Signs your roofing contractor is ripping you off

Almost everyone has heard horror stories about roofing contractors ripping homeowners off. From fly-by-night “contractors” to poor workmanship. Hiring a roofing contractor should be an easy process, but how do you know the company you’re hiring is being honest? There are an immense amount of scam artists posing as professionals.

Paying attention to red flags when dealing with a contractor can save you hardships down the road. Colorado and Wyoming are common areas for intense storms, bringing in companies from all over the country.

What does that mean for you? No one is around to honor a warranty or fix their mistakes.

A few red flags to watch for when you hire a roofing contractor

The first step you should take is vetting the company. Make sure they have trusted reviews from other local homeowners, the more the better. How does their online presence look? Believe it or not, a well-built website is a sign of credibility, although can’t be trusted alone.  If the roofer shows up with no company insignia, cards, and forms, keep looking for a new one.

Proper legal documents and forms should always be a part of the contractor process. In these forms make sure that a scope of work is laid out, including every detail and material that will be used. If the roofing company isn’t disclosing the amount of material used and square footage, they may be padding their estimate.

At the same time, if the estimate seems too good to be true, it may be. Often roofing contractors will skip on certain necessary materials, and reuse flashings and pipe jacks that they shouldn’t be to save on cost. They do this to win the job, in turn, you are getting a cut-rate roof replacement. Another reason your estimate may be low is the contractor is using outdated or low-quality materials.

Another red flag to watch for is the bait and switch. Companies will come in with a low number to get the initial contract signed and increase it as the job kicks off. The scope of work comes back into play in this situation. Ensuring you read over all the materials needed before the job starts is crucial.

A contractor should be your guide through the roofing process. Every step of the way you should be getting a re-roofing 101 course from your account manager. If you are being pushed to sign documents before you understand the process, it is time to call someone else.

How do you avoid getting ripped off by a roofing contractor?

Research. Like we said, check a contractor’s online presence. From their website, google reviews, to BBB accreditation. This will tell you that you have found a local roofing contractor that can be trusted. The majority of local companies are members of your area's chamber of commerce, belong to roofing organizations, and participate in charity organizations.

The most important factor when it comes to hiring a legitimate contractor is verifying license and insurance. No professional roofer will avoid providing these documents.

Looking into the companies’ warranties as well as the manufacturer warranty is a way for you as the homeowner to know you are protected. The contractor warranty would help cover any workmanship issues, if they made an error during installation, they would fix it. The manufacturer warranty covers any issues with the material, like if it doesn’t stand up to the wind rating.

We are a trusted local company

If you are wanting to save time and effort, Stonescape Steel Roofing is a local roofing contractor that stands by honesty, integrity, and quality. Offering a 10-year workmanship warranty is a way Stonescape guarantees the best possible experience. Don’t hesitate to contact us for your roof replacement, installation, or repairs.