Beware of Scam Artists!!

People like this give many reputable companies in our industry a bad name.  Please be aware of what could happen if you hire the wrong person to do your job.  Check references, check with the BBB, and check with suppliers to be certain the company you are hiring is reputable.

HOLLIS – A man who is accused of stealing more than $25,000 from an elderly resident in a roofing scam may have fled to Florida and restarted his construction business, police said.

Hollis Police have information that Craig Ehrlich, 42, may have simply renamed his company and could be doing business in the Sunshine State after skipping a court hearing in Nashua last year, police Sgt. Richard Mello said Friday.

But police aren’t entirely sure Ehrlich – a former Pelham resident – is in Florida, and are asking anyone in this area who may have information about his whereabouts to help locate him.

Ehrlich’s business was known in New Hampshire as I&C Contracting. But it may now be known as “Roofing by I&C Contracting,” or some variation, Mello said.

Ehrlich is charged with two felony counts of theft after having an elderly resident pay more than $25,000 for housing repair work that never happened, Mello said.

In 2008, Ehrlich promised a series of repairs, including extensive roofing work, to the man’s home, Mello said. The man paid Ehrlich’s business with several deposits, Mello said.

But Ehrlich did “almost none of the work,” Mello said.

The man several times asked Ehrlich when the work would be conducted, Mello said. But Ehrlich offered “more excuses – one after another,” Mello said.

In September, Hollis Police arrested Ehrlich and charged him with two felony counts of theft. He was arraigned in Nashua District Court and released on $2,000 cash surety bail.

But Ehrlich failed to appear at a subsequent court hearing, and it’s believed he fled New Hampshire, Mello said.

Anyone with information about Ehrlich is asked to call Hollis Police at 465-7637.

http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/791272-196/police-search-for-contractor-who-skipped-out.html?i=1

Angie's List - Roofing Rip-Offs

Today on my desk this morning I found the July 2010 Charlotte magazine from Angie's List.  While a lot of the magazine is a massive ad, it seems this month's edition is focused mostly on roofing rip-offs and homeowners getting taken by scams.  I found it to be a quite interesting read actually and I wanted to share a few parts of it with our readers.

"One in three of you reported having trouble with a roofer."  

"Sixty-eight percent of you detailed problems with shoddy work.  Another 24 percent cited issues with roofers who allegedly overcharged, lacked a license, or took money and ran."

"The Texas Department of Insurance warned Houston-area homeowners earlier this year about roofing contractors who were intentionally wrecking roofs to mimic storm damage to convince residents they needed repairs."

"Asking for references from suppliers or running a credit check can also help you determine if a company is solvent."

"You should ask contractors for proof of workers' compensation and liability insurance.  They should have certificates to prove it and should be happy homeowners asked, because a lot of fly-by-night contractors don't.  If a contractor doesn't have insurance, the homeowner is taking some of the liability if a worker becomes injured on the job site."

"Some industry experts report that shoddy roofing jobs plague many developments built during the housing boom over the last 10 years, resulting in roofs that need replacing after only a few years."

"A recent online member poll revealed that nearly 40 percent who hired a door-to-door roofer said the contractor did shoddy work."

A large portion of this month's magazine is dedicated to the roofing industry.   You can view the main article from the magazine at: http://magazine.angieslist.com/articles/2010/july/national/roofing-rip-off-beware-of-scams-shoddy-contractors.aspx.

Please visit our website at http://www.Ridgeline-Roofing.com

Roofing FAQ

Here is a Roofing FAQ from EzineArticles:

1. What should I look for when selecting a roofing contractor?
Since the roof you install is only as good as the contractor who installs it, choosing a qualified roofing contractor is essential to having a healthy roof that lasts a long time. Skilled workers will determine the outcome of a roof replacement project. The best contractors have many years of experience in installing multiple kinds of roofing systems.

Another way to test the quality of the contractor and business is to ask for references that have had complaints. Since it is possible for any roof to have a problem, it is important to know how the contractor deals with past clients. A good contractor makes a commitment to their clients and the work they have done.

2. How much roof maintenance is needed after installation?
Since all roofing types and materials need different amounts of maintenance, there is no simple answer. Routine maintenance can be anything from keeping your drains and gutters clean to extensive work. Maintaining your roof is your responsibility, so whichever material you choose; make sure that you will be able to fulfill its maintenance needs.

For instance, asphalt shingles and wood shakes and shingles need to be maintained by routinely cleaning out gutters and trimming back tree branches. Replacing damaged shingles and keeping moss or algae off of the roof are ways to ensure longevity.

3. How much does a new roof cost?
This question also has no simple answer since replacing a roof varies on the materials and installers you choose. You can usually get a free estimate from a contractor. Before agreeing to a price, make sure the following considerations are made:
- the square footage of your roof
- roofing material you choose
- if you are keeping or removing your existing roof
- any permits needed
- the amount of labor needed to get the job done

4. How long does it take to replace a roof?
Replacing a roof usually requires a lot of work. Typically, with good weather, it takes 1-2 days.

5. How should I prepare for the installation of my new roof?
There are a few things you should do before the installation process begins. Since hammering can cause vibrations inside your home, take loose items off of your walls and shelves. You should also make sure your driveway and surrounding area is clear so the workers have space to move materials directly to your roof. It is a good idea to park on the side of the road instead of your driveway.

6. How long will my roof last?
Roofing, like any other material, is likely to deteriorate with time. A new roof can last anywhere from 15 to 40 years, although 20 years is the average. You can lengthen the life of your roof by choosing the right contractor for the original installation and keeping up with any maintenance requirements. Even if you follow these recommendations, there are factors you can't control such as weather elements.

7. When is the best time of year to install a roof?
The best condition for installing a roof is when the temperature is above freezing and there is minimal chance of snow and rain. Since you cannot predict bad weather, always know that installation delays may occur.

8. How do I know when my current roof needs to be replaced?
Different roofs deteriorate at different rates. If you see any of the following signs, it is time to consider replacing your roof:
- Leaks in numerous places
- Continuous leaks, even with repairs
- Problems return soon after repairs
- Repairs do not fix the problem

How Can You Pick the Right Contractor

With the economy hurting as it has, many "contractors" are out of regular jobs and looking for work.  Suddenly there are people who can do absolutely anything and everything.  When you're having someone work on your house it is important to pick people who you can trust.  The Better Business Bureau has some information on their website that can help you find the right contractor.

The BBB says to watch out for contractors that do the following things:

• Solicits door-to-door: Be suspicious of contractors who attempt to gain business by visiting door-to-door. "Cold calls" can sometimes mean that the contractor is not from a local, established business but is instead just passing through and trying to make a quick buck.
• Has materials left over from a previous job: It is not your lucky day when a contractor shows up on your doorstep offering a cut-rate price on a project because they have materials left over from a recent job at your neighbor’s house or the house “down the street.” This is a common ploy of fly-by-night operators or handymen who are based out-of-state and use their pick-up trucks as their place of business.
• Asks you to get the required building permits: This could be a sign that the contractor is hoping to avoid contact with the local agency that issues such permits. Perhaps he is not licensed or registered, as required by your state or locality. A competent contractor will get all the necessary permits before starting work on your project.
• Does not list a business phone number in the local directory: This can be a red flag indicating that the contractor does not have an established business presence in-state. Or, that he perhaps relies on a home answering machine to “screen” customer calls.
• Pressures you for an immediate decision: A reputable professional will recognize that you need time to consider many factors when deciding which contractor to hire. You will want to check references; look into the contractor’s standard of work and his professional designations and affiliations; verify his insurance; check to see if he needs a license (and if so, that it is valid); get written estimates from several firms based on identical project specifications, and, contact the Better Business Bureau and local consumer protection agency to see if they have information.
• Asks you to pay for the entire job up-front or demands only cash:Whatever the reason, never pay for the entire project upfront. Payments should be by credit card of check so that your credit card statement or cancelled check can provide proof of payment, if needed. Do not pay anything until after the first day of work, and then pay up to one-third. Make additional payments during the project contingent upon completion of a defined amount of work. Do not make the final payment or sign an affidavit of final release until you are satisfied with the work and have proof that the subcontractors and suppliers have been paid.
• Suggests you borrow from a particular lender: Do not agree to financing through your contractor or someone he suggests. Many people have been ripped off when they agreed to use the suggested lender; sign a lot of papers in a rush; and find out later that they had agreed to a home equity loan with a very high rate, points and fees. Secure financing on your own by shopping around and comparing loan terms.

Ridgeline-Roofing.com New Website Launched

This post is simply to inform our readers that we have launched the new Ridgeline Exteriors website.  The web address remains the same and can be found at http://www.Ridgeline-Roofing.com.  Be sure to visit it and leave us feedback here or through e-mail to let us know how we can continue to improve our website.

What is SkyView?

First, we hope everyone had a fun and safe July 4th holiday.  The weather this weekend in Charlotte and the surrounding areas was superb.  With that said, we are going to spend this blog post mentioning some more of the technology we use when quoting roofs here at Ridgeline.

We use a lot of technology everyday to try to simplify our jobs and make things easier for our customers.  A lot of customers simply do not have the time to meet with contractors and we certainly understand that.  While it is not required, many people want to be there if you are going to be around there house.  Because of this we wanted to develop a system of doing roof quotes that would allow us to use satellite imagery and images taken from Cessna airplanes.  We found a few software programs that we were able to use that would allow us to do this.

We named this technology SkyView.  You can visit our website for this at: http://www.skyviewroofquote.com.  There you can see exactly what we see when we do this.  We are able to scale these images and using another piece of software we are able to measure your roof more accurate than if we actually pulled a tape on it.  This has allowed our estimates to be even more precise than before and has allowed us to offer roof quotes with absolutely no hassle at all.

We take pride in the work we do and the services we offer.  We feel like one of the thing that separates us from our competitors is the technology we use.  This technology makes our job easier, makes your job easier, and it improves our services even more.  Today, we are more connected than ever with our customers with our company on Facebook, Twitter, and Blogspot.  Through these services we are able to interact directly with our customers.  In addition to that, we are in the process of becoming an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau to further help our reputation in the Charlotte area.

Tomorrow we will take a look at our MyHome section of the website and the great features it allows us to offer our potential customers.

Do Your Own Roofing Estimate

Over the past few months we have worked hard to improve our website.  One of our innovations was to create a roofing estimate calculator.  We created this for users of our website to input basic information about their building and see a rough estimate of what our price may be.

Obviously the tool leaves a lot of room open for error by the user, but we felt like it was something that could help a user understand our prices a little better compared to quotes they have received.  We have further innovations coming.  We are working on integrating another part of the calculator to allow the user to simply input the number of squares they have and see the price we would do the job for.  This type of tool would allow for a user to input information off of a roofing quote they have received and compare it with our quote.  This would allow for a more direct comparison by our users and would allow them to see prices without even needing to call.

We continue to look for ways to innovate the website.  We are always open to suggestions and ways to make it easier to navigate.  This tool is just one of the many things that keep us a step ahead of our competition.

Users can find our roofing estimate tool at: http://ridgeline-roofing.com/estimate.html

Welcome to the Blog

Welcome to the new Ridgeline Exteriors Inc. blog.  We have established this blog in the hopes to improve our visibility in the community.  Through this blog we hope to answer your questions and concerns about all things exterior on your house.

First, a little bit about our company.  We started in 2004 as a general contracting company.  Our focus was on building quality homes.  We spent time building homes around North Carolina as we built in strong markets such as Raleigh, Charlotte, and Union County.  While building these houses, and with the new home market declining, we saw an opportunity to begin a new business venture that had the potential to succeed.

After building numerous houses we grew more and more disgruntled with our hired subcontractors, specifically any of those dealing with the outside of our homes.  We saw an opportunity here and decided to create our own roofing company.  We immediately saw success in the roofing market and grew naturally into doing siding and gutters.  We found a strong clientèle that simply liked the idea that we would do what we said, would stand behind our workmanship, and would call people back immediately.  These principles are what still guide us today.

Today, we find our business surrounded by unique opportunities to expand.  We adapt each day to the changing world by using technology to improve our quality of work.  We continue to innovate.  With services like SkyView and MyHome we continue to explore new ideas and ways to help you, our consumers.  SkyView is technology that allows us to see your home from images taken by Cessna aircraft.  These images are then used to measure roofs accurately and without the hassle of bothering a homeowner.  We still love to come out and meet with homeowners when they want it.  We also know that when you are home, there's other things you want to do than meet a contractor.

MyHome is another innovation we have added to our company.  MyHome allows us to take a picture of your home before doing any work and show you what certain shingles and siding would look like.  We are able to change the colors and manufacturers to match exactly what you would purchase.  These innovations are what keep us one step ahead of the crowd.

This blog will be regularly maintained as we look to help residents connect with us in better ways.