Help Me Howard: Wrong Roof

WSVN--When a storm hits, winds howl, rains pour and after it all dries... people lament.

Juliet Hunters watched her roof get the stormy treatment.

Juliet Hunters: "Just the wind .. shingles blowing through the windows."

Juliet knew she would eventually have to hire a roofer and get some repairs made... And then she drove home one day.

Juliet Hunters: "It was fabulous. The roof was being worked on."

One problem... Juliet had not hired a roofer.

Juliet Hunters: "As soon as I turned down the street. I knew what happened. Wrong house."

She lives on 93rd Avenue, the roofers were supposed to be working on 93rd Terrace. So when she drove up they expected a customer happy to see them.

Juliet Hunters: "He comes running down the ladder. Kind of laughing saying 'I guess you know, do you know why we're here?'"

The roofing company was out of Central Florida down here doing hurricane repairs.

When Juliet told them they had ripped the shingle roof off the wrong house they werent fazed.

Juliet Hunters: "Don't worry, you won the lottery, you can have a roof in two days."

Sounded great, a free roof. But Juliet balked, because the out of town company wanted to do it without a permit.

Juliet Hunters: "You need a permit. I don't want to rip my roof down in three weeks when somebody finds out I didn't pull a permit."

The roofers told her if she wanted a permit she would have to pay for part of the new roof. When Juliet said no the roofer told her he was disappointed in her.

Juliet Hunters: "My response was I'm disappointed that I didn't get to choose my own contractor."

And with a half finished roof and a full blown headache, Juliet called Help Me Howard.

Howard Finkelstein, 7 News Legal Expert: "Because the roofer went to work on the wrong house...he is responsible for all the damage he caused to juliets roof...and in fact if juliet wants to hire a different roofer...she can and the first roofer has to pay for it."

By the time when we spoke to the roofer he had agreed to put on a new roof with a permit for free. But he had told Juliet he would do it on one condition.

Juliet Hunters: "He wants me to sign a legal contract releasing him of all liability and responsibility. With no warranty."

Howard... Good idea or bad?

Howard Finkelstein: "Bad idea. A warranty is very important when getting a new roof. It protects you from damage several years down the road and makes it more likely that the roofer will properly install the new roof."

The roofer then told Help Me Howard Juliet would get a free roof with a one year warranty.

He told me quote, 'We are gonna put a roof on this ladies house.'"

Good news for Juliet...Who just hopes the free roofer is as good as he says he is.

Juliet Hunters:  "Contractors don't have the greatest reputation in Florida. And, it's my responsibility.  I own this home and I want to make sure it's done properly."

Patrick Fraser: "Juliet was smart to demand that the roofers pull a permit. If code enforcement had found out they put on a roof without one they could have forced her to rip the roof off again. Sounds extreme...But those are the rules."

Unexpected problems pouring down on you? Feel like tarring someone? Cool off and contact us. We can't put a roof over your head but we can make sure you stay nice and dry.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact: helpmehoward@wsvn.com
DADE: 305-953-WSVN
BROWARD: 954-761-WSVN