Why Well Krafted: Don’t Hire Chuck in a Truck
Chuck isn’t a real person. He’s what the trade calls the contractor who shows up with the storm and leaves with it — a magnetic sign on the door, a clipboard, and a deal that’s only good today. To be fair to the road crews: plenty of out-of-town roofers do honest work. The problem is you can’t tell which kind you’ve got from the driveway. So instead of asking you to take our word for anything, this page gives you the checks that separate the two — and invites you to run every one of them on us.
Want the family story? That’s on our About page. This page is about proof.
Chuck vs. Well Krafted
| What to Check | Chuck in a Truck | Well Krafted |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer certification | “Certified.” By whom, and since when, gets a little fuzzy. | GAF Certified Plus™. Look us up yourself in GAF’s contractor directory. |
| Proof of insurance | “Yeah, we’re covered.” Nothing on paper. | Fully insured. Ask for our certificate of insurance before work starts. |
| Where they’re based | A cell number and a truck. The address is wherever the last storm was. | 320 Washington Place, New Albany, IN. Same address before the storm and after it. |
| The paperwork | A number written on the back of a business card. | A written, line-item proposal before you sign — the same quote standard we lay out for roof replacement. |
| Warranty | “Lifetime warranty.” Whose lifetime is never specified. | On qualifying GAF systems we register a GAF System Plus or Silver Pledge™ warranty — backed by the manufacturer, not just our word. |
| Reviews | Hard to find. Harder to find from last year. | Real Google reviews from real customers — read them on our reviews page or on our Google profile. |
| Your deductible | “Don’t worry about your deductible.” (Worry.) | We never offer to pay, waive, or rebate it — Kentucky law bars roofers from doing that. Here is how deductibles and claims actually work. |
| Six months later | Number disconnected. Truck’s two states over, chasing the next hailstorm. | Call or text 502-208-7089 — a real person answers during business hours. |
Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF. GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses.
Check Any Roofer Before You Sign
Look Them Up in the Manufacturer’s Directory
Shingle makers keep public lists of the contractors they certify. Search GAF’s by ZIP code — here is our listing — and make sure the company name matches the one on your contract. The certification belongs to the company, not the crew, so also ask who will actually be on your roof.
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance
You want proof of general liability coverage, with dates that cover your job. Ideally it comes straight from the contractor’s insurance agent, not as a photo on someone’s phone — and you can call the agent to confirm the policy is active. Also ask whether the crew on your roof is covered by workers’ comp, and whose policy that is: the contractor’s or a subcontractor’s own.
Call Your Building Department
Requirements for roofing contractors differ from city to city and county to county. A quick call to your city or county building department tells you what a contractor needs to work at your address, and whether your job needs a permit.
Get It in Writing
Payment schedule, start window, how change orders are priced, which warranty gets registered, and what cleanup includes — all on paper before you sign. Our quote checklist on the roof replacement page lists what a complete proposal should name.
Read Recent Reviews
Look for reviews spread over months and years, not a burst from one week. Reviews that mention real towns and specific details are worth more than a wall of five-word raves.
Watch the Payment Ask
Be wary of cash-only deals, full payment before materials show up, or a request to sign over your insurance check on the spot. Payments should line up with the work, and the schedule should be in the contract.
Storm-Chaser Red Flags
- Knocks the morning after a storm and needs a signature today
- Offers to cover, waive, or “work with” your deductible
- No local address you could drive to
- Can’t produce a certificate of insurance
- Claims a certification you can’t find in the manufacturer’s directory
- Wants cash only, or full payment before materials arrive
- Asks you to sign over an insurance check on the spot
- Gives a price with no written, itemized proposal
Spotted one of these on a quote you’re holding? Call 502-208-7089 for a second look before you sign.
Hiring a Roofer: FAQs
Who is Chuck in a Truck?
Nobody in particular. It is the name the trade uses for the contractor who rolls into town behind a big storm, signs as many roofs as possible, and is gone before the first warranty question comes up. Chuck can be friendly, fast, and cheap. What he usually cannot be is reachable a year later.
How do I confirm a roofer’s GAF certification is real?
Search GAF’s online contractor directory by ZIP code or company name and check that the listing matches the business name on your proposal. GAF certifies companies, not individual crews, so a valid listing tells you about the company — it is still worth asking who will be doing the installation on your roof.
What should a roofer’s certificate of insurance show?
At minimum: the contractor’s business name exactly as it appears on your contract, general liability coverage, and policy dates that cover the time your job will run. Ask for it to be sent directly from the contractor’s insurance agent, and call the agent if you want to confirm the policy is active. It is also fair to ask whether the crew on your roof is covered by workers’ comp, and whether that is the contractor’s policy or a subcontractor’s.
Is it normal for a roofer to ask for a deposit?
Many legitimate contractors ask for a deposit or a payment toward materials. What matters is that the payment schedule is written into the contract and lines up with the work. Be cautious about cash-only arrangements, full payment before any materials are delivered, or pressure to hand over an insurance check before work begins.
A roofer wants me to sign today to lock in a storm special. Should I?
A roof is a large purchase, and an honest contractor will give you time to read the proposal, check their insurance, and compare quotes. Same-day pressure is one of the oldest storm-chaser tactics. Read anything you are asked to sign — especially anything that mentions your insurance claim — and ask what happens if you change your mind.
What happens to my warranty if my roofer goes out of business?
It depends on the warranty. A manufacturer warranty that has been registered with the manufacturer is tied to the manufacturer and its terms, while a workmanship promise made only by the contractor is worth what the contractor is. Ask which warranty will be registered, ask for proof of registration when the job is done, and keep it with your house papers.
Where can I check a roofer’s complaint history?
Search the company name along with the word complaint, check the Better Business Bureau, and contact your state attorney general’s consumer protection office — both Indiana and Kentucky have one. Look for a physical address you can visit and a business name you can search.
Will Well Krafted mind if I check up on you first?
Not at all — that is the point of this page. Look us up in GAF’s contractor directory, ask for our certificate of insurance, drive past 320 Washington Place in New Albany, and read our Google reviews. Then run the same checklist on everyone else you are considering.
Go Ahead. Run the Checklist on Us.
Family-owned and based in New Albany, serving Southern Indiana and Louisville. Call 502-208-7089 or send us a note, and bring every question on this page.