Roof replacement and repair projects are home improvement tasks that you should never DIY. This is because if you do so, it can leave you open to mistakes that can cause further damage to your roof or even cause injuries to yourself, especially if you’re inexperienced when it comes to roofing. Instead, you should hire a professional roofer to get the job done for you. Unfortunately, there’s a small percentage of unsavory characters in the home improvement industry and some of them are more than willing to commit a few roofing scams just to make a quick buck.
Here are the seven most common roofing scams that you need to look out for.
- Large Down Payments – If your potential contractor asks for large downpayments or the full price before they even start to do any work on your roof, part ways with their company and find somebody else to get the job done immediately. This is because while modest downpayments are normal in the roofing industry, large downpayments are a common tactic used by con artists to take your money and run, leaving you high and dry with a faulty roof. According to professionals roofers, when it comes to downpayments, an honest contractor won’t exceed 20% of the projected total bill. If the downpayment is 50% or higher, you should take that as a red flag to avoid their services.
- High-Pressure Sales – Another common roofing scam that you need to look out for are high-pressure sales tactics. Whenever a less than reputable roofer attempts to pull this off, they’ll often show up to a consultation with a special “today only” deal. While such deals don’t always mean that your roofer is up to no good, experts still recommend that you remain wary as these deals are often there to pressure you into signing a legally-binding contract on the spot so you won’t have time to think about it or do your research. With that in mind, be on guard and try not to rush things when it comes to signing contracts with roofers who offer such deals. Instead, be sure to properly think things through and ask for a second opinion from a different roofer if needed.
- Storm Chasers – Did a storm just pass by your area? If so, then there’s another roofing scam that you need to look out for– storm chasers. Storm chasers are roofers who follow bad weather events in search of damaged roofs to repair. Often, they travel door-to-door to offer their services while claiming that they noticed your roof sustained damage. While they may sound harmless, they usually perform poor work on roofing systems, putting your roof at risk of further damage. That way, they can do the bare minimum when it comes to repairing your roofing system while running off with the majority of your money at the same time. Unfortunately for homeowners such as yourself, this leaves you with a poorly repaired roof that can sustain further damage at any time. With that in mind, if a storm chaser knocks on your door and offers to repair your roof, be sure to refuse their services and find a different contractor to inspect and repair your roof instead.
- Overcharging – Unlike most roofing scams, this kind of scam is easy to avoid. When you hire a roofer for your roofing repair needs, they’ll usually charge whatever they want for the services they render for your roof. However, good contractors will always give you a reasonable price for the job. Less than reputable contractors, on the other hand, will charge as high as they can go, which can wreak havoc on your budget for the roofing project. Thankfully, it’s fairly easy to spot this scam; simply get estimates from four or five contractors and determine the average. Any estimate that is way above this average is likely overcharging and you should avoid hiring them to prevent issues with your finances.
- Inadequate Repairs – On the other hand, inadequate repairs are roofing scams that are difficult to spot until it’s too late. Often, this happens when a roofer gives you a low quote. When you sign the contract, they’ll perform the repairs needed on your roof. However, since they gave you a low quote, it’s likely that they used substandard materials to get the job done, resulting in your roof sustaining damage after only a few months. The reason why this takes a while for you to notice is because of the camouflage that your roofer did; as most roofing problems often occur below the surface, your roofer can scam you by making a show of replacing the old shingles without actually remedying the issues the roof is suffering beneath the surface. With that in mind, if you want to avoid this from the start, be sure to properly research your contractor first before you sign a contract enlisting their services. Thankfully, you can easily accomplish this by checking their website for customer reviews or the Better Business Bureau’s website. That way, you can determine if their previous clients had any unresolved complaints about their services.
- Unnecessary Repairs – On the opposite end of the inadequate repairs spectrum, meanwhile, is another scam where roofers perform unnecessary repairs on your roof. While additional repairs may sound good, the bad part of this is that performing too many repairs can cause subsurface damage to your roofing system. Like inadequate repairs, this scam can also be difficult to identify as the difference between thorough service and unnecessary work can be difficult to distinguish for the average homeowner. In fact, expert roofers say that it’s actually possible that you may not even realize that you fell victim to this scam until after a few years. Therefore, when you need to hire a roofer to repair or replace your roof, don’t hesitate to do the necessary research first before you actually hire them for the job. In fact, if you want to make your search for an expert roofer easier, simply turn to the experts of Your Professional Roofer to get the job done for you.
- Low Starting Bids – Low starting bids can be a luring offer to take up, especially if you’re working on a budget. In fact, when you see a roofer offering a low bid compared to any other roofer in the area, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a scam. For all you know, they could be a new roofing company looking to build up their clientele. However, you also can’t discount the possibility of a scam when you see a low starting bid. According to experts, when a less than reputable roofer offers you a low starting bid, it’s possible that the price of your roofing project could eventually creep up to exorbitant amounts due to “unforeseen problems”. With that in mind, be sure to be wary of roofers who offer low starting bids. That way, you can avoid any headaches and misunderstandings in the long run.
Need someone who can help you repair your roof? Look no further than Your Professional Roofer. When it comes to residential and commercial roofing projects, we are the leading service provider to approach and we won’t let you down! Give us a call at (636) 866 5660 or fill out our contact form to request an estimate.