Other than the base infrastructure, your roof is arguably the most important part of your home. It protects your family and your belongings from the heavy rains and harsh heat and humidity of Florida summers. It provides the shelter and protection you need to feel safe and secure at home. Despite its importance, your roof is often the most neglected part of your home as well. We assume roofs can withstand it all until they begin to show signs of wear and tear or fail completely.

If your roof is in need of maintenance or repair services, hiring a trustworthy contractor is vital. Don’t get swindled out of thousands of dollars by hiring the wrong person. When researching your roofing contractor in Hollywood, be sure to look out for these five major red flags.

Not Licensed

Florida requires all contractors to be licensed and registered with the state in order to remain in compliance and legally take on any contracted work. Roofers in Hollywood and across the state are required to clearly display their license number in all advertisement, including vehicle wraps, business cards, and websites.

Shady contractors may claim to be registered but avoid giving their license number or claim to be in the process of renewal—watch out. If you can’t get access to this information, it could be a red flag of illegal contract work. Hiring such a roofing contractor in Hollywood puts you at risk: they likely also don’t carry insurance for their work and cannot obtain the proper permits for roofing work if they are required. That means any resulting fees or damages are your responsibility.

Don’t get trapped with the bill for someone else’s mistake. J&K Roofing is licensed with the state of Florida (License #CC-C058051) and has served South Florida for more than 30 years. Our team of experienced roofing contractors is ready and able to take on any roofing job, big or small!

No Inspection

Another huge red flag for a shady, untrustworthy contractor is one who is willing to take on a job before inspecting your roof themselves. While on the surface this may seem like a sign of confidence, in actuality it can be a sign of greed. You should always look for a contractor that provides roof inspection in Hollywood so you understand the extent of the work necessary and you can get an estimate of costs and timeframe.

Without conducting a thorough inspection, no roofer can give you a realistic estimate of either. While a low initial estimate can be tempting, odds are the costs will ramp up once work actually begins, potentially putting you over budget and in a tight spot.

Stalling Work

Once you’ve hired a roofing contractor in Hollywood, you should have a general time frame for when you can expect your project to be completed. If you find that date continuously being pushed back for vague reasons or your contractor is avoiding giving you a date at all, you may want to consider looking for someone else. While some delays can’t be avoided because of material shipment times or weather issues, if no work is getting done for weeks or months at a time, do not think you’re stuck with your current contractor. If they fail to adhere to the terms of your contract, you can find a contractor who will.

With J&K Roofing, you never have to wonder what’s happening with your project. We keep you informed every step of the way with full transparency.

No Contract

Speaking of contracts—shady roofing contractors may try to convince you not having one is better for you. They may tell you working outside of a contract will save you money in fees and time or spin other tales to convince you to pay them under the table. Don’t do it. Without a contract, you have no legal protections should your contractor fail to complete the job or cause additional damage to your home. Again, don’t get caught in discounts now and end up with massive bills later.

Failure to Provide References

When it comes to roofing and other contract work, reputation is everything. While researching roofing contractors, be sure to look for reviews and ask for references. If a contractor is unable to provide any, this could be a red flag that they are hiding subpar work. Be sure to check with the Better Business Bureau as well. They can show any complaints filed against a contract regarding prior work.

J&K Roofing lets our clients speak for us. Read our reviews, then give us a call to learn how we can help you!