If you pay attention to your local news then it's likely you will have seen articles or features about unethical roofers and roofing scams. Scams by roofers are, unfortunately, not uncommon and they typically cost homeowners thousands of dollars.
This can make working with a roofer and intimidating experience, especially if you're not familiar with the industry. Unfortunately, there are some scams that you need to be cautious about when Considering hiring a roofer. In this article we will discuss a roofing scam that kind of flies under the radar and most homeowners aren't even aware of it.
The reason this scam flies under the radar is because it's really difficult to detect when it happens. The scam is that the roofer tells a homeowner that he will give him a free upgrade to a class four impact resistant shingle. These shingles are typically more expensive than a standard shingle.
But what happens next is when the roofer installs the roof he doesn't purchase and install the upgraded shingle but, instead, installs the standard single.
The reason this is so hard to detect is because a homeowner doesn't normally verify the product being installed on his roof by checking the wrapper around the single bundle. That's normally because all of the bundles are up on the roof. But even if the homeowner did have a way to look at the label on the wrapper he probably wouldn't know how to tell if it's the product that he ordered or not.
The roofer who is operating this scam knows that most homeowners won't know how to verify that their product is an impact resistant shingle, nor will the homeowner get up on his roof to try to confirm it.
What's even worse, in some cases, the roofer may even charge the homeowner for the upgraded shingle but install the standard one instead, leaving the homeowner out of pocket for something they never received.
How do you avoid falling victim to this scam? Firstly, do your research and educate yourself on the differences between shingle types. It's a good idea to research what the product names are for the impact resistant shingles. For example, the impact resistant version of a certainteed shingle is called the Northgate or the climate flex. Or the impact resistant products by Owens Corning are called the duration storm and duration flex.
Also, don't be afraid to ask questions and verify what the roofer is offering. If a roofer offers you a free upgrade, ask them to specify exactly what type of shingle they will be installing and make sure it matches what you agreed upon. You can also call any of the shingle suppliers in your town and confirm that what the roofer has purchased is an impact resistant shingle.
Working with a roofer can be a challenging experience, but by educating yourself on these common scams, you can protect yourself and your home. Remember to do your research, ask questions, and don't be afraid to walk away from a deal that doesn't seem right. Your roof is a significant investment, and it's essential to work with a reputable and trustworthy roofer who will do the job right the first time.
