But we try our best to schedule work so that our customers are not too inconvenienced by bad weather. For example, when we book jobs that are more than 3 weeks out, we plan empty days into the weekly schedule. That way, if we have 4 or 5 days of bad weather in those 3 weeks, we have some empty days in which to put  postponed jobs!

But oh, on Sunday evenings we like to see a week’s forecast with good weather! That means we can plan on getting jobs finished every single day!

After our area received so much intense rain, we waited to see if any of the roof work Olde World Slate had done in previous weeks developed problems. But all the work we have done recently has held up to those strong winds and driving rain! We are proud of the work that our Amish roofers do; the job is done right and watertight the first time!

The Salesman

In the state of Maryland home improvement salesmen are required by law to have a salesman license. Make sure you ask to see a copy of their salesman license before having them look at your project. Slate roofing salesmen are usually trained in selling, rather than being trained to know types of slate, or to determine the condition of your roof. Their technical knowledge of roofing tends to be limited, however they will be very knowledgeable and persuasive at delivering a canned presentation. These salesmen are often trained to sell a system, usually meaning that they cannot offer alternatives or lower priced options. Be on the lookout for sales tactics like a “discount if you sign up today”. This is often used with reluctant customers, and the so-called savings has already been priced into the contract. The only customers not offered this special deal are the ones who agree to sign the contract at the opening price and those who do this are actually paying the already built-in higher price. A roofing salesman may also insist that all homeowners be present for the discussion of the proposed contract; this is a sure sign that you are about to receive a high pressure sales pitch. In order to keep you in the dark about some of these tactics, the system salesman may try to discourage you from getting other estimates. This should always raise a red flag to the homeowner. If the system salesman was confident in his company, he would encourage you to shop and compare.

The Inspection

Slate roofing salesmen are often instructed to exaggerate your problem or create a problem. They need to create fear and a sense of urgency. The inspection offers the salesman an opportunity to begin the scare tactics that ultimately sells a lot of roof work. Here you will be asked questions about when the last time was that you had roof work done and what was the work performed, or when was the last time you had your attic inspected? This is an opportunity to find out how much you know, or (more importantly to the salesman) how much you don’t know. In contrast, an honest slate roofing professional is at your home to give you information. It is the responsibility of the professional to find the cause of existing problems, identify potential issues, and offer a problem solving approach instead of a one size fits all system.

The Package

In order to gain a competitive advantage over their competition, some roofing companies will combine roof work with siding, doors, windows and additions. These additional items generally benefit the homeowner very little and allow the system companies to drive up their price. A few system roofing companies try to eliminate the competition by pricing these extra items as if they do them. Let’s say they sell you siding; they will use the siding manufacturers’ installers and charge the homeowner as if the system company’s workers were doing the job.

The Roofing Crew

Many slate roofing companies hire low-cost labor, resulting in inexperienced installers. They also tend to place too much importance on getting a job done fast. When you have inexpert slate mechanics cutting corners to bring jobs in on time, is it so surprising that slate roofing contractors often disappoint their customers? Some system company crews will also be taught basic sales techniques, being trained to sell extra work to the homeowner. The slate mechanics get a bonus for additional work they sell to the customer during the job. This kind of selling technique could end up costing the customer unnecessary extra charges. If a slate mechanic finds additional problems while working on a roof, the area in question should be photographed and explained to the customer’s satisfaction before proceeding with extra work.

Coupons

In the home improvement industry, and particularly in the roofing business, coupons are usually added to the cost before the homeowner receives a price. The coupon’s fine print may say “must be presented before the time of sale” (in other words, tell the salesman before he gives you a price!). This is so the coupon’s discount can be added into the price of the contract. Olde World Slate Service LLC makes it a priority to give you an honest price the first time, all the time.

Find out if the company is properly licensed.

And the phrase “Licensed and Insured” isn’t necessarily proof! By Maryland law, a home improvement company owner must pass a written test and prove financial solvency before being issued a license. Once licensed, the company is required to post their license number (MHIC #) on their work vehicles. Licensing is for your (as homeowner) protection. A licensed home improvement company is accountable to the state of Maryland for its workmanship and contracts. There is even a fund that compensates homeowners for actual monetary losses due to poor workmanship or failure to perform a home improvement contract. However, the fund only applies to work done by licensed contractors. See www.dllr.state.md.us/license/occprof/homeim.html for more information.

Is the company properly insured?

Is the company properly insured to protect you from any possible negligence on their part? Any home improvement business should be able to provide you with a copy of their current insurance certificates.

Is the business in good standing with the state of Maryland?

Visit this website for Maryland’s Department of Assessments and Taxation.  Type in the company’s name and click ‘search’.

Ask the company for references.

…then drive by those homes and talk to the owners if possible. Ask them if their roofing problem was resolved by the company, if the company was pleasant to work with, if the company fully explained the work being done, and whether the contract was completed as promised.

Will the company show you proof of the work they do?

When hiring a painter, you likely would not pay them without visually seeing that they did the work they promised. Unfortunately, many homeowners have unknowingly been cheated because they couldn’t see their roof. Select a company that physically shows you (with photos or otherwise) the problems on your roof, and then the completed work after they are done working on it.