Roof Replacement: Quality vs. Price
When getting estimates for the replacement of a roof, there can be a large variation in price. As with many things in life, one can wonder if it is really necessary to pay more for the same product. The old saying, “You get what you pay for.” can often be very true.
When you get an estimate from a roofing company, you want to make sure it is a detailed description of the work that is going to be done on your home. There should be a description of the type of materials that will be used, installation information and if there is a preferred colour. Any additional work such as siding, eavestrough, window sealing, flashing replacement should be described. This protects the homeowner and the roofer as there is an agreement on what work is done for what price.
Of course, one should keep in mind that it is an estimate of the work to be done and oftentimes when the job is started there are unforeseen additional work that may need to be done which can add cost such as: additional roofing layers to remove, animal damage that was not seen, wood rot beneath the shingles which has to be replaced with new wood etc. A estimate should have a warranty on the workmanship for a specified time so that if you run into a problem in the future it can be easily handled.
Since Top Roofers has been in the roofing industry for decades, we have unfortunately seen the results of bad quality materials or bad workmanship. Some examples of this are: roofs that have had a mix-match of shingles which from the street are not visible to the homeowner, not properly installing shingles resulting in leaks or shingles coming off, not replacing rotten wood under the shingles before putting new shingles on top, putting new shingles on top of old worn out shingles rather than removing them first, not properly sealing areas around windows or dormers resulting in water entering the house, not properly sloping the flat roof so water runs off the roof resulting in pools of water on the flat roof, improper venting or not installing insulation resulting in hot and cold spots. There are many ways to incorrectly install a new roof and only one way to do it right. A knowledge of the materials and process is key. Also, improper installation will often void company warranties on shingles. You know what is more expensive than replacing a roof? Replacing it twice. And it happens. Sometimes you call the first company to fix the problem and may have trouble getting ahold of them such as the phone number being out of service. This has actually happened to customers we have had to come and service afterwards.
Another thing to factor in is time. How quickly will this company get the work done? Having a company come and give an estimate is very different than getting a job completed. Will the job be completed quickly and with minimal mess or will it drag out and the homeowner have to clean up the mess they left behind? All these things make a company more professional and that professionalism might show up in a slightly higher cost of doing the roof. They are professionals thus paying their people fairly to do a good job in as little time as possible. That is the type of company you want fixing your home. Not a fly-by-night, corner-cutting company that pays low wages exploiting their workers without proper safety and legal coverage.
So while it may seem tempting to go with the cheapest quote here are a couple things to keep in mind when hiring a roofer to replace or repair your roof.
How long has the company been in business?
Can you see testimonials or references online such as Homestars or Google and are the reviews positive in general?
Does the company have WSIB?
Does the company provide a detailed estimate?
Will they give you a warranty on the workmanship?
Do you feel the person is trustworthy based on presenting themselves well, through good/clear communication and tend to show up when they say they will?
A word on taxes
Some companies will offer the homeowner to not pay sales tax (HST) if they pay cash. This is a common but illegal practice. It is called tax evasion. That “discount” the company gave is not theirs to give. They are failing to remit taxes to the government. Now the company and homeowner have done something that is against the law. Nobody likes to pay high taxes on an already expensive item like a roof but that is just part of doing business in Canada. Also, by accepting the cash the company will likely not include the job on their income for the year again trying to avoid paying tax. While it is tempting to not pay the extra $1000 or more on the amount for roof replacement, a company that does business like this is not professional and is probably cutting corners in other areas such as not having worker safety insurance in case of an accident on the job (WSIB), workers that are not in country legally, not paying proper wages, etc. Some of these cut corners may be a liability for the homeowner. It is much cheaper in the long run to pay for a professional roofer to come do a professional job than to pay “discount” rates only to find out the job was done incorrectly or have legal responsibilities afterwards due to failed due dliigence.
Top Roofers has years of experience, positive reviews from customers, warranties on full roof replacements and WSIB. We always provide a detailed written estimate before work begins. We won’t be the cheapest option but the quality in materials and workmanship provides peace of mind that the roof over your head will last for years.
