Roofing cons

Quotation & Estimate

The difference between a quotation and an estimate is

a quotation is an agreed fixed price
an estimate is an approximate price that may change

Each method of pricing is open to misuse

Quotation con

a price is given under the heading quote with no other information, sometimes given verbally; the job that is completed, is not the job that was expected, usually a very poor quality job for a high price.

Estimate con

a job is started and then the contractor starts to find other things wrong either truthfully or not and charges a very high price for the extra work; worst cases are when the contractor will find problems on a daily basis with no evidence to back it up.

These practices are not limited to a particular group, i have seen this with very large companies and one man banders alike . Three descriptive written quotations should help you choose the right contractor for you.

Tonne slates

This is part con and partly a lack of knowledge. Tonne slate are random length and random width slates which go to make up a diminishing coursed roof. Many properties in the northwest of England are covered with these and most of those roofs have exceptionally good quality slates which in my opinion will last the life time of the building. Cause for re-roof with these slates are fixing failure. The con starts when a contractor prices for a complete new roof covering when the slate are perfectly good for re-fixing, usually a concrete tile roof is installed in its place and the slate are sold to a reclamation yard or roofing merchants for a very good price. A lack of knowledge about re-fixing these slate also leads contractors to sell them off.

Customer who pays for materials

This is not the type of arrangement we would be involved with as we are about providing a service,but for those customers who do buy materials watch out for the over order. the contractor takes the customer to the merchants; over orders on materials; then when the customer is not on site the contractor will take the excess materials back to the merchants and claim the money, this is possible because the customer has usually paid in cash.