractors. This initiative provides tools and guidance to help homeowners identify legitimate professionals and avoid scams. By using trusted resources like the RCAT Member Directory and Safe Roofs Over Texas, homeowners can make informed decisions and protect their investments while supporting ethical, vetted roofers who prioritize quality and accountability. Empowering Homeowners Through Education At RCAT, we believe that knowledge is the most powerful tool for both homeowners and contractors. As Mike Eyman points out, the lack of consumer awareness about the roofing industry leaves homeowners vulnerable to roofing scams, subpar workmanship, and even financial exploitation. That’s why RCAT has made it a priority to educate homeowners on critical topics like proper insurance, contractor verification, and spotting common scams. Through resources like the Safe Roofs Over Texas and the RCAT Member Directory, the association is actively working to protect consumers and elevate the industry as a whole. But RCAT’s commitment to education doesn’t stop with homeowners. For contractors, RCAT offers continuing education opportunities designed to keep members informed about industry developments, evolving best practices, and local regulations. This dual focus ensures that contractors uphold professional standards while empowering homeowners to make informed decisions. Together, this approach fosters a safer and more trustworthy roofing landscape in Texas—one that benefits both consumers and the industry alike. Raising the Bar for Texas Roofing Choosing the right roofing contractor isn’t just about price or convenience—it’s about protecting your home and ensuring the job is done right the first time. RCAT is dedicated to helping homeowners navigate the complexities of the roofing industry while supporting contractors committed to excellence. By choosing an RCAT-licensed contractor, homeowners gain the peace of mind that comes from working with professionals who meet rigorous standards. For contractors, RCAT membership is more than just a credential—it’s a commitment to upholding the integrity of the profession. By doing your homework, verifying credentials, and using trusted resources like the RCAT Member Directory, homeowners can avoid costly mistakes and hire contractors they can trust. RCAT remains steadfast in its mission to elevate roofing standards and protect Texas homeowners. Thanks for reading! Please share!
With the new year underway and storm season just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to discuss some of the common pitfalls in the Texas roofing industry.
In Texas, the roofing industry operates in a largely unregulated space, leaving homeowners vulnerable to deceptive practices and subpar workmanship.
Your roof isn’t just another part of your house—it’s the critical structure that protects your family, belongings, and investment.
Choosing the right contractor after a hailstorm, for routine maintenance, or during a home sale is a decision that carries significant weight.
RCAT Executive Director Sarah Ramon and RCAT Member Mike Eyman recently sat down for a candid discussion on these issues, which you can watch here.
In this blog, we’ll expand on the key points from their discussion, reinforcing the crucial topics they explored and providing additional insights to help homeowners and contractors navigate the Texas roofing industry with confidence.
Even if you’re a roofing contractor yourself, we encourage you to read along and share this blog with homeowners who could benefit from this essential information!
After a hailstorm or severe weather event, it’s common to see contractors knocking on doors, eager to offer their services.
While some are legitimate professionals, many are “storm chasers” who prey on homeowners’ emotions and urgency.
As Mike Eyman points out, “It takes significant hail or wind damage to create the kind of devastation that requires immediate tarping. Yet, some contractors rush in, exaggerating the damage, and push homeowners to sign agreements before the hail even melts.”
RCAT emphasizes the importance of doing your homework before signing anything.
Unlike many states, Texas doesn’t require roofing contractors to carry specific roofing insurance, register with the state, or meet licensing requirements.
This lack of oversight puts the responsibility squarely on homeowners to verify their contractor’s qualifications.
That’s why one of RCAT’s fundamental goals is to make the roofing industry safer for consumers.
Every contractor listed in the RCAT Member Directory has been intensely vetted to ensure they meet the association’s high standards.
This includes verifying that they’ve been in business for at least a year, carry roofing-specific insurance, and operate with professionalism and integrity.
By choosing an RCAT member, homeowners can trust they’re hiring someone who has gone above and beyond the minimal requirements to prioritize safety, quality, and accountability.
These efforts are central to RCAT’s mission of raising the bar for the roofing industry while protecting consumers across Texas.
Insurance is one of the most misunderstood aspects of hiring a contractor, especially after severe weather events like hailstorms. s
Many contractors display general liability (GL) policies to reassure homeowners, but as Sarah Ramon explains, “A GL policy that doesn’t specifically cover roofing work is as good as worthless when something goes wrong.”
Imagine your roof is open during repairs, and a sudden storm floods your home, causing significant interior damage.
Without roofing-specific insurance, you’ll have no recourse for filing a roof damage insurance claim or addressing related issues like leaks.
This is especially concerning in Texas, where storm damage to roofs is a common occurrence, and homeowners often face challenges when making a hail damage insurance claim.
RCAT helps mitigate these risks by requiring its members to carry proper, roofing-specific insurance.
This ensures that homeowners are protected in worst-case scenarios and don’t face additional financial burdens.
RCAT also encourages homeowners to take an extra step: call the insurance agent listed on the contractor’s policy to confirm that it covers the scope of work, providing peace of mind that your roof storm damage repairs are in capable and accountable hands.
The Texas roofing industry has its fair share of deceptive tactics, ranging from contractors manufacturing damage to fabricating manufacturer defects.
Mike Eyman shares a troubling story about a contractor creating fake hail damage to trick homeowners and insurance companies. “These scams not only hurt homeowners but also damage the industry’s reputation,” he says.
These fraudulent practices often leave homeowners with denied claims and costly repairs, compounding the financial and emotional toll of storm damage.
Another common roofing scam involves unqualified contractors claiming to be manufacturer-certified to inspect roofs for defects.
“If someone knocks on your door claiming a manufacturer sent them, be cautious,” Sarah Ramon warns.
Legitimate contractors don’t operate this way, and homeowners should always validate credentials to avoid falling victim to such ploys.
To combat these issues, RCAT created Safe Roofs Over Texas, a consumer resource and awareness platform designed to educate Texans about the risks of hiring unqualified contractors.
This initiative provides tools and guidance to help homeowners identify legitimate professionals and avoid scams.
By using trusted resources like the RCAT Member Directory and Safe Roofs Over Texas, homeowners can make informed decisions and protect their investments while supporting ethical, vetted roofers who prioritize quality and accountability.
At RCAT, we believe that knowledge is the most powerful tool for both homeowners and contractors.
As Mike Eyman points out, the lack of consumer awareness about the roofing industry leaves homeowners vulnerable to roofing scams, subpar workmanship, and even financial exploitation.
That’s why RCAT has made it a priority to educate homeowners on critical topics like proper insurance, contractor verification, and spotting common scams.
Through resources like the Safe Roofs Over Texas and the RCAT Member Directory, the association is actively working to protect consumers and elevate the industry as a whole.
But RCAT’s commitment to education doesn’t stop with homeowners.
For contractors, RCAT offers continuing education opportunities designed to keep members informed about industry developments, evolving best practices, and local regulations.
This dual focus ensures that contractors uphold professional standards while empowering homeowners to make informed decisions.
Together, this approach fosters a safer and more trustworthy roofing landscape in Texas—one that benefits both consumers and the industry alike.
Choosing the right roofing contractor isn’t just about price or convenience—it’s about protecting your home and ensuring the job is done right the first time.
RCAT is dedicated to helping homeowners navigate the complexities of the roofing industry while supporting contractors committed to excellence.
By choosing an RCAT-licensed contractor, homeowners gain the peace of mind that comes from working with professionals who meet rigorous standards.
For contractors, RCAT membership is more than just a credential—it’s a commitment to upholding the integrity of the profession.
By doing your homework, verifying credentials, and using trusted resources like the RCAT Member Directory, homeowners can avoid costly mistakes and hire contractors they can trust.
RCAT remains steadfast in its mission to elevate roofing standards and protect Texas homeowners.
Thanks for reading! Please share!