In a state known for storm damage, roofers are left uninspected. Public Eye investigates why

It seemed like a simple enough project. A Public Eye reader experienced storm damage on his home and needed professional help from a roofer.

But he said his experience with the roofing contractor was anything but professional.

The agreement he signed with the roofer indicated a specific brand of shingle would be used, but the contractor installed a different one. The work also included plans to install a solar-powered attic fan with a rechargeable battery backup. But before it could be installed, the homeowner did his own research and discovered that attaching live electricity to the expensive unit would void its warranty.

The homeowner, who asked we conceal his identity to avoid conflict with those who recommended the roofer, also complained that subcontractors were sent to his home multiple times without enough information to do the correct job. Additionally, the homeowner said he found that his insurance claim estimate showed proposed work that had nothing to do with the storm damage that triggered his insurance claim.

More: What to do if you've got hail or wind damage to your home or car

For the homeowner, this seemingly odd and unprofessional behavior during a project costing nearly $30,000 highlighted an important distinction between how local officials oversee (or in this case do not oversee) roofing jobs.

It led him to ask Public Eye an important question: Given the chance for homeowners to unknowingly hire disreputable or underqualified contractors, why don't city officials keep a closer eye on roofing projects?

The problem: No inspection needed

Many home construction projects like plumbing, electrical and significant structural alterations require both a construction permit and follow-up inspection by city authorities.

These requirements are written into each city's governing documents.

But in Oklahoma, with its severe storms that throw wind and hail at homes across the state, roofing construction is a lucrative business with little oversight. Generally, any work done on an existing roof doesn't need to be checked or approved by city officials upon completion or at any stage in the process.

But without a permitting and inspection process, there's no guarantee that any work completed by a roofer actually meets the city's building code, which describes approved roofing materials and standards of construction. Having a poorly constructed or noncompliant roof could make it harder for homeowners trying to sell their property, requiring either expensive repairs or a discount on the sale price once it's discovered.

"It seems to me that the city should, I think, charge roofers a fee so they can send out an inspector and see that it's done correctly," said home inspector and educator Jack Werner, owner of A to Z Inspections. "Because for most of us, that's the single most expensive component of our home."

The homeowner interviewed by Public Eye used a company called OKC Roofers. The company is licensed by the state, and the Construction Industries Board said it has no previous complaints on file.

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In a response to the allegations, OKC Roofers described the homeowner as a "disgruntled customer who seeks to avoid paying for his contractual obligations."

"What is particularly frustrating to our team is how we went above and beyond. The shingles we installed were the exact ones the insurance approved and the color of (his) choosing," the company said. "It is shocking that he was surprised about the shingle we used, considering they sat in his driveway for the entire day. He could have stopped us before or during the installation and told us he was unhappy. He did not."

OKC Roofers also said the claim about "incorrect" line items on the insurance estimate is the most confusing.

"The adjuster wrote back to us, stating they are unsure why the previously agreed-upon items are being removed per the homeowner's request and that we need to call the homeowner and speak with him," the company said. "We have over 50 years of office experience and have never seen this occur. Since we had not installed the replaced windows, we had no issue with the reduction in the scope."

What we found: Too many roofs to inspect

So why doesn't Oklahoma City require permits and inspections for most roofing jobs? According to the city office that oversees construction permitting and inspection, there would be too many to check.

"While the city of Oklahoma City does not perform roofing inspections due to the high number of re-roofs that are installed each year, roofers are required to still follow all state and city-adopted building codes for their work performed," said Mike Miller, the city's inspection services superintendent.

Both city and state officials realize how prevalent scams and shoddy work are throughout the construction industry.

"Disreputable contractors of all trades who scam residents is far too common than should be and is not unique to roofing companies alone," Miller said. "It is strongly recommended to always research any contractor’s work history, licenses and to get a copy of their current certificate of insurance before hiring someone to perform work on your property."

Werner said that a common mistake (or omission) he's seen while inspecting roof work is the lack of proper flashing, which is installed to prevent leaking at edges and corners.

"When you replace a roof, you're supposed to replace the flashing with new flashing. That is seldom done," he said. "Good roofers will do it."

More: Public Eye investigates issues that impact you. This is what we've found so far

How to protect yourself

If you suspect your roofer, or any contractor, is not following the construction code, you can call Oklahoma City's Action Center to register the complaint and call out a building inspector. The Action Center can be reached at 405-297-2535.

On the state level, the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board (CIB) has received 43 of its own complaints against roofers so far this year, but spokeswoman Debra Wojtek said the number rises quickly into the hundreds during years when Oklahoma experiences significant severe weather.

Written complaints to the board against contractors are a public record, along with any citations issued or disciplinary action taken by the board. However, there is no online database of complaints. To learn more about your contractor, you also can check online reviews and see whether the company is rated by the Better Business Bureau.

By far the most important thing you can do to prevent being scammed or hiring a disreputable contractor is to simply make sure they're registered in the state of Oklahoma. Registered contractors can be searched by name at the Oklahoma Construction Industries Board's website. If the roofer claims to be certified by a manufacturer or trade association, verify that as well.

"If they can do just a little bit of checking beforehand, it would save so much headache in the long run," Wojtek said.

It's even worse after a severe hail storm or wind event, when the state sees an influx of fly-by-night contractors seeking to capitalize on all the extra work available to them. Wojtek said that after a storm, board investigators will head out into the affected areas, notifying residents to verify before hiring. That process includes placing temporary signs along the road with that specific warning.

"But sometimes people are so busy and don't see the signs, and we can't get the information out fast enough," she said.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why aren't roofers required to have inspections in Oklahoma?