As our business has grown, and as we have spent time researching the Oklahoma City roofing market and local contractors, and our own Arrowstar Roofing & Construction Web site, an alarming trend has caught our attention… prevalent among a minority of smaller contractors. It all boils down to a single statement:
“Oklahoma Licensed Roofing Contractor”
While verbiage and usage of the term may differ from contractor to contractor, there is a simple truth behind any person claiming to be a licensed roofing contractor in the state of Oklahoma… there is no licensing requirement to establish or operate a roofing company in Oklahoma.
Arrowstar Roofing & Construction strongly advocates further regulation of the Oklahoma roofing industry. Because of Central Oklahoma’s unpredictable, damaging weather patterns, many unknown, out-of-state contractors and “fly-by-night” roofers magically appear around town during and after storms. Cheap signage, business cards, an easy-to-acquire local telephone number and a big smile can often sway trusting consumers to disingenuous roofing contractors. Licensing in our industry is needed, but the Oklahoma Department of Commerce clearly spells out the non-licensing requirement for roofing contractors here: http://www.okcommerce.gov/index.php?option=com_busli…
Verbatim (from Okla. Dept. of Commerce Web site):
Oklahoma Business Licensing System
Business Type: Roofing Contractor
This activity is considered as a General Contractor, for which there is not a specific State license. Out-of-State contractors must contact the Tax Commission at 405-521-3279 to register and pay a bond (if working on commercial properties). They must also contact the County Clerk where the work is located and register the starting and ending dates for project.
Make no mistake: there is no such thing as an Oklahoma Roofing License. That’s the state’s words, not ours.
It’s important, however, to understand that there are licensed roofers in our great nation following strict regulations. In Louisiana, for instance, a state contractor’s license or registration is required for commercial projects over $50,000, all residential repair/remodeling projects over $7,500, projects using hazardous materials, or projects addressing mold issues. Various other states have similar regulations.
Some Oklahoma roofing contractors may hold licenses if they regularly operate out of state. In addition, some local roofing contractors may be members of any number of private professional organizations, or may hold certifications for installation of specific roofing products. All are certifications that we strongly believe add to the credibility of any roofing contractor.
But again, if someone tells you they hold their Oklahoma roofing contractor’s license… ask to see it! It will be a historic moment, as you will be gazing upon a document that no other Oklahoman has ever seen.
With the lax requirements for establishment and operation of a roofing company in Oklahoma, consumers should be very diligent and ask plenty of questions when choosing a contractor to repair or roof their home or business. Here are a few tips:
INSURANCE
Whomever you choose to repair your roof, make sure that they are insured through a reputable insurance agency for any unforeseeable damages that could be caused by the work being performed. Make sure that all subcontractors have indemnified both the contractor and property owner from accidents, and that any regular employees are covered by workman’s compensation.
REFERENCES
Go with your gut instinct. If you’re talking to a potential contractor and find yourself questioning his or her work ethic or abilities, don’t be afraid to ask for two or three references. Experienced contractors will have no problem giving them to you. Get addresses if you like… drive by these past jobs and check out their work. Contact the property owners. Be reasonable with your requests and expectations, however, and give contractors a day or two to provide this information for you. Many contractors may wish to ask permission of past customers before providing their information to a third party. However, if days pass with no references being given, it’s safe to assume the potential contractor is having trouble on this front.
JOB SCOPE VS. SIZE OF COMPANY
How big is your job? How big is your potential contractor’s company? You should weigh the risks of job size versus company infrastructure in all projects. Obviously, you wouldn’t want to hire a one-man crew to roof a large factory… but on the same note, you might not get good results trying to get the largest roofing company in the state to come and fix one single leak on your home. Make sure the size of your job fits the size of the company. Make sure your contractor has the crew and resources to get the job done. But if your project is small, or a simple leak repair, make sure you’re choosing a contractor that won’t hit you with a high minimum charge… or put you at the bottom of the list… due to other, more lucrative projects.
EXPERIENCE
There’s no replacement for experience. Period. How long has a potential contractor been in business? How long has he or she been personally involved in the roofing business? More importantly, how long has the crew doing the type of work you need done? What similar projects has your contractor completed recently, and what were the results? You don’t want to hire a life-long electrician to completely replace your roof, just like you wouldn’t hire a mailman to fix your sink. Make sure your contractor–and his or her crew–is qualified to do the work.
WARRANTIES
Now that you’ve finally been convinced of a company’s stability, legality, reputation and ability, and you’re ready to make a decision… make sure your contractor is willing to offer you a written warranty for his or her work. Nobody’s perfect. We’re all wrong from time to time. You may choose the wrong contractor, or the contractor may have misdiagnosed the problem. Be sure you are protecting yourself from the unknowns of the future by getting a written guarantee of the work that will be performed. Don’t get caught holding the bag when a contractor has done sub-par, inadequate work… or when perfect work has simply missed the problem.
Like it or not, there’s no such thing as an Oklahoma Roofing License. Unlike some states in the U.S., Oklahoma homeowners and business owners cannot be assured that their state government has pre-qualified a contractor to complete roofing projects.
However, with some consideration, diligence and a little bit of questioning, home and business owners in Oklahoma City can be confident in choosing a great contractor according to the size of their project and material application needs.
Arrowstar Roofing & Construction is an Oklahoma City based roofing contractor, bonded and insured with over 35 years experience. Specializing in commercial and residential roof repair and maintenance, Arrowstar is also qualified in the application of full-scale new roofing and re-roofing products including built-up, single-ply, TPO, PVC, EPDM, hot tar, Modified Bitumen, composition and wood shingling, tile roofs and more. For more information, visit www.arrowstarroofing.com or call (405) 365-6577.
