Oftentimes, homeowners see a leak, small hole, or other seemingly “small” repair job and get “sticker shock” when presented with a repair estimate. The average layperson will look at what looks like an easy repair and think, “Why should such a small problem cost so much to repair, all you do is get those little rectangle tile-thingy’s and paste them back together with that black, glue stuff right? How hard could it be?
Although it isn’t as complex as say, a modern car or rocket, a roof system is comprised of many different components that work together to protect your home from the elements. Having the expertise in knowing how these components work together and being able to repair them so that roof as a whole works as it is intended takes knowledge and experience.
Missing even a small hole or loose shingle can cost hundreds, even thousands in repair costs as the problem that was overlooked grows into a larger problem affecting other parts of your home.
Hiring a professional roof contractor is best in even the seemingly smallest repairs as having a full in.
Estimates vary from roof contractor to roof contractor with many of the lower estimates cutting corners in one or more of these areas to make the price low. Quality roofing is not cheap, beware of the lower cost estimates and consider what goes into a typical estimate.
Materials
Along with everything else, material costs have been on the rise. In the past several years shingle costs have more than doubled. This is partly due to increasing oil costs and increased use of highway asphalt which depletes supply. Even materials that don’t use oil such as wood and basic components such as nails have risen and show no signs of going down. Even costs for disposing of the old materials have risen. Contractors generally have little control over these costs and they are simply the cost of homeownership.
Be wary of estimates that are a lot lower than others, especially if the price is significantly lower as material costs are similar across the board and companies offering materials lower than other’s costs should raise a red flag.
Quality Labor
Calculating labor costs is directly related to the effort it takes to repair or install the roof properly. Having a knowledgeable, experienced, roofing crew is not cheap. To maintain a consistent level of customer satisfaction and overall quality of service, hiring the best you can find requires paying more than entry-level wages. Hiring cheap laborers can have dire consequences as even the best materials are only as good as their installation. A poor repair or installation can lead to leaks, poor ventilation, even structural collapse. Basing your decision on labor costs, looking for the cheapest, is generally a bad idea, as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Insurance
We don’t mean insurance for the roof itself for this instance but the insurance your contractor has to cover their employees and materials should something go wrong. Generally, the lowest bidder won’t carry comprehensive liability and/or decent workmen’s compensation insurance allowing them to undercut other bids by hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars. However, this opens you, the homeowner, up to potential lawsuits and increased costs should an accident occur. It’s in your best interest to go with the higher bid that can provide proof of insurance to ensure they are properly covered and you are protected.
When the time comes to have your roof repaired and you are presented with the estimate, remember, there is much more to repairing a roof than simply plugging a hole, get the job done right and consider the price vs quality aspects intelligently so you can have the piece of mind knowing it is money well spent.
Atlanta Roofing Specialists has been giving free estimates to homeowners since 1993. With our consistently high customer ratings and competitive pricing, Atlanta Roofing Specialists will make sure the job is done right the first time and with additional warranties such as our 10-year labor warranty will guarantee your roof will last for years to come! Call 770-419-2222 today!