Utah Residents Should Beware of Roofing Scams
Utah Residents Should Beware of Roofing Scams
In the wake of the December 2011 wind storms that caused millions of dollars of damage to homes and businesses throughout Davis and Weber counties, reports of shady contractors have surfaced. The Utah Department of Commerce has cautioned area residents to be careful when dealing with contractors for wind damage repairs.
Many of these unlicensed contractors are little more than con artists who try to take advantage of residents by offering a great deal on wind damage repairs if the homeowner pays cash up front. They then either do shoddy work or simply disappear with the homeowner’s money.
The windstorms that struck Utah in December with gusts of over 100 mph damaged roofs on homes and businesses throughout the area. Especially hard hit were homes between Bountiful and Layton including Centerville and Kaysville.
If your roof suffered wind damage, protect yourself by working with a licensed local roofing contractor. Many out of state roofing contractors (often referred to as “storm chasers” ) are working in the area. Some of these are legitimate roofers, but it can be very difficult to tell the difference between the good roofers and the scam artists. When you use an unlicensed, out of state roofer you run a significant risk of winding up with a poorly installed, low quality roof or worse, simply being scammed out of your money by an unscrupulous contractor.
Before you sign any roofing contract, verify that the roofer is a licensed local roofing contractor like Jasper Contractors. Ask to see the contractor’s license and proof of insurance. A reputable local contractor will also have a permanent local office and will be around to handle any warranty work.
Three Tab vs. Architectural Shingles
Three Tab vs. Architectural Shingles
Composition asphalt shingles come in two basic varieties: Three tab shingles and architectural shingles (also called dimensional shingles). So which one is better? The answer is “it depends.” There are advantages and disadvantages of each type and the right one for each homeowner depends on that homeowner’s situation.
Three tab shingles have been the industry standard for decades. They can be found on millions of homes throughout the United States and although they are slowly losing market share to architectural shingles and other roofing materials such as metal roofing, they are still the most commonly used residential roofing material today.
Three tab shingles can be easily identified by their uniform rectangular tabs and the flat appearance of the roof. Three tab shingles have historically gotten a bad rap due to poor shingle quality and shoddy installation techniques. These days, the quality of three tab shingles has greatly improved and most reputable local roofing contractors understand and follow best industry practices, resulting in a good quality roof at an affordable price.
Architectural shingles are thicker and heavier than three tab shingles and are manufactured to provide a non-uniform, textured look to the roof that resembles cedar shakes. They were initially marketed for high end homes and continue to be of generally higher quality than all but the best three tab shingles. Architectural shingles also have higher wind and impact resistance ratings and carry warranties of at least 25 years. Some manufacturers offer lifetime warranties on their architectural shingles.
As you might expect, architectural shingles are more expensive than three tab shingles. Expect to pay about 30% more for high quality architectural shingles than you would for good three tab shingles.
How Much Does a New Roof Cost?
How Much Does a New Roof Cost?
Many homeowners who need a roof replacement are concerned about how much their new roof will cost. This is a very valid concern and also one that is very difficult to answer because the price of a new roof varies widely depending on many different factors including the size and shape of the roof, the type of roofing materials used and the area of the country the home is located.
Relatively speaking an asphalt shingle roof using common three tab shingles is the least expensive roof. Expect to pay about thirty to fifty percent more for high end architectural shingles. A metal roof will cost roughly twice as much as a three tab asphalt shingle roof. A wood shake roof typically costs somewhere between an architectural shingle roof and a metal roof. Tile roofs are a little more expensive than comparable metal roofs and slate roofs are even more expensive yet. Keep in mind that an asphalt shingle roof will only last half as long or less than these other types of roofing materials.
No matter what type or size roof you need or where your home is located, a new roof is one of the most expensive repairs most homeowners will do to a home. At the same time, the roof is a very important component. It protects the entire home and your family from the elements. The point here is that even though a roof replacement will be expensive, it is important not to put it off just because of the cost.
If the roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, replacing it before it fails allows you to schedule the replacement when it is convenient for you rather than when the roof fails, which could be a very inconvenient time. If the roof has already failed, it needs to be replaced immediately. The longer the delay, the worse the damage will be and the more costly the roof replacement.
Manufacturer’s Warranty vs. Roofing Contractor’s Warranty
Manufacturer’s Warranty vs. Roofing Contractor’s Warranty
If your roof has been damaged due to severe weather such as hail damage or wind damage, or if the roof has failed and has begun to leak or show other signs of damage, you should be aware of the various types of warranties that may provide coverage for your roof.
The longest warranty on your roof is usually the roofing materials manufacturer’s warranty. Whether your roof is covered by asphalt shingles, metal roofing, tile, wood shakes or other roofing material, the manufacturer’s warranty typically covers the materials against defects for a period of years.
For asphalt shingles, this could be anywhere from 15 to 30 years although there are a few high end architectural shingles that carry 40 year or even lifetime warranties. Metal roofing, wood shakes, tile and slate roofing typically have warranties of 40 to 50 years or more. Manufacturer’s warranties have many exclusions including storm damage and improper installation and may not be transferrable to a new owner.
The roofing contractor who installed the roof generally provides a warranty on the workmanship and labor. These warranties are all over the board and can be anywhere from a year to ten years. Contractor’s warranties are only as good as the contractor. If the roofing contractor has gone out of business or left the area, the contractor’s warranty is pretty much worthless. You can protect yourself by having your roof installed by a reputable local contractor who will likely still be in business if you need warranty coverage.
Finally, if you recently purchased your home, the roof may be covered by a new home warranty or a home warranty purchased at closing if you your home was a resale.
Cost of Roofing Shingles
Cost of Roofing Shingles
One of the most important decisions a homeowner has to make with regard to a residential reroofing project is what type of shingles to use. The other major decision is choosing a good roofing contractor. When choosing shingles, cost is an important consideration, but not the only or even the most important consideration. No matter how low the price, if you use poor quality shingles you will end up with a poor quality roof.
Reroofing is expensive and a big chunk of the cost is labor. A properly installed roof using good quality three tab asphalt shingles can last 25 to 30 years but if you use cheap shingles, you will have to have the roof replaced at least once and maybe twice in that same time period. Why pay for labor two or three times to have several cheap roofs installed when you can pay for labor once and enjoy the security and protection afforded by a high quality roof?
Roofing shingles are priced by the “square” which is enough roofing material to cover 100 square feet of roof. Asphalt shingles range in price from as low as $75 per square to over $200 per square. At the low end you are typically getting the most basic three tab shingles with a 60 mph wind resistance rating and a 15 year manufacturer’s warranty. For around $100 per square you can find good quality three tab shingles with a 30 year warranty and a 70 mph wind resistance rating.
At the high end you will find top quality laminated shingles with lifetime warranties and wind resistance ratings of 120 mph and higher. Your roofing contractor can help you decide on the best shingles for your home that will meet your needs and fit your budget.
Avoiding Roofing Scams
Avoiding Roofing Scams
The unfortunate reality is that there are shysters and con artists in almost every line of work and the roofing industry is no exception. There are no limits the variations of scams that a creative fraudster can dream up, but there are a few common ones in the roofing industry that you should avoid.
Storm chasers are out of state itinerant roofers who travel from area to area following a major hailstorm or other severe weather event. While some of these roofers do good work, many do not and the result is a poorly installed roof that fails within the first few years. The problem is that the roofer is long gone by then and you have to pay a good local roofer to fix the damage.
Offering free roof inspections is another area fraught with potential for fraud. You should understand that most reputable local roofing contractors offer legitimate free roof inspections. If you think your roof may have been damaged by hail or old age, calling a reputable local roofer for a free roof inspection is a good idea.
The problem is when some stranger shows up at your door uninvited and without any local credentials and offers to inspect your roof. They always find damage and get you to file an insurance claim in the hopes of having the claim approved. In a few cases, they actually cause damage to an otherwise healthy roof and make it look like hail or storm damage.
Protect yourself from roofing scams by dealing with a local roofing contractor with a reputation for high quality roofing work and who will be around to stand behind their work if necessary.
State of the Roofing Industry
State of the Roofing Industry
Whether you are replacing your asphalt shingle roof due to hail damage or old age, you will be happy to know that the quality of composition asphalt shingles has improved significantly in the past ten to fifteen years. There is no question that metal roofing, tile and other roofing materials have some advantages over asphalt shingles in terms of durability and impact resistance, but those advantages come at a price. Most alternative roofing materials cost at least twice as much as asphalt shingles and in many cases the cost differential is closer to three to four times the cost of an asphalt shingle roof.
In addition, most of the roofers who slapped “builder’s grade” roofs on all that new home construction in the 1990’s and early 2000’s have gone out of business because the only people who would hire them were the builders who were trying to build the house as cheaply as possible. Most of the reputable local roofers in business today are the ones who have earned an excellent reputation over the years by providing top quality roofing services to satisfied customers.
The skill of your roofing contractor is important because along with improvements in the quality of asphalt shingles, the industry has learned that the quality of the installation has a huge impact on the lifespan of an asphalt shingle roof and on how well it will protect your home. What this means for the homeowner is that now more than ever, composition asphalt shingles are an excellent, cost effective choice in roofing materials. You can expect a high quality asphalt shingle roof installed by a reputable local roofing contractor to provide 25 to 35 years or more of excellent service at a price far below any other roofing material.
Important Questions For Your Roofing Contractor
Important Questions For Your Roofing Contractor
When you need your asphalt shingle roof replaced due to hail damage or any other reason, you will get the best results by using an experienced local roofing contractor. Quality of the workmanship matters a lot when it comes to installation of an asphalt shingle roof so make sure your contractor uses top quality roofing techniques and stands behind their work. Since any guarantee is only as good as your contractor, you want one with a permanent presence in the community and a reputation for solid roofing work.
Get bids from several contractors and take the time to ask them a few questions. First, ask how long they have been in business and whether they have a permanent local address and telephone number. Look to see if their telephone number and license number is painted on the side of their truck. You are looking for some indication that they have been in business for a while and intend to be in business for the foreseeable future. There are a lot of roofers out there and if they were doing shoddy work, they would probably be out of business before long.
Next, ask for a few references from satisfied customers and follow up with a call to verify that the person was satisfied with the contractor’s work. Any good roofer should be happy to provide the contact information for a few happy customers.
You should also ask to see a copy of their business license and proof of worker’s compensation insurance and liability insurance. Contractors working without insurance are putting you at risk in the event of an accident.
Composition Asphalt Shingles 101
Composition Asphalt Shingles 101
Composition asphalt shingles are easily the most popular roofing material in use in America today. Metal roofing and other alternative roofing materials are gaining market share, but these materials have a much higher initial cost than asphalt shingles. Unless the cost difference decreases, asphalt shingles will likely remain the roofing material of choice for the majority of Americans.
Asphalt shingles are made from either a fiberglass mat or organic mat that is soaked in asphalt and coated with protective ceramic granules. Organic shingles use a mat made from paper or felt and fiberglass shingles have a lighter weight fiberglass mat. Fiberglass shingles are currently the industry standard, but organic shingles are sometimes favored in colder climates because they are seen as easier to work with in cold weather.
The vast majority of asphalt shingles are either three tab shingles or architectural shingles (sometimes called dimensional or laminated shingles). Three tab shingles are standard flat, rectangular shingles with two vertical slots cut into the shingle to create the three tabs. These are the classic shingles that have been around for decades and were installed on millions of homes constructed up to the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. They are the least expensive roofing material and can last from 15 to 25 years.
Architectural shingles are much thicker and heavier than three tab shingles. In addition to adding texture to the roof, architectural shingles are generally higher quality than three tab shingles with only a modest cost premium. You can expect an architectural shingle roof installed by a professional roofing contractor to protect your home for 25 to 35 years or longer.
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