You’re looking to install a new roof. You’re hoping to pay as little money as possible. But what you might not know is that . . . you’re making a mistake.

While paying as little money as possible might seem like the best option at the moment, you should know that it has the potential to backfire in a number of ways. In fact, in many cases, using a cheap roofing company can end up costing you more money in the long-run.

Curious as to the dangers of using cheap roofing companies? This article has all the information you need.

The Dangers of Working With Cheap Roofing Companies

Working with a cheap roofing company might seem like a good idea on the surface. However, once you look a little deeper, you start to come across some issues. Those issues include the following.

Little Experience

Though it’s not true of them all, many cheap roofing companies have little experience in the field. This is often why they’re charging so little in the first place. They’re trying to entice homeowners with ridiculously low costs.

The problem here is that a lack of experience generally correlates with a lack of skill. After all, a business that has roofed three houses isn’t going to possess the skill or consistency of a business that has roofed hundreds of houses.

So, while the inexperienced business might get the job done right, it might suffer a colossal failure as well. And who’s on the receiving end of that failure? You, the homeowner!

Dishonest Business Practices

Another way that cheap roofing companies manage to make a living on low rates is by utilizing dishonest business practices. By taking shortcuts and offering less-than-ideal service, these businesses are able to complete tasks in shorter amounts of time.

This saves these businesses money, allowing them to charge lower rates to their clients. Unfortunately, it often results in shoddy and incomplete work as well.

And who’s on the receiving end? The client, of course.

And what happens when the client finds the work to be incomplete? The roofing company is nowhere to be found. They’ve cut and run and have left the client to deal with the mess.

This forces the client to hire another roofing company, thus increasing overall service costs. In essence, by trusting the cheap roofing company, the client gets burnt and ends up paying more than he or she would have when using a moderately-priced and reputable company.

Poor-quality Materials

The last danger of hiring a cheap roofing company is that you’ll receive poor-quality materials. After all, most roofing companies supply the materials as a part of their services. In cases such as these, the client is subject to the material that the company chooses.

Cheap roofing companies are often able to provide cheap services because they make use of cheap materials. And while it’s not always the case, in most cases, cheap materials are also poor-quality materials.

So, for example, while you might be expecting to receive an asphalt shingle that lasts 25 years, the one you get might only end up lasting 15 years. This would shorten the timespan between replacements, ultimately costing you more money in the long-run.

What is a Good Price for Roofing Services?

Now, you might be wondering: what are the typical prices for roofing services? This depends on the particular service that’s provided as well as your geographical location.

Here in Sarasota, the average cost of an asphalt shingle roofing replacement is around $10,000-$20,000. This takes into account materials, labor costs, cleanup, and other related services. Based on this number, you don’t want to spend any less than that.

Determining Whether a Roofing Company is Reputable

The question you might have now is: how can you determine whether a roofing company is reputable? There are a few things to consider. They include the following.

Consider Experience

Generally speaking, it’s unwise to hire a roofing company with under 2-5 years of experience. A company that’s been operating for less than 2-5 years has not produced a large enough sample size to indicate its level of quality and consistency. So, while a young company may have done some good work in the past, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will do good work for you now.

Look for Certification

Here in Florida, roofing companies must have roofing licenses with the state. Companies with these licenses have passed designated tests, indicating that they’re fit to complete pertinent roofing tasks. If your prospective roofing company isn’t licensed, it’s operating illegally, and should be avoided like the plague.

Ensure There’s Insurance

When roofing companies perform roofing services, they run the risk of either damaging the client’s property or having one of their employees suffer an injury on the property. To counteract these problems, most roofing companies carry insurance. That said, there are some companies that don’t.

So, before hiring a prospective roofing company, you need to make sure that it carries a minimum of $1,000,000 of both general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. These will cover damages to your property and injuries that occur to employees on your property. It is also a good idea to ask for current copies of both with you listed as the insured!

If your roofing company doesn’t carry insurance, you could be held legally liable for these damages. As such, you need to make sure to see proof of insurance before signing any contracts.

Ask About Warranties

Even the best of roofing companies get it wrong from time to time. The difference between a good company and a bad company is that a good company will make it right, free of charge. A bad company, on the other hand, will cut and run, leaving you to pick up the tab.

How can you ensure that your roofing company is the former? By asking about warranties. If a company promises a warranty — especially in writing — on its services, it’s legally required to honor it.

Looking for a Reputable Roofing Company in Sarasota?

As you can see, working with cheap roofing companies often results in disaster. In many cases, the client ends up paying more than if he or she had just used a more expensive roofing company in the first place. As such, instead of hiring a cheap roofing company, you’re advised to find a company with moderate rates and ample experience.

Looking for such a roofing company in Sarasota, Florida? SonShine Roofing has you covered. Whether you need roof installation, roof repair, or roof maintenance, we can help you.

Contact us today to discuss your needs!