3 of the Most Common Roofing Scams…and How to Avoid Them

We'd like to share 3 of the most common roofing scams that have been trapping homeowners for years and how to avoid becoming a victim yourself.There are scams that occur in almost every business industry you can think of.  The ones that typically happen in the home improvement industry are by far some of the most hated.  This is because home improvement scams not only put the homeowner out hundreds, even thousands of dollars, but often leave behind a path of destruction that costs even more money to fix the right way.  Unfortunately, roofing scams are some of the most notorious scams in the home improvement sector, but knowing what to look out for is helpful to homeowners and beneficial to honest roofing contractors out there providing exceptional service each day.

ROOFING SCAM 1 – Paying for Inadequate Repairs

Charging homeowners for repairs that weren’t finished correctly or at all is a scam that happens more often than not, and unfortunately, it’s extremely difficult to know the repairs weren’t done until the scammer is long gone.  If you know that you definitely have a problem with your roof and you choose to use a random roofer who gave you a cheap quote, you may be very happy with the results!  Until months later, when your initial problem is even bigger, and you realize you paid for repairs that never took place.

Since a lot of roofing issues are below the surface, it’s easy for an impostor to make it seem like new shingles are being put in place, when in fact, they aren’t even close to making a legit repair.  This is the reason why it takes so long to realize you’ve been duped.  This particular scam leaves your roof looking great, but performing the same or worse than before.

ROOFING SCAM 2 – Paying for Unnecessary Repairs

Another way that less-than-reputable roofing contractors scam homeowners is not by falling short on the roof repairs, but by doing more than what is needed!  This scam is also difficult to identify because a lot of roofing issues are known to cause sub-surface damage in addition to the easily identifiable problems.  There is a HUGE difference between unnecessary work and thorough work, but really hard for the average homeowner to tell.  Unfortunately, more times than not, homeowners never know if they‘ve fallen victim to this easy-to-disguise scam.

ROOFING SCAM 3 – Paying Extremely High Prices

This scam is the easiest to avoid out of the ones we’ve mentioned so far.  Roofing contractors have the ability to charge whatever they want for the services they provide (or don’t provide), but a REPUTABLE roofing contractor is going to present you with a roofing analysis that contains reasonable pricing.  If you need to know how to spot reasonable pricing from ridiculous pricing…get four or five quotes from local contractors – the average cost should be very easy to spot.

Are Certain Areas More Prone to Roofing Scams than Others?

Roofing scams can occur in any area of the country, but certain places are definitely more likely to get scammed than others. The areas that are higher risk tend to be densely populated cities that are more likely to have severe weather.  High winds, heavy rain, and/or very snowy and icy winters are all situations that make homeowners easier targets for dishonest roofing contractors.

Avoid Roofing Scams 

It’s YOUR home, YOUR money – so take action!  One of the best ways homeowners can avoid roofing scams is to speak to several contractors before settling on the final one.  That way you’ll have a much better idea of what the project details are, how long it’s going to take, and how much it will cost.  Having all of that information on-hand will often leave any dishonest roofing companies you may have contacted sticking out like a sore thumb.

Another action you can take to prevent becoming a victim is keeping a close watch on your roof’s condition.  Most roofing companies will come inspect your roof at no cost.  If you haven’t noticed any problems yet, we recommend having your roof inspected at least once every 12-18 months or right after any kind of severe weather in your area.  If you wait until a leak or some other significant issue is out of control to call a roofer, the company who says they can be there soonest is going to be the most appealing; but by contacting multiple roofers the day you notice a problem starting, you’ll have the time to compare companies and choose the one you’re most comfortable with.

Related Reading: How to Choose the Best Roofer

PRO TIP:  If you have fallen victim to any type of roofing scam (hopefully you haven’t) you can help others by letting the public know about the company in question.  How?  Online reviews.  88% of consumers trust online reviews just as much as a personal recommendation (SOURCE: Forbes).  Anywhere you find the company listed online – leave a comment explaining the scam and rate your experience.  Don’t just review the bad and the ugly though!  Make sure you give the honest roofing contractors, who are out there doing a great job every day, the positive feedback they deserve so future customers can recognize the most reputable companies right away.

Specialized Contractors, LLC is your premier residential and commercial roofing contractor, with over 150 years of combined experience in roof installation and replacement.  Our professional and knowledgeable team provides the highest quality service in the following areas and more: Gallatin, Lebanon, Mount Juliet, Hermitage, Antioch, Donelson, Cookeville, Clarksville, Brentwood, Franklin, Smyrna, Nolensville, Watertown, Springfield, Hendersonville, Joelton, Portland, Murfreesboro, LaVergne, Madison, Old Hickory, and the list goes on!  We offer free roofing analysis year round and as always, you’re never under any obligation.