Roofing Do's and Don'ts

• Do keep in mind that we are working for you and asking questions is important.
• Don't allow the contractor to bully you into not looking at the work being done on your home or business. And if they can't answer a few questions about what they doing you should ask yourself if you choose the right company
• Do be mindful that a job site is hazardous and keep clear as much as possible. Our company has a safety manual that all employees are required to read and sign that helps keep them aware of their surroundings but please watch out for us too.
• Don't allow children to play around the site there is always the chance something could fall and injure someone.
• Do make sure that the materials you are paying for are used on your roof. These materials include starter shingles along the edge of the roof and up the rake. You have to have felt paper covering the whole house. Ice and Water protection must be in the valleys, some companies use metal and others use rubber type membrane. Something has to be in the valley. Drip edge also has to be used on every edge on your home. Flashing (small pieces of metal) has to be used.
• Don't let yourself be talked into taking shortcuts that will cost you more in the long run. Having felt paper, starter shingles, drip edge, ice and water, flashing and caulk are a must on all jobs. (Except some flat roof systems) If these things are missing, you will pay later for new decking, new fascia etc. This is not a-you might this is a-you will. We cannot say enough that your roof is your most important investment in your home or business. Make sure you are getting a good job.
• Do ask for references and call and check out the company. Make sure they are licensed and insured. Is the company going to be there if you have a problem?
• Don't be afraid to ask for these things, it is your right as the homeowner, business owner or commercial contractor.  It isn't a good idea to have a friend (not experienced) in roofing to do the job for you, it may be cheap or even free but it isn't always good. And when your roof leaks will you still have them as a friend?
• Do make sure that the shingles going on your roof are new if that's what you paid for.
• Don't allow seconds and defective shingles to be used on your roof. Defective shingles don't have warranties..
• Do make sure that you are having ridge cap put on your ridge.
• Don't put cut-up dimensional shingles for cap.
• Do call Mr. Roofer for a free roof estimate or if you have any questions!

MrRooferEnterpriseAL.com

334-494-7212

How to Avoid 4 Roof Replacement Rip-offs

How to Avoid 4 Roof Replacement Rip-offs

There are many good roofing companies out there. Unfortunately, for every reputable company, there are probably at least one or two other contractors who are a bit shady in their dealings. Some contractors are more interested in making a quick buck than taking their time to install a roof correctly. There are 4 primary ways I've seen homeowners get ripped off by roofing contractors. Some aren't even evident until years later when the roof fails. Once you understand them you can avoid them. If you see any of these happening, it should raise a red flag in your mind. Be very careful about dealing with that contractor.

Rip-off #1: Asking For a Large Down Payment. This tactic is often employed by “fly-by-night” roofing contractors. They work “under the radar.” They want to get most of their money up front so they don't need to finish the job they start. Sometimes these guys will do a lot of advertising, get a lot of jobs lined up using high-pressure, in-home sales, get an enormous down payment from their clients, and then never show up again. If you're lucky, they may complete the jobs they start. If they do, it often takes a very long time. They will give you excuses when you call them like “The truck broke down, the wife is sick, the supplier couldn't deliver, etc.” Because they've received so much of their money up front, there is little motivation to get back and finish your roof in a timely manner. Among other things, this could leave your home open to the weather and put you at risk of interior damage if a storm comes through. How to protect yourself: It is very common for roofing contractors to ask for up to 50% of the roofing purchase price as a down payment, then the rest upon completion. This will cover materials, permits, and other business costs while the new roof is being installed. This is acceptable. If you run into a contractor that asks for more than 50% before he's even started or 100% of it before he finishes, it should raise a red flag in your mind. Be careful! Never pay 100% of the contract before the work is done to your satisfaction. Withholding some of the cash will give you bargaining power if they decide to cut corners or do shoddy work.

Rip-off #2: Increasing The Price after You’re Locked.  This is similar to the bait-and-switch method employed by certain less-than-ethical companies. In a bait and switch deal a low price is revealed to you at the beginning, then when you go to buy the thing, it's “not available” and you get sold a higher priced product with high-pressure sales tactics. Here's how it's used in the roofing business: A roofing contractor will give you a great, low priced estimate that seems too good to pass up. Thinking it's a great deal, you call him and tell him he's got the job. He immediately gets started on the job and everything seems great. Then lots of little things keep coming up that bump the price up. Either “he forgot” or “the original product wasn't available so you'll need to upgrade if you want to keep the job moving.” The result? You could end up with a lower quality job that costs thousands more than the other estimates you got in the first place. How to protect yourself: Get the roofing contract in writing that explains in detail the materials used and how it will be installed. If you get a 1-page estimate that includes very little detail, don't assume that the unlisted items will be included. A new roof is far too big an investment to go off a 1-page “estimate.” Don't accept anything less than a detailed contract. Every contingency that could possibly happen should be brought up before you sign the contract. For example, you should be informed about the possibility of existing plywood damage (from water or dry-rot) and how much it will be to replace it if damage is found. Be sure that you are notified by phone if damage is found and not at the end of the job when you get the high-priced bill. Taking a low estimate that doesn't say anything about felt, vents, or drip metal, or that is missing any other material will likely mean you'll be charged extra for those at the end of the job. Or worse, they won't get used at all and your roof will have problems down the road. If the estimate does include those things, make sure they are the quality that you are looking for.

Rip-off #3: Not Installing Your Roof to Code.  Many contractors are not fully aware of the changes to the building code and don't keep up with new changes that come out. Even if the boss knows, sometimes the installers will not and could mess this up. Building codes are put in place for a reason – to protect you, the homeowner. Even worse, homeowner's insurance companies won't pay out for damage that results from a workmanship or manufacturer defect. Getting an improperly installed roof could make you liable for the damages if something goes wrong. This could end up costing you $1000's if you need to hire someone to replace parts of your new roof. How to protect yourself: Be sure the contractor you hire is up to date on the building codes. While there are many, the 2 codes I see broken most often are with drip metal and ventilation. All drip metal (the metal piece that covers your fascia) must extend up onto the roof surface at least 2”. This works to protect the perimeter of your roof from water getting in and rotting the wood out. Many companies are still using 'G' metal, which is a 1 3/8” x 1 3/8” drip metal that doesn't meet code requirements. Be sure you are getting 'D' style drip metal or minimum 2”x2” 'G' metal. With ventilation many contractors will simply replace the existing vents. Often times the existing ventilation doesn't meet the code requirements of 1:300. This means you need 1 square foot of venting area for every 300 square feet of attic space. This must be split between the soffits and roof ventilation system. So for example: a 1500 square foot home will need 8-10 vents depending on the size of vent used. Alternatively, you can go with a continuous ridge vent. If a ridge vent is chosen to be sure it meets the qualifications listed later on in this booklet. Having less ventilation than required can cause moisture & mold buildup in your attic, cause dry rot and plywood buckling, as well as raise A/C costs in the summer, and increase the risk of ice dams in the winter. Also, be sure a permit is pulled for your roofing project. This will require a building inspector from your city to come out and perform 2 inspections. One to check the requirement for ice & water shield (a thick, sticky-back felt that goes on the bottom edges) and the next to check ventilation. While this is a necessary step, don't depend on the inspector to make sure your roof gets installed to code, he carries no liability if a mistake is made.

Rip-off #4: Not Using the Same Materials Sold to You.  Some contractors will sell you a premium shingle, then end up using a different brand or different grade when they go to put the roof on. This can occur with any of the products used in the roofing process: drip metal, flashings, felt paper, the shingle itself, vents, or other accessories sold on the job. The worst part is, you probably wouldn't ever know until something bad happens down the road and it gets revealed. For example: If your roofing contractor isn't tied down by a contract it can be tempting for him to use a 15# felt when a 30# was sold (which is half as expensive) or using a lower-grade or discount shingle instead of the premium shingle sold (these can range from 30%-70% less expensive). This will make it so the contractor can pocket some extra cash while hoping you won't notice. How to protect yourself: Only deal with a roofing contractor you trust. If anything seems off with their integrity or the way they do business don't risk it. Replacing your roof will be one of the most expensive home improvement projects you undertake, getting it done right the first time is essential. You don't want to micro-manage the roofing job by double-checking every material they use so make sure you get a signed, written contract and only deal with honest contractors.

Rip-off #5: Voiding the Manufacturer Warranty. All shingle manufacturers provide a limited warranty on the shingles they produce. Some warranties are better than others, but they all will either partially or completely cover manufacturer defects. However, if the contractor that installs your roof hires unqualified technicians to do the work, your manufacturer warranty could be VOID. Years later if a defect is found, you may be liable for the damages since it was installed incorrectly. At that point you could go after the contractor, but he may not be interested in helping or worse...out of business. How to protect yourself: Ask your contractor if his installers are certified to install the shingle you want. Most manufacturers have a certification process for the contractor and the best manufacturers have certification programs for the installers themselves. Some programs are stricter than others. Some require a simple sign-up form and a pledge of goodwill, while others require the owner of the company and the installer's to complete and pass certification tests. If the contractor and his installers are certified to install your shingle, be sure to ask what the requirements are. This will help screen out bad contractors and give you more confidence in the good ones.