What we can and cannot say about the law
DOJ guidance says the ADA applies to web content, and WCAG is a common benchmark. There is no DOJ technical website rule for private businesses. Whether a roofing company that does not operate a storefront is covered is unsettled, because federal courts have disagreed on website claims against businesses with no physical public location. We do not claim that your business is or is not covered. Talk to an attorney. What we can say is that homeowners with disabilities and older homeowners hire roofers, and they use your website to decide.
Photos and galleries
A gallery of finished roofs is your best sales tool. For a customer who is blind, it can be an empty page. A short description for each project, such as the roof type, material, and location, serves them and also helps search engines understand the page. Decorative images should be marked as decorative so a screen reader skips them. Sliders should not autoplay, and arrows should work with a keyboard.
Where roofing sites break
- Free estimate forms. Unlabeled fields and an address autocomplete that cannot be used by keyboard.
- Storm damage guides. Long pages with no headings or with text over photos.
- Financing and insurance claim help. Third party tools with unknown testing.
- Material comparison charts. A table built from an image.
- Warranty and certification badges. Logos with no names.
- Video testimonials. No captions.
A short plan
- Scan the home page for a baseline.
- Add descriptions to the images that carry meaning.
- Label the estimate form and make errors clear.
- Caption videos.
- Check text over photos for contrast.
We can do this for you with WCAG remediation or build a new site through accessible redesign if the old one is beyond repair. See also HVAC companies and plumbers.
General information, not legal advice. Automated testing cannot establish full ADA compliance or guarantee protection from lawsuits. It finds some kinds of barriers quickly. A person still has to test the rest. Ask a qualified attorney how the law applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
Are roofers covered by the ADA online?
It depends on facts, and courts have not agreed on businesses without a public location. Ask an attorney.
How do I describe roofing photos?
Say what is shown in a sentence: the roof type, the material, and what changed. Mark purely decorative images as decorative.
Do I need captions on testimonial videos?
Captions help customers who are deaf or hard of hearing and anyone watching without sound.
Can the free scan check my gallery?
It can flag images with no text alternative on the page it reads. A person should check that the descriptions make sense.