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Richmond, VA Roofer Scam Swindles Residents

The saying goes it only takes on bad apple to spoil the bunch and unfortunately that old adage rings true when it comes to the roofing industry. That’s what residents of Richmond, Virginia are learning about a man who has been scamming local residents for multiple years.

Authorities are now on the search for 55-year old Thomas Taylor who is accused of swindling Richmond residents out of thousands of dollars for roof repairs and other work that is entirely unnecessary. The suspect has hit multiple neighborhoods recently and left homeowners scratching their heads and trying to figure out how they can recoup their losses.

Unfortunately, this not the first time that a roofing scam and even Taylor himself has hit the same neighborhood for a quick buck. “The man comes into the neighborhood periodically and will approach a homeowner and tell them there’s a problem with the gutters or shingles. “If they’re unfamiliar with him or new to the area, often they’ll let him put a ladder to the home and climb onto the roof. He’ll often magnify the extent of the issue,” says Elizabeth Roderick. Roderick is in charge of overseeing the crime watch for Westover Hills Homeowners Association, a neighborhood that has been repeatedly preyed upon by Taylor.

Taylor will often hand over a business care to give the illusion that he is licensed and experienced though he will often make up issues with a home’s roof and gutters to make the “fix” and walk away with the homeowner’s money.

There are multiple ways that homeowners can avoid a person like Taylor’s scams or many other roof scams. Here are some quick tips on how to avoid criminals like Taylor.

  • Be wary of door-knockers and roofing contractors who come to your door
  • Always ask who a person works for and their credentials such as licenses, insurance information, and registrations before allowing them on your roofs
  • Never pay a roofer up front, wait until a job you requested is taken care of and you are satisfied with results

By being cautious and doing extra research, you can avoid many of the scams that some Richmond residents have fallen for. When it comes to your home, it always pays to be vigilant and thorough.

Scam
Melissa Popp No Comments

Roofing Company Faces Fines Due to Safety Violations

The Roof Doctor Inc. has been cited by The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries for exposing workers to fall hazards without the proper protection equipment. According to the State Department of Labor & Industries, The Roof Doctor is responsible for making six “willful violations” while their workers were roofing a house in Castle Rock in July from heights reaching up to 23 feet.

Each of the six violations carries a maximum penalty of a fine of $70,000 bringing the total to over $420,000 in fines. During the Labor and Industries Department investigation into The Roof Doctor’s operations the company was also cited for one serious violation that carries a penalty of $7,000 and is described as failure to effectively train workers in how to use systems and equipment designed to protect against falls. The company reportedly required workers to pay for their own protective equipment which should have been provided at no cost.

“Falls from heights are completely preventable, and yet they’re a leading cause of worker fatalities and hospitalizations in our state,” said Anne Soiza, assistant director for the Labor and Industries’ Division of Occupational Safety and Health. “We’re hopeful that this will lead to proper fall protection practices for all of their workers, all the time, going forward.”

According to reports from the Labor and Industries Department this is the eighth time that The Roof Doctor has been cited for fall protection violations since 2012. In addition, this is the second six figure fine that the company has incurred since 2014. The last citation, totaling over $200,000 in fines, is currently under appeal.

Multiple violations have labeled The Roof Doctor as a severe violator by the Labor and Industries Department and thus subject to follow-up inspections which will determine if the conditions continue to exist in the future. The Roof Doctor is one of Washington State’s largest roofing companies and employs over one hundred employees in nine counties. The company currently has until February 12th to appeal the fine and any money paid as a result of the fines will go to the workers’ compensation supplemental pension fund.

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Melissa Popp No Comments

3 Ways Roofing Contractors Can Help You

If you’ve never had to have your roof repaired or replaced, you might have some preconceived notions about everything that a roofing company can do for you. They just put the shingles on the house right? There are certainly roofing contractors that may be lacking in all around service but there are several roofers right here in Denver that can take care of your entire roofing issue from start to finish. Here are some less obvious ways that roofing contractors can help you.

3 Ways Roofing Contractors Can Help You

Roofing Contractors Can Help with Free Estimates

In this era of roofing, it makes no sense to pay for a repair or roof replacement estimate. Denver is full of reliable roofing contractors that will come out to inspect your roof, make suggestions about what needs to be done, and draw up an estimate, all free of charge. You should never pay for a roof repair or estimate.

Roofing Contractors Can Help Your Insurance Claims

When it comes to getting your roof repaired or replaced from an insurance claim, the claims process will likely be more of a headache than the actual reroof. That’s why it’s important to find a roofing contractor that can assist you in the insurance claims process. Full service roofing contractors can meet with your insurance adjuster, check over your insurance paperwork, and talk to the insurance company during the process to make sure everyone is on the same page. If you aren’t using a roofing contractor that can help with insurance claims, you are missing out.

Roofing Contractors Can Help with Gutters and Trades

There are several roofing contractors that will only work on the roof of the home but there are also several can help out with other repairs and fixes that need to be taken care of. If you need help or repairs on your gutters, windows, or ventilation, choose a full service roofing contractor so you only need to make one call.

When it comes time to repair or reroof your home, you should look for roofing contractors that are willing to go above and beyond simple roof replacement. Luckily it’s not too difficult to find a great roofer that will help you with more than just the roof. If your home was recently hit with hail or is falling apart, find one of these great all around roofing companies to help you through the entire process.

Roofing shingles
Melissa Popp No Comments

5 Ways to Use Roofing Shingles

Roofing shingles are good for more than just repairing or replacing your roof during a project. When roofers come out and get up on your roof to use them, chances are there will be leftover shingles after the job is done. These shingles are yours to do with what you want but there are some reasons why you should hold onto them in the future. Here are five ways to use roofing shingles after your roof is replaced or repaired.

5 Ways to Use Roofing Shingles After the Job is Done

Save for future repairs

Always save at least one bundle of roofing shingles whenever possible. Shingle manufacturers often change colors over the years, which means if you need to repair or replace a part of your roof, you may have to have the whole thing replaced if the colors are off.

Use for other projects

If you have a dog house, shed, gazebo or a smaller project, you can reroof it as well to match your home. This can be a great way to use roofing shingles and match your home’s roof, too.

Prevent slips and falls during winter

If you lay down asphalt roofing shingles on your walkway during winter, especially before the snow freezes up, you’ll add another level of traction for those walking to and from.

Use as a foundation for stonework

If you’re installing stonework on grass, you can use asphalt roofing shingles as a way to keep the stones in place during installation as well as preventing weeds from sprouting up down the line.

Create art with wood roofing shingles

Wood roofing shingles can be used as an oil paint canvas. It’ll give any painting a rustic, old-fashioned look you can’t get with a modern canvas. You’ll need to treat the wood shakes before you begin painting but this will create a unique art project for any painter.

As you can see, roofing shingles – no matter the type – can be used for a variety of purposes beyond repairing or replacing your roof. Consider that the next time you have your roof repaired or replaced and save a bundle of shingles for use in the future.

Recycle asphalt shingles
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Should You Recycle Asphalt Shingles?

Asphalt roofing shingles are the most popular and common type of roofing shingle in North America. Most residential properties, like homes and apartment complexes, use asphalt shingles. If you’ve ever seen a roof get replaced, you know how many old shingles are thrown to the side and how many new shingles might get damaged and also be discarded. If you’re mindful of the environment, you may ask yourself: “Should you recycle asphalt shingles?” We’ll answer that for you.

So, Should You Recycle Asphalt Shingles?

The average replacement for a residential roof generally discards one to three tons of asphalt shingles. A roof consists of one or two old layers before they’re both pulled off for a full replacement. This is where a number of shingles comes into play. These shingles are often loaded into a truck or dumpster, then discarded at the local dump. It can take asphalt shingles up to 300 years to degrade when left at the dump.

One of the reasons asphalt shingles are dumped rather than recycled is because the recycling process for them needs to be done in a specialized environment. When recycled properly, a single roof can reduce the need for oil in the United States by two barrels. This may not seem like a lot from a single roof but when you consider that it’s estimated that 10 million tons of asphalt shingles are dumped every year. If those had been recycled, just imagine the impact on the environment it could have.

Asphalt shingles are recycled when roofing companies collect the discarded shingles then sort them from the non-asphalt materials. Nails will be removed at the recycling center when dropped off. Often, recycling asphalt shingles might cost some money; some facilities do it for free but when there’s a charge, this usually keeps roofers from going to the trouble unless pressed by homeowners.

If you want your asphalt shingles recycled, talk to your roofer about ensuring it gets done. Whether the cost is passed on to you or the roofer takes care of it themselves, ensuring you’re cutting down on waste in the world is one way to reduce your carbon footprint.