"Richland County authorities arrested Mark Dennis Anderson, 45, Thursday following complaints from across Columbia that a roofing repair contractor took money for jobs and disappeared without doing the work."

(www.thestate.com --Rachael Myers Lowe)

 This quote is from an article this morning on the front page of The State Newspaper and needs to be read in it's entirety. Click on the link above to read it.

After you've read it use it as a learning experience in dealing with any Remodeling Contractor. There are many contractors out there doing the same thing to homeowners and some are hard to recognize. One place to start is the Better Business Bureau. Search the company and see not only how many complaints they have but how long they've been in business under the same name. Contractors are famous for closing up shop when they get too many complaints and opening up under a new name......often in another state.

Click here for an indepth article I wrote a couple of years ago on Avoiding Home Repair Fraud.

Here are a few more resources on choosing the right contractor (from Legacy Remodeling Inc. in Pittsburgh, PA.)

Selecting a Contractor.....Do Your Homework

Buy Local, You Will Be Glad You Did

Check out this story by Todd Miller the president of Classic Metal Roofing Systems (it is only 2 minutes long). I've had the privilege of spending some time with him and he is as honest and sincere as he sounds.

If you have questions about metal roofing you can go to the Classic Metal Roofing Systems website or give us a call at 803-955-0374. Thank you for taking the time to watch this short video. Roy Bauer Bauer Roofing

1. Styles of metal roofing --standing seam vs. screw-through vs. metal shingles.
2. Type of metal being considered --copper, aluminum or steel.
3. A general idea of cost for metal roofing vs. asphalt shingles.
4. Energy Effienciency of each type and style of metal roofing.
5. Pictures of each style of metal roofing and what it  looks like on different style houses (ranch, colonial, etc...) 
6. Also, as a bonus I'll hand out a free copy of "The Homeowner's Guide to Roofing".

I want to conduct a very un-scientific metal roofing poll with one very simple question:

Which do you think would look better on your home, Standing Seam Metal or Metal Shingles?

If you would, please leave a comment with your answer. Thank You for participating.

Below is an Example of Standing Seam:

Below is an example of a Metal Shingle:

 The $1,500 Energy Tax Credit that is available for qualified roofing material expires on December 31, 2010. The guidelines stipulate it has to be fully functional --meaning finished-- by then.

This time of year most reputable roofing companies will be scheduled a few weeks (if not longer) out, so don't wait until the last minute or you may find yourself losing out on money you thought you were getting.

For a list of asphalt shingles that qualify for the tax credit click here.

The list of metal roofing is a little different since it goes by the finish that is on the metal itself. Give us a call  at 803-955-0374 or email estimates@bauerroofs.com and we can let you know what to look for if you are looking at metal roofing.

I rarely believe in tooting our own horn but............I also believe it is important to recognize when a company, especially a Roofing company, has gone above and beyond expectations. In an industry where  fly-by-night companies are the majority, a company that takes the extra effort to be the best that they can be should be applauded.

We (Bauer Roofing) have taken and are taking Installation Standards and Customer Service expectations to a new level. We are striving to make sure homeowners in North and South Carolina have the best possible experience when it comes to having a new roof system installed.

In 2010 we were recognized by Classic Metal Roofing Systems as a company that is taking care of their customers like never before. We are honored to have received this award and will do our best this year to reach even higher.

 If you live any where near Columbia, South Carolina (or the whole state for that matter) then you've probably been hit by a very strong storm --or two-- recently. We are currently working in neighborhoods throughout the Midlands that have trees caved in on homes and holes through the shingles from hail. 

With all of these storms, comes out-of-town-storm-chaser roofing companies. These guys are working to make some quick money and move onto another storm in another state. But where does this leave the homeowner when there is a leak or an issue? In a word.....stuck. 

You need to make sure you use a local company that has a track record for handling this type of storm and has the organization and staff in place to do the job right and help you through the insurance process. Check the Better Business Bureau (Click Here to see our listing at the BBB) for the history of the company and make sure they have a history going back at least 10-15 years, since most companies fail within the first five years. 

One last note. Some really scummy companies will pay a local roofing company a fee to use their name. There are three or four national companies every year that open a temporary office here in the Midlands in order to appear legit. Just be careful and check the contractor out carefully. 

If you live in South Carolina and don't yet have a contractor selected or just want a professional opinion, give us a call at 803-955-0374 or email estimates@bauerroofs.com

Roy Bauer

With so many roofing contractors ripping people off one way or another, I wanted to post some more information on how to choose the right one. There are some execellent contractors around the country who are doing the right thing, you just have to look hard for them.

Here are a couple of excellent articles written by a Remodeling Contractor in Pittsburgh:

Selecting a Contractor.....Do Your Homework

By Local, You Will Be Glad You Did

“Victims of last week’s storms who need a new roof for their home will now take a hit from oil prices that have been on the rise in recent weeks.” 

“Shingles that I was paying $69 per square foot before the storms are soon going to costing me around $85 per square,” he said. “As bad as I hate to, I have to pass those increases on to my customers. There’s no way I can afford to eat that big of a jump in material prices.”

Quotes are from a story at the TimesDaily.com. Click here to read it.

Shingle prices from one of the biggest distributers here in Columbia went up yesterday –again. Since the beginning of 2011, prices have gone up numerous times. Each time roughly 7-10% --with no end in sight to the increases. We’ve received letters from virtually every manufacturer and distributor warning us of coming increases.

Why?

One obvious reason is the oil price -- not specifically the oil itself but the price and availability of asphalt, which is made of oil. Oil prices fluctuate (as I write this, gas is $3.45/gallon) but don’t appear to be going down much, if any. More than likely they will average on the high side.

Secondly, prices of shingles are going up due to the number of severe storms we’ve had recently. With the tornadoes in the south, much of the shingle making capability was stymied and availability is becoming increasingly scarce. Simple supply and demand laws tell us that more price increases are on the way. Also, today is June 1^st. Those of us in South Carolina know that today kicks off the hurricane season. Depending on just how bad this season is who knows just how expensive roofing will get.

I say all of that to say this: If you are considering putting on a new roof any time in the next year or two, you may want to do it sooner rather than later. Prices aren’t going down and whatever issues you are having with your current roof will only get worse, not better.

No matter where you live in the country I would encourage you to move up your roof buying decision, but especially in the south, where most of these storms have hit and where the tropical storms, and maybe even a hurricane or two, will do the most damage.