It’s hard to ignore a low bid on major projects like roof replacement, but it doesn’t always mean it’s a good deal. Here’s why you should be wary of low roofing bids.
Getting Quality Materials and/or Workmanship Is Less Likely
You’re probably wondering how contractors can come up with a low bid without just pulling numbers out of thin air. The quickest way for unscrupulous contractors to do this is to include low-quality materials and accessories — sometimes, even unskilled labor — into their bids. Trusting and inexperienced homeowners are most susceptible to these scams as they are less likely to scrutinize such details.
To counter this, you should review and compare quotes, look up product specifications online as needed and ask the contractor for revisions in case the bid price was done in error. This part of the process may be time consuming. However, given that you’ll be living with the results for years, you have to try to get the best roofer that you can at the first try.
The Contractor Might Be Trying to Fit the Project Into Your Budget
A legitimate roofer shouldn’t ask you about your budget right at the beginning because, more often than not, fitting the project into the budget becomes the priority. An ideal roofing consultation and planning should begin with a best-case design and then work out options to pare it down until you have a design that works with your budget. If you are concerned about having a limited budget, there are various financing options that can help extend your budget and give you more room to choose the roofing options that you want.
You Might Not Get the Best Warranties
A low roofing bid will likely include a baseline warranty coverage, which may not include coverage against things like wind damage or poor workmanship. Coverage for tear-off and disposal would also be unlikely as roofing manufacturers typically include it in higher-tier warranties. When getting a new roof, getting the best coverage that you can get is a great investment.
Renaissance Roofing Inc. is your leading provider of roofing services, including scheduled roof maintenance. Give us a call at (541) 256-2623. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Eugene, Albany and Salem, OR.
