There’s more research put into purchasing a $500 TV than there is into a $15,000 roof replacement. People tend to remain in the dark as to how their roof was repaired until it becomes a problem. This leads directly to avoidable roofing contractor mistakes by a homeowner.
In the meantime, their house is a body with shingles as skin and layers of waterproofing that are sealed up to prevent things like wood rot and leaks from entering the house through holes and cracks. If you want to hire good roofers in Barrie—often searched as “roofers barrie”—who can explain the entire system to you and keep it from becoming a problem, then you have to avoid the common roofing contractor mistakes that other homeowners have made in hiring a contractor to fix their roof.
Worst Roofing Contractor Mistakes: Missing Documents
The worst mistakes are often those involving missing documents, especially those related to verifying certifications and insurance. Proper coverage is your ultimate ‘Safety Net’. When it comes to verifying a roofer’s credentials, WSIB and Liability Insurance is the most important. Without an insured roofer, your personal funds or even your house, could be used to pay for their medical expenses in the event of an injury.
The other financial pitfall a homeowner can make is when a roofer does not pay a lumber yard for materials. That supplier can sue you directly for payment. This is why it’s so important to receive a lien waiver before the end of the job. That receipt will confirm that the roofer has paid the supplier in full for all of the materials that were used for the roofing job. To receive a receipt such as this, it’s a good idea to ensure that the roofer has pulled the proper roofing building permits for the job. Once you have confirmed that your roofer has a current license and the proper insurance, you can ask for the following documents prior to the start of the work:
- Active WSIB certificate that is sent directly from the roofer’s provider of workers’ compensation insurance.
- Signed supplier lien waivers that confirm that the roofer has paid in full for all of the materials that will be used for the job.
Securing all of these necessary documents is just the first step. Once you have set up your legal defenses, you then must worry about the physical traps that a roofer may use in order to save money on materials, including those related to ventilation.
The Hidden Price of the Lowest Bid for Construction: Material and Ventilation Shortcuts
Beware the ‘Cheap Roofing’ Companies. As the weather begins to cool down and the rain clouds move out of town, the ‘Storm Chasers’ will begin to disappear as fast as they arrived. These individuals and companies can cause a lot of harm to homeowners. Prioritize giving your business to local roofing companies, as they will be held accountable for their work long after their trucks have left your driveway.
‘The Oven Effect’ is a term used by many roofing contractors, but what does it mean? A roof is part of a house’s breathing system, and if the attic ventilation is not adequate, it can cause the trapped heat to ‘cook’ the shingles from the inside out. This severe heat damage will expose the differences in roofing materials and allow the homeowner to see any hidden installation errors.
Now, when a roofing contractor offers a ‘Lifetime’ Warranty, make sure you know the difference between a manufacturer’s warranty on the roofing materials and the warranty on the workmanship of the installation by the contractor. The manufacturer’s warranty will only replace defective materials, whereas the warranty on the workmanship will cover the contractor’s labor. Here are some red flags to watch for when receiving a low quote for a roofing contract:
- The quote does not include ventilation details.
- There is no written warranty on the workmanship of the installation.
- The local address of the contractor cannot be verified.
Your 3-Step Vetting Checklist for a Finalized Roofing Contract
No more handshake deals for Roof Replacement Estimates. Get a detailed written Roof Replacement Estimate that is your complete job blueprint. Review the terms of your roofing contract to see the brands of materials you’ll receive and the payment schedule.
Get the right questions to ask a roofer before signing a contract for your roof replacement. Make sure they guarantee a final inspection where they will come back to your home and sweep your yard with a heavy-duty magnet to pick up any stray nails. These guarantees will give you the peace of mind you deserve instead of leaving you with anxious uncertainty. The best case scenario is that the roofer offers you an equivalent of a Homeowner Protection Report – a detailed account of everything that took place on the job, including before, after and during pictures, materials used, etc. This provides complete peace of mind and can be used for insurance claims.
Q&A
Proper coverage is your safety net. If a roofer lacks workers’ compensation and someone is injured on your property, you could be held financially responsible for medical costs. Confirm the roofer’s current license and insist on active workers’ compensation certificates sent directly from the insurer before work begins.
A lien waiver is a signed document confirming the supplier has been paid in full for all materials used on your job. Without it, a supplier can sue you directly if the roofer fails to pay. Ensure the roofer pulls the proper permits and obtain signed supplier lien waivers—culminating in a final lien waiver before the end of the job.
The Oven Effect occurs when inadequate attic ventilation traps heat, effectively cooking shingles from the inside out. This accelerates damage, highlights inferior materials, and exposes installation errors. Any serious quote should spell out ventilation details to prevent this hidden, costly problem.
“Lifetime” can refer to two different protections: the manufacturer’s warranty (covers defective materials only) and the contractor’s workmanship warranty (covers labor and installation quality). Don’t assume both are included—ask for a clear, written workmanship warranty in addition to any materials warranty.
Be wary of quotes that omit ventilation details, lack a written workmanship warranty, or come from contractors with unverifiable local addresses—common red flags of “cheap roofing” and storm chasers. Instead, insist on a detailed written roof replacement estimate (no handshake deals), review the brands of materials and payment schedule, and require a guaranteed final inspection that includes a heavy-duty magnet sweep for stray nails. Prioritize accountable, local companies that will stand behind their work.
