Fixing the roof on your home or business is no easy task.
Proper roof maintenance takes a lot of time and money.
The right contractor can be the difference between a job well-done and a job that cuts corners and takes longer than expected.
If you are having second thoughts about the roofer you hired to work on your home, you want to keep reading.
Here Are 5 Red Flags of an Unreliable Roofer
1. More Money, Less Work
There is no reason for a contractor to ask for a big chunk of the final price up front.
Many will ask for a small amount in order to fund materials and other necessities. This is common practice.
The Better Business Bureau recommends a standard of paying for roofing in thirds. Payments happen before the job, in the middle, and upon full completion and approval. This ensures funds are respected on both ends and trust is established between contractor and homeowner.
Some companies may claim to need full payment, or an amount closer to 50%. Stay away at all costs.
Reputable small businesses will be able to fund projects via credit, and big businesses have no need to ask for so much up front.
2. Strange Hours and Unprofessional Behavior
A contractor essentially works on their own time.
A good roofer, though, understands time is money for both parties. They will respect the project deadline and personal hours.
Most roofers operate on an average workweek of 30-40 hours. They keep as close to a traditional 9-5 in order to ensure the project stays on track. Plus, this means your roofing job shouldn’t interfere with your home life.
The questionable ones try to roll in to the work site at noon on Monday and skip out early on Friday afternoon. They will rush the work to move the project along in order to make up for not working full hours.
This is a huge red flag.
Be aware of long breaks and what workers do on their breaks as well. A half hour to an hour lunch is reasonable for a full day of intense manual labor.
A beer with lunch is unacceptable.
Any respected business owner and employee understands the project site is a place for professionalism. They will not tolerate any misbehavior on the job.
A roofer should be mindful of the homeowner and residents, with full respect of privacy and little to no foul language.
3. Safety and Numbers
Safety comes first on any roofing project.
A reputable company will make safety for both your family and its workers the number one priority. It does this by operating within a standard set of safety guidelines.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration can help you understand these guidelines on a construction site. It is referred to as a high hazard industry. This means that the work carries risks, and is not something to take lightly.
Since roofers will be working above 6 feet off the ground, they should wear fall protection and proper foot gear. In the event of injury, it is the job of the contractor to handle treatment and insurance.
Do not engage in a situation where a roofer may try to come after you, the homeowner, for injury compensation. This is a big, serious red flag.
Another issue to look for is rotating or transient employees. Are the people that started the project the same as those showing up for work halfway through?
A consistent team reflects a legitimate company. It says your contractor is practicing good business, from payments to employee satisfaction.
Remember, it is the job of a responsible roofer to be aware of and fix any safety hazards.
In the event you see something suspicious or have a problem with an employee, they should be open to your feedback.
4. Communication Is Important
Speaking of feedback, let’s talk about communication in general.
Keeping an open, consistent line of communication with your contractor is essential in completing a project efficiently and on time.
A best practice on this point is to talk with your roofing company and their team at the start of each day. This keeps you informed on daily/weekly goals and the progress in achieving them.
It also helps with misunderstandings. If you are suspicious of late arrivals or long breaks, ask your roofer before thinking the worst. However, it shouldn’t take days for you to be able to get in touch with your roofing company.
Asking the roofer some questions will help determine what kind of person they are.
Additionally, the more you talk to your roofing company, the less likely they are to pull away.
In particularly bad situations, contractors leave sites in the middle of the job and refuse to return or even answer a call.
They essentially take the money made up to that point and run. This happens frequently with those companies that ask for a lump sum up front. It also happens with storm chasers.
5. No Contract, No Deal
The contract is the most important part of dealing with a roofing company.
It makes everything leading up to that point and everything after legitimate. It is also a point of reference for payment and material discussions that may happen down the road.
Any good contractor will have no problem signing a contract. In fact, they will bring it to you. They will offer full disclosure to the terms of the deal, without rushing you to sign or read quickly.
Do not hire someone to work on your roof without a contract. No matter how small the job may seem, or how big of a hassle, the contract binds both parties.
It is your insurance for the job to be completed on an agreed price point at an agreed deadline. It is the contractor’s guarantee of payment. It also shows your their plans for choosing and laying materials.
In short: no contract, no deal.
Hire A Reputable Roofer
Now that you are aware of what bad roofing looks like, you can be confident in choosing your next contractor.
Contact our Greenville roofing company today for your home or business roofing project.