I wish I did not have to write this article. But after nearly 40 years in the roofing business, I have seen too many homeowners get burned by companies that had no business being on a roof. And it is not always obvious. Some of these outfits look professional. They have nice logos and polished sales pitches. But underneath, the work is junk and the company will be gone before you know it.
Here are the warning signs I would tell my own family to watch for.
They showed up at your door uninvited after a storm
Look, door knocking is a common practice in roofing, and some legitimate companies do it. But if a major storm just rolled through and someone you have never heard of is standing on your porch telling you they spotted damage from the street, be cautious. This is the classic storm chaser move. They work neighborhoods hard for a few weeks, collect as many signed contracts as they can, do fast work, and move on to the next disaster area.
A storm chaser does not care about your roof. They care about your insurance check.
They pressure you to sign something today
"This price is only good today." "We have a crew available tomorrow but only if you commit right now." "Your damage is getting worse by the hour."
All of these are pressure tactics designed to stop you from shopping around or thinking clearly. A legitimate roofing company will give you time to make a decision. Your roof has been protecting your home for years. It can handle another week while you do your homework.
They cannot show you a Utah contractor's license
This is non-negotiable. Every roofing contractor working in Utah must be licensed through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. If they cannot give you a license number, they are either unlicensed or working under someone else's license, which creates all kinds of liability problems for you.
They demand full payment upfront before work begins
A reputable contractor will typically require a deposit before work begins, with the remainder due upon completion. That is standard practice and nothing to worry about. What you want to watch out for is anyone demanding full payment before a single shingle has been removed, or anyone who pressures you to pay cash with no documentation. That is the real red flag.
At Bob Harvey Roofing, we collect a deposit to get materials ordered and the job scheduled, with the balance due at completion once you are satisfied with the work.
They offer to pay your insurance deductible
This one is not just a red flag. It is illegal. In Utah, it is against the law for a contractor to waive or pay your insurance deductible. It constitutes insurance fraud, and you as the homeowner can face consequences for participating.
I understand the appeal. Saving a thousand or two thousand dollars sounds great. But any company offering to eat your deductible is either inflating the price elsewhere, cutting corners on materials and labor, or straight up committing fraud. None of those options end well for you.
No written estimate, or a vague one
If a company gives you a number on the back of a business card or a one-line estimate that just says "roof replacement" with a price, run. You need a detailed written scope of work that spells out exactly what is being done, what materials are being used, and what is included. Without that, you have no way to compare estimates and no recourse if the work does not match what you expected.
They do not have a local address
Check for a physical office or shop. Search their address. If the company's listed address is a P.O. Box or a UPS Store mailbox, ask yourself why. A company that has been serving an area for years has a real place of business. A company that set up a temporary address to chase storm work does not. Bob Harvey Roofing has operated out of Layton, Utah since 1988 and serves Davis County, Weber County, and the surrounding Northern Utah area.
No online presence or fake-looking reviews
A company that has been around for any length of time will have a track record online. Google reviews, a real website, photos of their work. If you cannot find anything, or if their reviews all appeared in the same week and sound suspiciously similar, trust your gut.
They cannot or will not answer basic questions
A professional roofing contractor should be able to tell you about their experience, their crew, their materials, their warranty, and their process without getting defensive. If your questions are met with vague answers, subject changes, or annoyance, that is telling you everything you need to know.
There are plenty of good, honest roofers in Utah. But the bad ones are out there too, and they are very good at looking legitimate. A few minutes of homework protects you from years of regret.
Not sure about a company you are considering? We are happy to talk through what you are seeing, even if you do not hire us. Give us a call. Honest advice is kind of our thing.
"Bob is old school... meaning he conducts business like back in the day. A kind, tell it like it is kind of person. The work was phenomenal and so were the workers."Suzan Packham , Google Review