13 Secrets Dirty Roofing Companies Don't Want You to Know!
Full Service Roofing Contractors
“Quality You Can Trust.”
Protecting Your Home and Savings from Roofing Scams
Are you having to meet with roofers? Is the entire process getting on your nerves yet? Does it feel like something just isn’t right, but you can’t quite put your finger on what it is?
Listen to your gut. It’s trying to warn you that something is not right. Finding an honest roofer (among so many self-proclaimed roofing companies and experts) and one with enough hands-on experience to really know what they are doing will be the most important decision you will make regarding your home.
Do not be fooled. In most cases, the people being sent to your home are not roofers. They are commission salespeople disguised as roof technicians and are only after your hard-earned money and/or insurance claim. Unlike every other home service, roof replacement is the one that will be tested by the elements daily and will come back to cost you thousands if it is not installed 100% correctly the very first time, by a “real roof installer” who knows first-hand what they are doing.
Looking for a credible roofing company for your new roof installation in Oviedo, FL or surrounding areas? CFE Builders has you covered!
Unfortunately, the Florida roofing industry is crawling with insurance scammers, salespeople, and middlemen, all after your money. Most of these individuals know absolutely nothing about installing a quality roof system. They will have excellent hustle skills at saying everything just right and will appear to be a very likeable and safe choice. However, with a little probing, you can quickly see through all of the smoke and mirrors to find the truth.
As we continue to do our part, warning our Central Florida neighbors to beware of this growing problem, this post is another effort from the Central Florida Equity Builders & Roofing team to help you make a wise choice concerning such a major investment for your home. Here is a list of 13 dirty secrets that roofing contractors do not want you to know:
1. WE NEED TO HANDLE YOUR CLAIM:
Contrary to what you may think or what you are being told, insurance claims are not hard or difficult. You do not need a salesperson or middleman to handle your claim for you. Handle your insurance claim: “keep all of your insurance money for themselves”. There are a lot of sneaky ways that salespeople try to convince you to allow them to handle your insurance claim on your behalf.
The most frequent thing we hear from homeowners is that several of the so-called “roofers” that visited with them said that they would handle their claim for them, get all the work done at no out-of-pocket expense, and give the homeowner a thousand dollars back under the table. This may sound like a great deal. However, it’s really like saying, Hey, if you let me steal all of your insurance claims money and rip off your insurance company, I’ll give you a thousand dollars back, OF YOUR OWN MONEY. Ooohhh!! Wow! Thank you! What a kind and thoughtful contractor!
There is one thing that homeowners seem to not fully understand. Your insurance claims money; is it YOUR MONEY! Why would you allow a contractor to simply walk up and swoop your entire budget into their pockets? This is not the correct way to hire a contractor. Nearly all the complaints received against poor roofing work were because of shady deals made just like this. Homeowners should always demand “written estimates” upfront from any contractor being considered for hire.
A contractor’s written estimate speaks volumes about what kind of work they are doing. Vague or cookie-cutter contracts are great at foreshadowing the type of work and service they will deliver. Well-written, “detailed,” and thorough estimates are almost always a great sign that you are dealing directly with an actual installer and not a middleman. A true hands-on roof installer should always be able to produce a well-written estimate on their own. Another great sign is when a roofer can produce a well-written estimate while at your property.
2. THE ROOFING COMPANY IS NOT REALLY FROM FLORIDA:
Choosing a local roofing company is a very important step towards avoiding storm-chasing scammers who are only after your insurance money. Avoid companies that claim to service multiple states. (Multistate advertising is a sure sign they are chasing storms.) When hiring a roof installer, you want to know that they will be around if something goes wrong down the line, either with the work or with the shingle materials being used.
There is no shortage of roofing contractors that show up after every storm, especially in Florida. Many of them may claim to already be working on other roofs in your neighborhood. This may or may not be true. However, even if they are working in your area, that does not mean they are right for you. Homeowners are taken advantage of every day.
Don’t be one of them. Always do a quick Google search for reviews. We are told daily by homeowners just how close they were to hiring a middleman, salesperson, or scam company before googling their company name and finding their complaints.
Homeowners today are doing a fantastic job of posting their negative experiences online for all to see. With a 2-minute search, you can quickly determine what type of work they are doing and if the information they are providing you with is valid.
3. THE ROOFING COMPANY DOES NOT HAVE A PREFESSIONAL WEBSITE:
Let’s face it, the world we live in today can be pretty scary. Trust is a huge issue. Pretty much anyone in business today should have a website to let their customers know who they are, where they are located, and what services they provide. If a roofing contractor tells you that they do not have a website or are working on it, they probably do not deserve your trust.
They are either just getting started or they are hiding something. In either case, you don’t want to trust them with something as complex as a new roof installation for your home! It’s nothing personal. It’s just business. We have read a lot of customer complaints recently stating homeowners were given a website URL by contractors that “redirected” them to a free ‘Google Site’ page.
This gave the appearance that the roofer was legitimate when, in fact, they were not. As soon as the money was collected, the Google site was pulled down, and the contractor disappeared with the money. These sites are usually easily identified as poorly done or as basic as they can be.
For true verification, you will want to see more than just a website page. Google should immediately recognize a legitimate roofing company and display other links from other online sources for you to scroll down the page and view. If not, then this is usually the first sign that you are not dealing with an established local company.
4. THE ONLINE REVIEWS ARE NOT POSITIVE:
There are literally thousands of storm chasers all over Florida calling themselves roofers. Most of them may even actually have a presence online with a proper website and even social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or even Yelp, Google, and Bing. However, many of these contractors are also doing a lot of work to hide their online deficiencies from you.
The one thing a roofing contractor cannot fake is the experience of their previous customers. Especially, when customers have a negative experience. An upset customer will go out of their way to write a negative review against a roofing company they were not happy with. As mentioned above, a quick complaint search can easily eliminate contractors you should avoid.
Checking online customer reviews is the absolute best way to learn more about the roofing contractor you are considering hiring. You are not going into a restaurant to have a meal. Someone is about to tear off the entire roof that protects your home. If you’re going to spend that much money, why not go with a roofing company in Oviedo, FL with positive reviews? It’s your money. Why risk it. Nothing personal. Just business.
5. THE ROOFING COMPANY HAS NO GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE.
Workman’s Compensation insurance covers the employees working on your property; general liability insurance covers your actual property.
Most roofing contractors do not have either. Even if they have Workerman’s Compensation insurance, it doesn’t help you as a homeowner if the roofer accidentally damages your house while on your roof.
If not properly insured, it could be you who is responsible for the cost of the repairs. When it comes to insurance, don’t simply take the roofer’s word for it.
Be certain about the roofer’s credibility; ask them to provide proof of their insurance. If they fail to provide you with proof, you shouldn’t be doing business with them.
6. A LEGITIMATE ROOFING COMPANY WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE A WRITTEN UPFRONT ESTIMATE OF THEIR OWN FOR INSURANCE JOBS.
There is a huge problem with this in Florida. Only scammers want to avoid written estimates. You call what you think is a roofing company and ask for an appointment for an estimate. But what shows up is a salesperson or middleman with no hands-on installation experience of their own.
Their #1 goal is to convince you that claims are hard and that you need them to handle your insurance claim for you. The next step is to avoid giving you an upfront written estimate of their own. Why? They want to take over your insurance claim from the beginning and keep all the money for themselves.
Giving you an estimate of their own could leave insurance money left over for you to keep. They want all the money. Not some of it. Taking a long, hard look at a roofer’s written estimate is the first step to finding the real roof installer and will speak volumes as to what kind of roofing company you are dealing with. To do that, you will need to gather a no-pressure written estimate to be studied on your own time without a salesperson breathing down your neck.
It is important that you see in detailed writing exactly what products will be used, how they will protect your property, and how long they are willing to be legally on the hook for their work. Anyone who tries to avoid giving you a written estimate should immediately be considered a SCAM.
WHY? The roofer you are dealing with is not a true hands-on roof installer and does not possess the knowledge and experience necessary to prepare a real written roof estimate of their own. They are a salesperson in disguise and have been trained to take over your insurance claim. They do not want to leave any of your insurance money on the table. They want it all. Roofing middlemen educate salespeople on how to “TAKE OVER YOUR INSURANCE CLAIM.” Allowing them to get involved in your claim from the very beginning will pave the road to a huge payday.
Bottom Line: Handling your insurance claim for you allows them to keep all “your” insurance money. An actual, legitimate, hands-on roofing company should always be able to prepare a thorough and detailed written estimate of their own. If you come to an agreement with the roofing contractor, yes, any skilled company will certainly be able to help you review your insurance paperwork and point out if the insurance company forgot anything, as well as help you understand if “extras” are covered, such as wood replacement, solar panels, gutters, screen enclosures, etc.
7. THEY CUT CORNERS ON ROOFING MATERIALS AND VENTILATION VENTS
We are told pretty much daily that we are hired simply because we include free lifetime laminated shingle upgrades and attic ventilation upgrades on every job sold. When our competitors are asked about upgrading their shingles and attic vents, the customers are told it would cost them an extra $1,000 to $2,000 or more. In fact, the products most of our competitors are recommending are typically the cheapest they can get.
Which shingle product you choose should be an extremely important decision. Buyer beware! There are a lot of different opinions out there regarding which shingle products are the best. However, the truth is that only an actual hands-on roofer who has experience installing all shingle products on a daily basis can truthfully say which shingle is the best. Unfortunately, most shingle recommendations are based on profit. Not what is best for you or your home.
Because of this, many homeowners are missing out on opportunities to install a higher-quality roof on their homes. Another very important aspect of installing a quality roof is properly ventilating the attic space. This is yet another major opportunity being missed by a lot of homeowners simply because they are listening to a greedy salesperson or middleman who has no hands-on experience of their own. Proper attic ventilation is imperative to the longevity of any shingle roof system.
This can and will have a negative impact on your product warranty and the overall lifespan of the roof. Most shingle manufacturing companies will not extend a warranty when the roof has been installed without the proper attic ventilation system or if the roof was installed improperly. Make sure you examine your contracts and material information very carefully.
Most material manufacturers post their warranty information and details on their websites. A good roofing contractor will not mind a customer who asks questions because they will have nothing to hide. Check your material list against the warranty requirements and make sure nothing is missing.
8. THEY ARE RIPPING OFF YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY
There are many ways shady roofers try to rip off homeowners and insurance companies. When a homeowner believes they have received damage to their home or business because of storm-related forces, the first step is usually to call their insurance company to file a claim.
However, be careful! To keep their own costs down, some insurance companies are attempting to send out their own roofing contractors to inspect the damage on the insurance company’s behalf. The payment amount to you is often heavily influenced by the information provided by their roofing contractor. For this reason, it is highly recommended that homeowners always get their own independent estimates from local contractors that they find on their own and keep their insurance situation private.
It doesn’t end there. From here, you will want to keep a close eye on anything being charged to your insurance company. Shady contractors will add products and add-ons to their estimates that are not truly needed simply to maximize the claim. They will then charge your insurance company for things you do not need, or they did not do, to get extra money for your job.
They may also tell you they need to do things to meet building code, when the code actually doesn’t require it. These contractors will sometimes bid on your job with premium products that cost extra and install contractor-grade products while pocketing the difference. You may also be asked to submit paperwork to your insurance company with one total declared, but then be asked to sign a contract with a different total and promise to split the difference.
This is a clear case of insurance fraud that they are persuading homeowners to commit. As an honest roofing company, we do not engage in such activities. Our estimates are completely independent of what insurance companies pay to homeowners; thus, we keep our estimates honest and genuinely legitimate.
9. ROOFERS FAILING TO INSTALL YOUR ROOF ACCORDING TO CODE
Most cities and municipalities have their own building codes that should be followed for any major construction project, including a roof replacement. Some roofing contractors take shortcuts by not declaring the work they are doing with local authorities.
It may appear to you that they are avoiding red tape, but it’s not good practice. It is always better to follow the rules so that you don’t have to face the negative consequences down the road. It may cost you a little extra and a bit of inconvenience, but it’s worth it since you are following the code of your community and local government agency.
Insist your contractor that you want things done according to building code requirements. Make sure permits are included in your estimates and that the roofing contractor is aware of and following all the necessary requirements for your project.
10. THEIR LABOR/WORKMANSHIP WARRANTY IS INADEQUATE
Imagine you hired a roofing company to replace your roof. The job is done, and everything looks great. Then, a few months or a few years later, the shingles begin to blow off or water begins to leak inside the home. You call the roofing company to explain your issue, only to be told, “Your warranty is expired, or your warranty does not cover the labor workmanship”.
This happens every single day in our area. What does this mean to you? MORE MONEY OUT OF YOUR POCKET! A lot of roofing contracts do not cover labor and workmanship issues, or if they do, it is only for a very short amount of time. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE WORDS LIFETIME WARRANTY. Lifetime refers to the manufacturer’s warranty on the actual shingle itself. Not the labor or how it was installed. Manufacturer’s warranty issues are extremely rare and are always prorated.
This is hardly ever the reason why your roof is leaking. 99% of roof leaks reported each year in Florida are a result of poor installation work. Pay very close attention to the length of the “labor warranty” on your estimates. This is one line item that will separate the real roof installers from the middlemen. You will most likely have to look closely to find this information in your estimates. It is almost always buried or hidden within the fine print somewhere.
If you cannot find the labor/workmanship warranty information, you must ask the contractor to put it in writing. It is important to know what you are buying. Knowing that includes the warranty of both types—the manufacturer’s warranty and the labor workmanship warranty If a roofing company is not providing a workmanship warranty, that should be a huge red flag. You should look elsewhere if you’re not receiving at least 7 years and up to 20 years based on the roofing system you are having installed.
11. ROOFERS SHOW URGENCY TO CHEAT HOMEOWNERS
Most roofing companies are sending out salespeople to knock on your doors and ask to inspect your roof.
When they are done with the inspection, they immediately create a sense of urgency or pretend that you only have a limited amount of time to replace your roof and/or make a claim and that they need to get started right away.
No legitimate or ethical roofing company in Oviedo, FL or surrounding areas will ever pressure you to make a decision in haste.
12. ROOFERS SOMETIMES DAMAGE YOUR ROOF DURING ROOF INSPECTION
Most roofing companies are sending out salespeople to knock on your doors and ask to inspect your roof.
When they are done with the inspection, they immediately create a sense of urgency or pretend that you only have a limited amount of time to replace your roof and/or make a claim and that they need to get started right away.
No legitimate or ethical roofing company will ever pressure you to make a decision in haste.
Lookout for the Signs
It’s crucial to be aware of these 13 dirty secrets that roofing contractors may not want you to know. Protecting your home and savings from roofing scams involves thorough research, getting multiple estimates, checking online reviews, verifying insurance and licenses, and understanding the warranties offered.
Don’t let yourself be pressured into hasty decisions, and always prioritize the long-term quality and durability of your roof. By being informed and cautious, you can make the right choice when selecting a roofing contractor for your home.
If you are looking for a credible roofing company in Oviedo, FL or surrounding areas, Central Florida Equity Builders is here for you.
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Very friendly. Easy to work with. Great customers service. Started and finished job quickly. Clean up was excellent. Highly recommend. Had the best price.
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