Most roofers are professionals who take pride in doing a good job.

Local roofers are often best equipped to understand the specific weather challenges and building regulations in your area, ensuring quality work. Some, however, are not so conscientious and will provide a sub-standard job that isn’t value for money.

To avoid falling into their trap so you wonder how roofers rip you off, you need to know how to avoid problems. To help you make the best choice, we set out how to tell if a contractor is ripping you off so you can ensure a quality job and save money.

1. Verify Credentials and Licensing

All construction contractors need to be properly licensed to undertake roofing work. Licensing ensures the roofer has adequate insurance and complies with workers’ compensation and unemployment requirements. Additionally, starting a job without the necessary permit may mean it can’t be completed, may need to be reversed and you could face a significant fine. 

Always check the roofer’s credentials before agreeing to the work. A reputable roofer will fully comply while a lack of credentials will be a warning sign. 

2. Check for Insurance Coverage

All professional roofers will have safe working practices and fully trained operatives. Nevertheless, accidents can happen, and things can go wrong.

Roofers need to have comprehensive insurance that covers their workers and anyone else against injury or worse, protects against damage caused by the work, and covers failure of the roof. Unscrupulous companies will save money by not having insurance but that puts you at risk, so you need to insist on seeing adequate insurance policies.

3. Research and Read Reviews and References

All roofers will say they’re good at their job, but you need an independent view. To get that, check reviews on various review sites. A series of bad reviews will indicate you can’t rely on a roofer’s work. When looking for the top siding contractors Milwaukee WI offers for example, it's crucial to verify their experience and customer reviews to ensure they are capable of managing both roofing and siding tasks efficiently.

If the company has a website, there may be reviews but don’t just rely on them because they may not be truly independent. If there is no website, this should be a warning sign that the company isn’t very professional or well-established.

If possible, speaking to recent customers may be useful and recommendations from friends and family are most reliable. Satisfied customers will provide references and so, if there are plenty of these, it’s a sign of good work.

Four Leaf Roofing & Windows has a strong reputation for providing thorough roofing and siding services across multiple service areas. 

4. Request Multiple Quotes

It’s most important you don’t rely on a single quote from one company since you need to compare what’s on offer. Ideally, get around 3-4 quotes — too many may simply confuse you.

When you’ve received all requested quotes, you need to check and compare them properly. All quotes won’t cover the same things so you must be sure what’s included. If a roofer is slow to provide a quote and has to be reminded, that’s a sign they’ll probably be unreliable for the work.

5. Beware of Unusually Low Bids

Never accept a bid just because it’s the cheapest. Your roof is important to protect you and your property so you can’t risk a sub-standard job.

A bid that is much lower than the others may suggest it’s not providing the same quality of work. To properly understand a quote, you need to realize how roofers cut corners. This includes employing untrained and unqualified staff as well as using poor-quality materials. They may also put in a low bid to get the work and then add extras later. 

Finally, make sure the materials being used are the ones required for the manufacturer's warranty. Mixing brands can and will void manufacturer's warranties.

6. Understand the Scope of Work

Each quote you receive should set out in detail what you’ll get for your money. For a complete re-roof, it should include the removal of existing materials, an inspection of the underlying roof structure, fitting a new roof covering, replacement of flashing around vents, chimneys, and joins, and clearing all debris.

There may be unavoidable extra costs because the state of the underlying roof structure won’t be known until the existing covering is removed. Nevertheless, the quote should include all likely costs.

7. Get Everything in Writing

Because of the complexity of the job, it’s vital you don’t just rely on a verbal quote. That will put you at risk if things go wrong since you’ll have no proof of what was promised. Having a detailed, written quote is the only basis for a contract between you and the roofer, avoiding you ending up in the situation where you say the roofer ripped me off.

8. Confirm Warranties and Guarantees

A roof is a long-term investment, so a warranty is important to protect you against future failure. Make sure the warranty is comprehensive and long enough but is also reasonable. If a long warranty is offered, you need the company to be around to provide rectification or the warranty to be insurance-backed.

9. Communicate Clearly and Regularly

Whatever company you choose, you need to trust them to do the work. They must be fully transparent in all their dealings and keep you up to date with everything that happens. Two-way communication is vital so there are no unpleasant surprises, and the job is completed satisfactorily.

10. Inspect Completed Work Thoroughly

For the untrained eye, it’s difficult to tell whether the job has been completed correctly. However, if the roofer has done the work thoroughly and professionally, and has cleaned up properly, these are good signs. You should also be able to see if the roof looks right and will know better after a storm or two. If you are a Greendale resident, consider Four Leaf Roofing & Windows, which offers expert roof repair in Greendale.

By being thorough and following recommendations, you should ensure a good job and won’t be saying the roofer ripped me off.