The roofing industry has plenty of contractors who cut corners and give honest professionals a bad reputation. This guide will help you pick the right contractor and avoid getting taken advantage of.
Verify Their Licensing
Louisiana has different levels of contractor licensing, and knowing the difference can save you money and headaches:
Home Improvement Registration
- Simply requires filling out a registration form with no construction knowledge test
- Limited to projects under $50,000, including roofing
- Cannot perform commercial work
- Important limitation: These registrants cannot do structural work. If they find rotten wood during your roof replacement, you’ll need to hire a Residential Construction license holder to fix it first.
Residential Construction License
- Requires passing a construction knowledge test
- Can handle unlimited residential remodeling and roofing
- Can build new homes from the ground up
Commercial Construction License
- Requires passing a commercial construction knowledge test
- Handles all commercial building and roofing projects
- Can include specialty classifications like roofing/sheet metal (requires additional testing)
Check any contractor’s license here: https://lslbc.louisiana.gov/contractor-search
Confirm Their Insurance
Licensed Louisiana contractors must carry two types of insurance:
- General Liability Insurance: Protects you if work is done incorrectly
- Workman’s Compensation Insurance: Protects you if someone gets injured on your property
Always request a current insurance certificate before signing any contract.
Payment Best Practices
- Never pay upfront – If materials need ordering, have them delivered to your property before making any payment
- Check with their primary supplier to see if they pay bills on time – late payments are a red flag
- Be wary if they only accept cash
Do Your Research
- Ask friends, family, and neighbors for recommendations
- Check neighborhood social media groups
- Read Google reviews
- Search the Better Business Bureau: http://bbb.org
- Request 2-3 references from recent local jobs
Red Flags to Watch For
Immediate Warning Signs:
- No license or insurance
- No company branding on vehicles or clothing
- No physical address or website
- Door-to-door solicitation (especially after storms)
- High-pressure sales tactics
- Quotes significantly lower than competitors
- Reluctance to provide references
- Claims they’ll waive your insurance deductible
Why the “Waived Deductible” is Problematic: Insurance companies typically make three payments:
- Your deductible
- The ACV portion (based on your roof’s age)
- The depreciation amount (final payment)
To release the final payment, insurance companies need proof the roof was replaced AND proof the deductible was paid via cleared check. If your contractor waives the deductible, you might not receive the depreciation payment, leaving you to pay more than your deductible.
What Can Go Wrong
- Contractors take your deposit and disappear
- They complete the job but don’t pay suppliers or workers, resulting in liens on your property
- Poor installation, like not removing old materials or covering up problems
- Out-of-town contractors who won’t return for warranty issues
Choose Quality Over Low Price
If a bid is substantially lower than others, the contractor might be:
- Cutting corners on installation
- Using inferior products
- Planning to take your money and run
- Not properly inspecting roof decking
Look for Established Local Businesses
- Choose contractors with a physical local office
- Avoid companies that only appear after storms
- Local contractors are more likely to honor warranties and handle future issues
About HUDCO Roofing and Exteriors
Our Credentials:
- Three licensed Commercial and Residential Contractors
- One Master Electrician on staff
- Specialty classification in Roofing and Sheet Metal Siding
- 25+ years building and remodeling thousands of Louisiana homes
Insurance Coverage:
- $5,000,000 General Liability per job (state minimum is $500,000)
- Never had an insurance claim or lawsuit
- Pay suppliers weekly (verified by QXO, our primary supplier)
Our Approach:
- No high-pressure sales tactics or door-to-door canvassing
- Honest roof evaluations for insurance claims
- Complete felt removal and decking inspection on every job
- Premium materials: CertainTeed (Louisiana-manufactured) and Atlas Roofing
- Ice/water shield around all penetrations for storm protection
- First certified Fortified Roofing System installer in Louisiana
Services:
- Full roof replacements
- Storm damage repairs
- Insurance claim guidance
- Commercial flat roof systems
- Residential shingle and metal roofs
Bottom Line: We’ve built our reputation on integrity and doing right by every customer, treating your roof like it’s our own.
Remember: If a contractor holds only the minimum required license, they’ll probably do the minimum required work. Choose wisely to protect your home.
