California Homeowners Struggle to Find Contractors for Storm Damage Repair

Stephanie Beard, of Brentwood, carries a sand bag to her flooded home on Bixler Road in Brentwood, Calif., on Jan. 16, 2023. Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group via AP

Homeowners in California are struggling to find roofers in the wake of the destruction caused by torrential storms over the past few weeks.

According to recent reports, in addition to the damaging winds experienced by local residents, the years of drought followed by massive storms have resulted in an epidemic of roof leaks, turning roofers into a highly sought-after group.

Some estimates put the likely repair time for homes and businesses out months, according to local news. Until that time, operations for businesses as well as living conditions for residents are put in jeopardy. Roofers are already working around the clock, and inquiries that would have taken weeks to attend to last year could now take months.

Bay 101 Roofing’s general manager, Mauricio Flores, from San Jose, says he wishes he could serve more people. His employees have gone frenetically from job to job around the Bay Area, worked on weekends, and braved the elements. He still receives about two dozen calls per day, but finds it has been impossible to keep up with them.

“Having to ride from Fremont to Redwood City to San Francisco; it’s been mayhem,” Flores told local outlets. “It’s gotten to the point where even the owner himself is going out on Saturdays to take care of inspections. Some of the things I’ve been seeing from this storm—it’s been crazy.”

A damaged Valero gas station tilts in the wind during a massive "bomb cyclone" rain storm in South San Francisco, California on January 4, 2023. JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images

Flores said he has never seen so many shingles torn off by the winds, and flat-roofed houses have flooded so badly they’ve had to use pumps to drain them. In some areas, the winds have been so forceful that pine cones ripped off trees have smashed roofing tiles.

Many desperate homeowners have no choice but to cover the damage with tarps and wait for roofers to find time in their hectic schedules to do the necessary repairs. Before paying someone money for repair work, however, homeowners are advised by experts to be sure they are employing the right person.

Warning About Potential Scams

The California Contractors State License Board (CSLB) warned that scammers are looking to make a quick buck at the expense of increasingly desperate homeowners.

A spokesperson for the CSLB told The Epoch Times that “Residents should take caution when hiring someone to make repairs to their homes. CSLB understands that they may feel rushed, but with the uptick in construction scams in disaster areas, CSLB would like homeowners to take a few minutes to research finding a licensed contractor who they feel comfortable letting work in and around their home.”

The state licensing board went on to offer helpful tips, saying homeowners can click the Find My Licensed Contractor tab on the CSLB website to get a list of contractors in the area, and that they should always get a written contract detailing what each job entails.

“Don’t sign anything digital,” CSLB cautions.

CSLB also advises homeowners that down payments cannot be more than 10 percent or $1,000 of the contract price, whichever is less, and that they shouldn’t make cash payments or sign over insurance checks to those working on their homes.

“If someone is coming door-to-door, ask to see their pocket license and a valid ID, then check their license number on the CSLB website. A license number should be available on business cards, flyers, vehicles, and other advertisements,” said spokesperson Natalie Watmore.

“It’s important that homeowners follow these steps because they’ve already been victimized by these storms, and CSLB doesn’t want them to become victimized yet again by an unlicensed or unscrupulous contractor.”

A house is seen partially submerged under floodwaters in Gilroy, Calif., on Jan. 09, 2023. Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images

The CSLB is reportedly expecting an increase in applications for licensed contractors in the state of California, particularly those with existing licenses who hope to add a classification to the license. The CSLB has already expedited some of the applications received for public works projects in disaster areas and those for contractors with agreements to rebuild in a disaster area.

No Relief in Sight

Even though contractors are busy, Watmore advised that it’s safest to get at least three estimates on the work to be done and compare the contractors’ credentials before making a decision. The state licensing board representative also recommends that homeowners check out contractors’ work history on the state license board website.

There might not be relief anytime soon for contractors or property owners, however. Miles Proctor, owner of R E Roofing and Construction in the San Francisco Bay Area, claimed that persistent storms after years of dry weather uncovered festering issues for property owners with slowly warping roofing material. The roofing company owner said he is getting more than 50 calls every day.

According to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, the three-week parade of atmospheric rivers caused damage that is projected to cost the state more than $1 billion.

A major disaster declaration for the counties of Santa Cruz, Monterey, Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Merced was recently approved by President Joe Biden, who visited the area along the Central Coast last week. This expedites direct funding for homeowners and business owners who have suffered property damage and other losses.