Roofing in Texarkana, Arkansas

One town, two states

State Line Avenue divides Texarkana between Texas and Arkansas. Downtown, the federal post office and courthouse sits right on the line, and no other federal building in the country stands in two states. The Arkansas side is in Miller County and has its own city government, its own permit office, and Arkansas law instead of Texas law. Downtown Texarkana, Arkansas is about seven miles from our office by road.

Arkansas contractor licensing

Arkansas is stricter than Texas about who can work on your house. According to the Arkansas Attorney General, any contractor building, repairing, or improving a home on a job over $2,000 has to be bonded and licensed by the Arkansas Contractors Licensing Board.

Bohon Roofing, LLC holds Arkansas contractor license #56621, listed with the board for roofing, roof decks, and roofing sheet metal. You can look up any contractor on the board's website before you sign, and we'd encourage you to.

If your insurance company says no

Arkansas gives homeowners a specific protection on insurance repair jobs. Before you sign a residential repair contract, the contractor has to give you a written notice: if your insurer tells you in writing that all or part of the claim isn't covered, you can cancel within three business days. Money you paid comes back within ten business days, except for emergency work already done. The rule is Arkansas Code 4-88-903.

Permits on the Arkansas side

Texarkana, Arkansas runs its own permits through the city's Public Works Department, where the Code Enforcement Division oversees construction permits. The two cities don't share a permit office, so check with the Arkansas side for your address. The city's website is texarkanaar.gov.

After a storm

The Arkansas Insurance Department gives homeowners this advice when hiring a contractor after storm damage:

• Get more than one estimate and check references
• Ask for a certificate of insurance and confirm it with the insurer listed on it
• Never sign a contract with blank spaces
• Don't pay in full or sign a completion certificate until the work is done