The simplest way to avoid a storm chaser: hire a licensed Colorado contractor with a local address and a track record, and never sign anything with a door-knocker on the first visit. Storm chasers are out-of-state crews that follow hail storms, sign up as many roofs as they can in a few weeks, and leave — taking your warranty and their accountability with them. Here’s how to spot them.
Red flags
- Aggressive door-knocking right after a storm, pushing you to sign today
- Out-of-state plates or phone numbers, or a company you can’t find at a real Colorado address
- “We’ll waive your deductible” — this is illegal in Colorado (more below)
- Pressure to sign an “authorization” before you’ve seen a real inspection or estimate
- No Colorado contractor license, no local references, no verifiable reviews
- Asking for large money up front before materials are on site
The deductible trap
Under Colorado’s roofing consumer-protection law (Senate Bill 38), a roofing contractor cannot pay, waive, rebate, or absorb your insurance deductible — and they must disclose in writing that you are responsible for it. Anyone promising to “eat the deductible” is asking you to take part in insurance fraud. It’s one of the clearest tells that a crew isn’t playing straight.
Questions that separate locals from chasers
- What’s your Colorado contractor license number? (You can verify it.)
- What’s your local, physical address — not a P.O. box?
- How long have you worked in this county specifically?
- Can I see recent reviews and local references?
- Who honors the workmanship warranty in five years, and will you still be here?
A legitimate local contractor answers all of these without flinching. A chaser gets vague.
Why local matters after the job
Your roof’s real test comes years later — the first leak, the warranty question, the follow-up. Storm chasers are gone by then. A licensed local company lives and works in your community, depends on its reputation here, and is reachable when you need them. That’s the whole difference.
Common questions
Is it illegal for a roofer to pay my deductible in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado law prohibits roofing contractors from paying or rebating your insurance deductible, and requires them to disclose that you’re responsible for it.
Should I sign the paper a door-knocker hands me?
Not on the spot. Read it fully, and never sign an authorization that lets a company file or negotiate your claim before you’ve chosen them. Take the time to compare a local option.
How do I verify a Colorado contractor?
Ask for the license number and the county it’s issued in, check reviews across Google and the BBB, and confirm they have a real local address and insurance.
Licensed. Local. Not a storm chaser. Josh Brooks Construction and Renovation Inc. (License CON-24-0152, in business since 2014, 30 years in construction) has served Boulder, Weld, Larimer, Jefferson, and Douglas Counties since 2014 — and we’ll be here for the warranty. Call 720-828-7997 or text 720-453-5095.
