New Roofing Company Practices That Save the Environment and Prevent Fraud

You've done your research and hired a reputablebuyer beware: Be sure to unearth whether the
roofing company to repair or replace your roof.costs of transporting the old shingles to a
Now you can sit back and watch the installation ofrecycling center are being absorbed by the
your new roof take place worry free. But ifroofing company and are not being passed on to
you're one of the millions of earth-consciousyou, the customer. Because only the actual
individuals, as you observe your roofingshingles and nails can be recycled, sometimes
company's contractors go about their job, youextra work is required of your roofing
might be wondering, 'What happens to all thosecontractors.
old roofing shingles that are falling to the ground?'Hopefully one day soon, shingle recycling will
Well, if your roof is made of asphalt shingles,become mandatory. In the meantime, a new
there's some eco-friendly good new for you.form of legislation is also being considered that
Those shingles can be recycled into asphalt thataffects new roof seekers. According to WAFF 48
can be used to build and repair the roads youNews out of Montgomery, Alabama, "The National
drive on every day. According to a recent specialCenter for the Prevention of Home Improvement
to the Daily Graphic, "The upkeep of roads andFraud (NCPHIF) is awaiting the signature of
[the] mass production of asphalt is believed toGovernor Bob Riley" on a Senate bill that could
have a carbon footprint comparable to that ofstop home improvement fraud.
the oil industry." As a result, the manufacturingRoofing company scams are one of the biggest
process can wreak havoc on the environment.home improvement fraud offenders, with
That's because 94 percent of the roads in theunscrupulous practices like charging for work that
United States are surfaced with asphalt.is not actually performed and taking deposits on a
But what if that asphalt didn't have to be maderoof repair and then skipping town running
from scratch and could be obtained from asphaltrampant in storm-damaged communities these
that's already in existence? That's where yourdays.
roofing company and your old roof shingles can"The elderly are [particularly being targeted by
make a real difference. A new initiative, dubbedsome roofing companies. There is little to no
Roofs to Roads, is embracing the recycling ofdamage on their roofs, but company
roofing shingles. Roofing companies that make userepresentatives are claiming they need a new
of this recycling program significantly "reduce theirroof." NCPHIF urges homeowners to scrutinize
impact on landfills from old shingles." And thatroofing companies before signing on the dotted
green friendliness is likely to be even moreline by:
measurable than if first appears when you
consider that the average roof is made up of two1. Never jumping into a contract.
to three layers of asphalt.2. Obtaining business cards and performing due
Does your roofing company participate in andiligent research on the roofing company.
asphalt recycling program? It never hurts to ask.3. Getting an estimate in writing.
You may be bringing an environmentally friendly4. Avoiding roofing "companies that emphasize
practice to their attention that they weren't eventhat insurance will pay for a new roof."
aware of. But if you're selecting a roofing5. Asking their "insurance company [to] investigate
company on the basis of their recycling efforts,the track record [of] the roofing company.