The Insider’s Guide to Choosing The Right Roofing Contractor Without Getting Swindled!

DON’T Hire a Roofing Contractor Until You Read This!

The Insider’s Guide to Choosing The Right Roofing Contractor Without Getting Swindled!

Dear Property Owner,

Bad actors have poisoned the roofing industry. That’s why homeowners are skeptical about roofing contractors. Unfortunately, it’s for good reason.

Search “Roofing News” and your results will be flooded with scams, theft, deaths, and fines for illegal practices. It’s no wonder that property owners like you have your guard up when it comes to choosing a contractor.

This guide is published by Roofing STRONG Alliance by TAMKO™ community with the goal of empowering property owners to confidently choose their contractor.

If you were given this guide, it means that the contractor you are considering is an active Member of the Roofing STRONG Alliance by TAMKO™ community.

Learn more about our mission and verify their Membership status on our website under the “Member Directory.”

Now let’s get started by helping you confidently hire a contractor.

Who is the Roofing STRONG Alliance by TAMKO™ Community?

The Roofing STRONG Alliance by TAMKO™ community is a group of contractors united around the core values of:

Service Excellence

We strive to deliver amazing experiences at every touchpoint.

Transparency Always

We educate and empower through honest, clear communication.

Radical Ownership

We lead ourselves and our teams with extreme accountability.

Outstanding Culture

We build an environment our customers and employees are proud to call their own.

Noble Stewardship

We serve our customers, our people, and our industry with integrity.

Growth Mindset

We commit to continuous improvement in everything we do.

We work together as a community, integrated with TAMKO who is aligned with our commitment to quality, integrity, and delivering lasting value to homeowners.

Tell-Tale Signs Your Contractor is a Swindler or a Saint

Deception, lies, misleading statements, or grandiose promises are sleazy tactics used to earn your business. These may sound enticing, exciting, or even “too good to be true” at first. But as projects hum along, your internal alarm bells will start ringing.

The easiest way to determine if a contractor is operating with your best interest at heart is:

They do what they say they are going to do.

If a contractor promises to follow up, deliver information, or communicate next steps and they don’t, that should be a huge red flag. If the contractor can’t keep their word before they even earn your business, imagine what will happen once your check clears.

Next, the right contractor should provide highly-detailed information regarding your project. In other words, they should:

Tell you exactly what they’re going to do.

This may sound simple, and it should be. But unfortunately, many contractors are notorious for what we call “loosey goose” estimates. Why? Because they prey on the fact that property owners don’t understand the intricacies of their roofing project.

To many property owners, if the roof comes off and goes back on, then they have a new roof. And that’s exactly what predatory contractors want you to think. This is one of the most common tactics used by contractors to deceive homeowners.

They’ll prepare an estimate with little to no detail, and then a price. Now, the lay person, they think that all estimates are created equal. Because after all, it’s just a roof replacement, right?

Not so fast. Roofs, although seemingly simple, are complex systems. Systems that require that their installation follow both local building codes and manufacturers’ recommendations.

The tricky part is that enforcement upon these practices is limited. Meaning contractors can get away with making on-the-fly decisions about installation practices and the materials used. This is what many contractors do who appear to be the most competitive on price. They might try and make up for the lowball estimate during the install without you knowing it.

What does this mean to you? Re-using building materials (like flashing) that could be 10, 20, or even 30 years old! Then expecting it to last another 20 to 30 years or more on your roof! In addition to re-using old, worn out materials, they will buy the cheapest materials possible.

They think they can get away with this because they never told you exactly what they’d be using. Imagine if you were spending your hard earned money on a beautiful new kitchen.

Would you spend $20,000 on a kitchen remodel if you had no idea what type of countertops or cabinets you’d be getting?

Of course not! You’d want to know exactly what type of material was being used to make sure you were getting what you paid for, and what you deserve. Imagine then if you ended up in court with your contractor who was doing the kitchen remodel because you didn’t get quality countertops or cabinets. Imagine the judge looking at the contract and saying, “Sorry, but the contract doesn’t specify what products would be used, so you’re out of luck.”

It feels criminal, doesn’t it? The problem is, if it’s not itemized and detailed, there’s often little legal recourse or accountability. That’s why it’s vitally important to choose a contractor who says exactly what they’ll do and does what they say they’re going to do.

But The Other Contractor Was Cheaper?

You want a fair investment. You don’t want to feel like you’re overpaying. So naturally, you want to get a few estimates. Many property owners choose the middle because they know that the cheapest sacrifices quality, and the most expensive is probably “too much.” But is that the best way?

Hiring an expensive contractor costs a lot? Try a cheap one…

Roofing contractors receive a lot of complaints. When investigated further, you’ll find that many complaints are from homeowners who chose the cheapest contractor. Our members have countless stories of fixing or replacing shoddy workmanship from “the cheaper contractor.”

Like the couple who chose the cheaper contractor, and one year later had a leak near their chimney. The couple called their roofer to have it fixed since it was still under warranty. No one answered. No one called her back. The contractor had gone out of business.

The couple called the more expensive roofing company who they did not hire to come out and help. Upon inspecting the roof, the roofer noticed horrific installation practices, cut corners, and improper flashing around the chimney. It was truly irreparable. The only long-term fix was to replace the roof.

The couple ended up replacing the roof a second time, only after spending thousands to professionally clean their carpets, the couch, and repaint the entire ceiling of their open concept floor plan (since you can’t just repaint one section without it standing out).

Don’t Get DECEIVED

The best thing you can do to avoid getting deceived is ask yourself if you can answer the following questions yourself by reading their estimate:

If you cannot get answers to these questions from the estimate alone, then consider asking why!

A reputable contractor should be confident in going through any competing estimates side by side, breaking down the differences with you, even if you don’t choose them. Everything should be in writing. Do not trust a contractor who says, “We’ll do that too.” If it’s not in writing, it may not get done. And if they say, “I’ll add that in,” then ask yourself, “What was their intention of leaving it out in the first place?” This is how you can sniff out the swindlers and choose the right roofing contractor for you.

Storm Damage? Read This Even if You’ve Been Through it Before

Replacing your roof because of storm damage? There’s no shortage of roofing contractors soliciting you for business. Your door has probably been knocked on hundreds of times. Roofers are probably promising you the world! “Get a roof practically free!” Or “We’ll even pay your deductible!”

Many property owners who are going through this process think that it’s much like dealing with an auto claim. When dealing with an auto claim, the insurance company writes a check for the damage, you shop around for who can give you the best deal, and if you’re lucky, you don’t even have to pay your deductible.

But storm damage roof claims are different, even if roofers lead you to believe that’s not the case. How they are handled can be much different. The rest of this Guide will help you sniff out the swindler, so you can choose the right contractor for you.

The Other Guy Said He’d Pay My Deductible

You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? “I’ll eat your deductible.” Or, “I’ll pay your deductible.” And sometimes you’ll even have people promise to put money back in your pocket.

But did they explain how they could do that? Your answer is likely, “No, they just said they could.”

When you investigate these details even further, you’ll often find that they didn’t outright eat the deductible. They likely tried to get clever by offering an “advertising agreement” to compensate the property owner the exact amount of their deductible to place a yard sign on their property.

Here are two other new ways that insurance carriers and legislation are trying to tighten things up.

This is why, when dealing with an insurance claim, you can and should inquire about your options to choose anyone that you like and trust to do your roof.

My Insurance Company Told Me to Get 3 Estimates

You’ve heard this recommendation from your insurance company? “Before you choose a contractor, it’s important that you get 3 estimates.” As we covered before, your contribution is your deductible, and then your coverage kicks in. So if you find a contractor who can do it for less, does that mean you don’t have to pay your deductible? NO. You still owe your deductible.

Knowing this, don’t you wonder, “Why would I get 3 estimates if what I’m paying is my deductible?” Rather than getting three estimates, what if you just focused on finding the right contractor who will state everything they are going to do, do it, and stand behind their work. Shopping based on price alone can mean you are doing yourself a disservice because your deductible does not change.

Let’s suggest a hypothetical. Imagine that you were going in for knee surgery. Your medical co-pay was $1,000. One surgeon could do it for $15,000. Another surgeon quoted $20,000. And a final surgeon quoted $25,000. Knowing that your medical co-pay was $1,000 whether it was $15,000 or $25,000 – which surgeon would you choose? Chances are, you’d choose the surgeon who was the most credible, had the most expertise, and the one you felt most comfortable with, right?

The same concept can be applied to your roof. It is recommended that you contact your insurance agent and/or claims office for more information. You can ask, “If I find someone to do it cheaper, does that mean I don’t have to pay my deductible, or I can keep the extra money?” Let your insurance agent or claims officer explain that you do not need to get three estimates, and price should not matter.

You can find many contractors who will promise to do it cheaper, but at what cost? It’s empowering to know that you truly can and should choose the contractor who you like, trust, and who has your best interests at heart.

I’ll Keep The Money and NOT Do My Roof

In today’s economy, the idea of pocketing thousands of dollars can be very tempting. Especially if you feel that your roof isn’t in that bad of shape. But before you do that, it’s important to understand what that can mean for you.

First, let’s address why the insurance company is paying to replace your roof. It’s the single most expensive maintenance item on your home, and its lifespan is compromised.

Imagine this.

Say you got a brand new car. You’d expect it to last 200,000 miles right? Well, what if the neighborhood kids stole it, and while driving down the road at 45 mph they threw it in reverse. Would the transmission last 200,000 miles? NO. Would you do something about it? Of course!

The same thing is happening to your roof. The lifespan may be compromised – cut short. That can often mean you’ll be paying with your hard-earned money to replace your roof sooner than you would have otherwise needed to.

With inflation and supply chain issues, the industry has experienced substantial price increases 3-5x per year.

Your roof is no longer insured.

Because you cannot collect on a claim two times (unless you did the work). So even if severe weather tears your entire roof off, and it’s laying in the neighbor’s yard, your roof is no longer insured. Because they already paid for it once.

Many members of the Roofing STRONG Alliance by TAMKO™ community have experienced this themselves. They’ve been contacted by a property owner for roof damage who has filed a claim, and the insurance company denied coverage because the property owner had collected on a roof claim years ago and never did the work. The property owner would then have to pay out of pocket for the entire roof replacement, costing them many thousands (or even tens of thousands) more.

It gets worse. If you don’t replace your roof, and your roof is no longer insured, your premiums likely don’t change! You’ll be paying the same premiums, even though your roof is no longer insured.

If you want to save money and protect your property, you’ll want to choose the contractor who you like and trust to replace your roof.

Ask These 5 Questions to Sniff Out the Swindlers!

Here are 5 simple questions to ask yourself about the contractors you’re speaking with. How you answer these questions will help you make the best choice for you.

You can use these 5 questions as your “pulse check” with each contractor you speak with. Thank you again for investing your valuable time reading this guide. We truly hope it leads you to having an amazing experience with the contractor you choose.

Sincerely,

Adam Bensman

Founder, Roofing STRONG Alliance by TAMKO™

P.S. Learn more about the Roofing STRONG Alliance by TAMKO™ community’s mission on our website.

Legal Notice

The views and opinions expressed are based on the author’s long tenure and personal experiences as a roofing professional prior to coming to TAMKO. As such, his views are intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional advice regarding insurance, financing, legal matters, or business transactions. Readers are encouraged to consult with qualified professionals before making any decisions related to their business operations.

The testimonials and stories shared on this page reflect individual experiences. These accounts are anecdotal in nature and are provided for informational purposes only. Results, outcomes, and experiences may vary. Nothing contained herein constitutes a guarantee, warranty, or representation that any individual will achieve the same or similar results. TAMKO Building Products LLC makes no representations regarding the typicality of the experiences described.

Insurance discounts are not guaranteed. If available, discounts vary by state and insurance company. Contact your insurance agent for information before installing a new roof.