How to Spot a Storm Chaser Roofer

The wind died down last night. This morning there is a truck in front of your house and a friendly stranger at the door. "We're working on a few roofs on your street. I noticed some damage on yours. Your insurance should cover the whole thing."

That visit may be honest. It may also be a storm chaser roofer, a crew that follows storms and wildfires from town to town, signs as many jobs as it can, and is gone before the problems show. This article covers the signs of storm chaser roofing scams, the California rules that protect you after a disaster, and what to check before you sign.

What is a storm chaser roofer?

A storm chaser roofer is a company or crew that goes where the damage is. After hail, wind, heavy rain or a wildfire, demand for roofers jumps and homeowners feel rushed. Chasers use that rush. Many are not from the area, some are not licensed in California, and few will be around if the new roof leaks next winter.

Not every company that arrives after a storm is a chaser. Local roofers get busy too. The difference is in how they sell and what their record shows.

Signs of a door to door roofer you should not hire

CSLB warns homeowners about these patterns after disasters. Any one of them is a reason to slow down.

• They found you. A door to door roofer who "happened to notice" damage you can't see from the ground.
• Pressure to sign today. A price that is only good right now, or a claim that the crew is leaving town soon.
• No license number, or one that doesn't match. The name on the truck is different from the name on the record.
• An out of state roofer with no local address. A phone number and a hotel are not a business.
• Cash, or a big deposit. In California the deposit on a home improvement job can't be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the price, whichever is less.
• "Let me handle your insurance." More on that below.

Source: CSLB, Don't Get Scammed After a Disaster; Business and Professions Code §7159.5

The deposit rules are explained in full in how much a roofer can ask for a deposit.

California rules for roof damage after a storm or fire

When the governor or a local government declares a state of emergency, California's rules get stricter for anyone selling repairs in that area.

• A California contractor license is required for any job of $500 or more in labor and materials. Contracting without one in a declared disaster area is a felony, with fines up to $10,000 or up to 16 months in state prison.
• Salespeople need their own registration. Anyone selling for a roofer should carry a Home Improvement Salesperson registration card. If they can't show one, call the company and ask whether this person works for them.
• More time to cancel. For repairs to a home damaged by a sudden event for which a state of emergency was declared, the contract gives you seven days to cancel instead of the usual three.

Source: CSLB, Don't Get Scammed After a Disaster; Business and Professions Code §7028.16; CSLB Sample Home Improvement Contract

That disaster area contractor license rule matters because out of state crews often arrive with a license from somewhere else. A license from another state does not let anyone work on your roof here.

How a roofer insurance claim pitch can go wrong

Many chasers sell the insurance claim as much as the roof. Watch for three things.

• Signing over your claim. Some contracts hand the contractor control of the claim or the payment. Read every page before you sign anything that mentions your insurer.
• "We'll cover your deductible." If the price is padded so you pay nothing, the insurer is being billed for more than the work costs. That can be insurance fraud, and your name is on the claim.
• A contingency agreement presented as an inspection form. A one page "authorization" can bind you to that roofer if the claim is approved.

Source: California Penal Code §550 (insurance fraud)

Your own insurer and adjuster decide what the policy covers. Call them first. A good roofer will work with the adjuster, not around them.

What to check before you sign

Storm chaser roofers count on you not checking. It takes a few minutes.

• Look up the license number at CSLB. It should be active, in the company's name, and for roofing work (C-39). Here is how to check a contractor's license.
• Confirm workers' comp is on the record. Every California roofing contractor needs it. See does your roofer need workers' comp.
• Find out who stands behind the license. The person qualifying it should be real and active. See what is an RMO.
• Get two more written bids from local, licensed and insured roofers. Our guide to comparing roofing bids shows how.

"What is your license number, and is it in the same name as this contract?"

"Where is your office, and who do I call if the roof leaks in two years?"

If you'd rather not dig through records yourself, a ConFacts report reads the license, the person behind it, workers' comp, the bond and manufacturer certifications for you, with the source for each.

How storm chaser roofing scams usually play out

Most storm chaser roofing scams follow the same few steps. Knowing them makes the pitch easy to recognize.

• The free inspection. A crew member climbs up and comes back with photos of "hail hits" or lifted shingles. Some of that roof damage after a storm is real. Some of it is old wear, and some is made on the spot. Ask to keep copies of every photo.
• The quick signature. You are asked to sign an "inspection form" or "authorization" so they can "talk to your insurance." Read it: it may be a contract.
• The money up front. Once the insurer's first check arrives, the crew asks you to sign it over, or asks for a large payment for materials.
• The vanishing act. The roof goes on fast, or not at all, and the phone number stops working before the first rain.

CSLB has warned for years that scammers show up within days of a fire or storm and target people who are stressed and in a hurry. Slowing down is the best defense.

Source: CSLB, Don't Get Scammed After a Disaster

Protect your roof while you check the roofer

Real damage can't always wait. If water is coming in, you can protect the house without signing up for a whole new roof.

• Take photos of the damage, inside and out, with dates. Your insurer will want them.
• Call your insurer and ask whether they cover an emergency tarp and how to document it.
• Keep the emergency job small. A tarp or a patch is a separate, short job. It still needs a licensed roofing contractor if it is $500 or more in a declared disaster area.
• Don't sign for the full roof yet. Get the adjuster's report and at least two more bids first.

If a door to door roofer offers to handle the roofer insurance claim for you, say no thanks. You can talk to your own insurer directly.

"Can you put a written price on just the tarp today, separate from any roof replacement?"

Frequently asked questions

Are all roofers who knock on doors storm chasers?

No. Some local companies canvass after a storm. Judge them by their record and paperwork, not the knock.

Can an out of state roofer work in California?

Only with a California contractor license issued by CSLB. A license from another state doesn't count here.

How long do I have to cancel after a disaster?

For repairs to a home damaged in a declared emergency, the contract gives you seven days. In most other cases it is three business days, or five if you are 65 or older.

Should I let a roofer talk to my insurance company for me?

Call your insurer yourself first. Don't sign anything that gives a roofer control of your claim until you understand it.

What should I do if a storm chaser already took my money?

Write down everything, keep every paper, and file a complaint with CSLB. If they were unlicensed in a disaster area, tell CSLB that too.