Common Roofing Lawsuits and How to Avoid Them

By Adam Cabrera. 

Disputes and legal battles can pose significant threats to roofing contractors.  

In a recent Roofing Road Trips® episode, host Heidi J. Ellsworth met with Brett and Tina Hall of Roof Consulting Network, who gave insight into how complications from legal disputes can be minimized, or even avoided altogether, by focusing on contracts, manufacturer support and mediation. 

According to Brett, the co-owner of Roof Consulting Network and Joe Hall Roofing, proper installation is key. "Installation issues, that's going to land you in hot water... It's going to be those hands that we don't necessarily control that are up there on the roof doing the work they do," he said.  

To mitigate the kinds of installation issues that you often see Brett suggests, "Document with photographs as much as you can, review your technical guides from the manufacturer before you start the project, have those on site."  

Additionally, making sure you’re following the manufacturer’s technical guidance is vital in defending against potential lawsuits. "Your manufacturer is an ally and if they know you to be a good contractor that's doing good work... they're going to be one of your very, very best allies," Brett pointed out. Establishing relationships with manufacturers can help in resolving disputes as they can vouch for the quality of your work. 

Another important ally in dodging the courtroom can be manufacturers. “Our first go-to whether we're representing the homeowner, business owner or the roofer is looking at the solution that can be had to make everybody happy,” Tina says. “We like to be a resource. Call us or call a peer before there's attorneys involved and find a viable solution.”  

Finally, when disputes do arise, both Brett and Tina believe in mediation over court battles. Tina put it succinctly, "That’s always our goal. Let's get everybody happy outside of the courtroom." Brett echoed this sentiment, stating that the aim should be to settle and not escalate the matter legally. 

Read the transcript or listen to the podcast to learn more about what you can do ahead of time with your roofing business to avoid legal disputes.