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Firm Warnings From an Experienced Massachusetts Roofing Contractor

When choosing a roofing company in Massachusetts it is unbelievably important to do your due diligence. Roofing companies are notorious for shortcuts and various “cost saving” corners they will cut to save money on their bottom line.

Roofers Personal Warranties Are Useless

I would recommend always hiring a roofing contractor that has a warranty backed by the manufacturer.  I firmly believe that companies who do not have warranties backed by the manufacturer provide a useless warranty.  If I had a dollar for every roofing company that has gone out of business in Massachusetts in the last ten years, I would be a rich man. If a company goes out of business, what good is their warranty?  If a manufacturer is willing to stand behind the installer, you can be sure that they are laying down your roof properly.

Shortcut Artists are CriminalsSAMSUNG DIGITAL CAMERA

I feel that a roofing company taking short cuts on your roof is no better than a criminal.  This is because they are promising you one thing, knowing full well that you will not typically see what is under the shingles and will cut corners to save a buck.

Roof Layovers Are a Bad Idea

One common shortcut that happens every day in Massachusetts is a layover of the existing roof.  Layovers do not solve any problems and will usually last a quarter of the time as correctly installed roof.

Skipping the Underlayment

Another common shortcut with roofers in Massachusetts is not placing underlayment on the roof decking.  To go along with this theme is roofers that will skimp out on underlayment or use cheaper alternatives for underlay.  The underlayment is an essential component of a proper roof system.  The proper underlay adds the extra protection your roof needs between the shingles and roof decking.

Roof Ventilation is Key

Ventilation is also a common shortcut for roofers in Massachusetts.  Some roofers will under ventilate, use incorrect ventilation, or use cheaper ventilating products.  When ventilation is not installed correctly, it can cause your house to generate too much heat and moisture.  This can cause the wood on your roof to buckle and form mold.  Improper ventilation is also a major cause of ice dams on a roof.

Roofing Contractor Recommendations

I recommend asking potential roofers lots of questions; ask for referrals, proof of insurance, and request a full scope of their intended work.  A roof is a very large investment and I would hate to see any customer get3 ripped off by a company taking short cuts.

Andy Egdahl is a Roofing Specialist for United Home Experts.

Comments

This is not good advice! In most cases the manufacturer’s warranty does not conver the leading causes of roof leaks – which happens to be contractor errors.
Rather than basing the decision on a warranty, I would suggest consumers do their part to ensure they are hiring a professional who will do the job correctly to begin with. If the roofer does his job correctly you won’t need any warranty.

Posted @ Tuesday, February 21, 2012 1:32 PM by John
John, thanks for your comment. Let me clarify the first paragraph. There is a big difference between a roofing shingle warranty (which as you noted is virtually useless) and a roofing system warranty. There ARE in fact roofing system warranties that are backed by the manufacturer which include coverage for labor and workmanship (as you noted that’s most important). These warranties are not available to just anyone but are reserved for a select group of contractors who have gone through the necessary training and are enrolled in the necessary programs. Currently we can offer a full coverage roofing warranty that includes shingles, underlayments, flashing, labor, and workmanship.

Posted @ Tuesday, February 21, 2012 2:02 PM by Peter Martino
I do understand what you are saying but I would encourage all homeowners to thoughly read the warranty so they know what they are getting (and not getting). In some cases the manufacturer’s workmanship warranty will not cover costly items like disposal and metal work. Other warranties claim to only the cost of repairing or replaceing the defective shingle – and not any of the much needed system components. If the roofer does his job correctly, there is no need for this warranty – which does represent a cost to the homeowner. It’s my recommendation that rather than selling your customers on the fact that the manufacturer will back you up in the event that you screw up, why don’t you sell them on how you eliminate the risk of something going wrong to begin with.

Posted @ Thursday, February 23, 2012 10:12 AM by John
John, these are all excellent points and we agree 100%. The only problem is that every roofer that a homeowner meets with is telling them how great they are, and you know as well as I–that many roofers are absolute hacks and most go out of business in less than 2 years. Our approach is explain the intricacies of the installation AND back up our promises with a top notch warranty from a top-notch manufacturer.

Posted @ Thursday, February 23, 2012 11:09 AM by Peter Martino
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Roofers in R.I. – A Caution to Homeowners

Curry1 The economy in Rhode Island is bad in general but there probably isn’t any group that  has been  more impacted than Roofers in RI.  This is due to a number of factors but  specifically these three:

 #1 Putting it off: Roofs generally only need to be replaced every 15-20  years. Therefore,  homeowners who have been directly effected by the economy, and  even those who have not (but  are still skidish) are choosing to put off roof  replacement until things seem more economically  stable.

 #2 Scaling back the project: Homeowners in R.I. are choosing to repair roof leaks and other roof issues rather than take on full roof replacement projects.  This means smaller jobs and less work for roofers and roofing contractors in Rhode Island.

#3 Material costs: Although many building material costs have settled and even receded in some cases, roofing materials have not.  In fact roofing materials cost are continually increasing.  This means roofers in RI have to increase their prices or reduce the quality of materials they use just to stay in business.

Now, here is the warning to homeowners:  Never, under any circumstances hire a roofer that seems desperate for your business, has no back-log of projects, or has a price that seems too good to be true.  When you have issues with your roof (and you will), this type of roofing contractor will be long gone.  It happens to homeowners over, and over, and over again.  You will always pay more in the long run for a poorly installed roof with low grade materials.  We commonly repair and replace roofs that are less than 10 years old because the homeowner hired an unprofessional roofer the last time around.  Do your homework ahead of time to avoid long-term regrets.

Find out how much does a new roof cost.

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