Stronger Laws for Roofers?

We've been reading about new laws proposed in Wyoming, laws designed to protect people from roofing scams.

The article told of a Wyoming woman who paid for a new roof, and then got a bill from the makers of the shingles that were used -- the roofer hadn't paid for the materials, so the suppliers put a lien on the woman's house.

We're not lawyers. We're roofers. So we don't know everything there is to know about laws like these. We'd have thought that failing to pay for the shingles and leaving the homeowner in the lurch would already be against the law.

We do know that there are a few things homeowners can and should do on their own to avoid roofing scams:

• Make sure you read and understand your contract. The contract should say clearly whether the price of the materials is included in the price of the roof.
• Make sure you choose established roofers. Bill West Roofing has been pleasing homeowners in Kansas City and the surrounding area for almost four decades. With a company like ours, you have nothing to fear. Choosing a new, untried company can lead to unpleasant surprises.
• Make sure you use local roofers. If you hire a cheap roofer who tells you he can cut costs because he doesn't have the overhead of an office, a company truck, or a local number, you  may be getting a storm chaser. These cowboys come into town after a bad storm, do some quick work, and move on before you find out what kind of trouble you're in. 

Some of the storm chasers are very persuasive, but you can protect yourself by taking a little time to research the company before accepting their bid.