Every roof leak needn’t be a total roof replacement.
No matter what other roofing salesmen have told you, there are times when all your roof needs now is a quick patch.
But knowing when the leak requires an easy patch, a deeper support fix, or a full roof replacement requires you to place your trust in an unknown roofer.
That’s the stuff nightmares are made of, right?
Not at Only the Best Builder.
We take the time to go over your roofing leaks, assess the damage that can’t be seen, and walk you through the options. Our crew is comprised of hardworking employees, not subcontractors. They are tasked with one thing…
maintaining their level of quality.
We measure that by the number of referrals and extraordinary testimonials we receive.
We pride ourselves on creating the best customer experience out there, whether we’re patching a roof, repairing damage below, or replacing an entire roofing system.
Sadly, we’re one of the few roofing companies in Southern New Jersey that delivers on this promise. But when your name is Only the Best Builder, it’s not just a sales pitch. It’s something that’s earned every day.
Still, there are a lot of businesses who don’t practice what we do.
Watch Out for These NJ Roof Repair Scams
When you have a leak, it’s unnerving and frustrating. You worry about what got ruined but worry even more about what you can’t see. Dishonest roofing companies know this, and sadly, they take advantage of your moment of distress. Here are a few things to take into consideration when researching roof repair companies.
Sunny Door-to-door Salesmen
A roof repair company with a long-standing community reputation doesn’t need to go door-to-door. These scammers usually target neighborhoods with older homes, but not always. They often show up after long periods of rain, storms, or other times when roof leaks are common. They appear right when you need them and you think they’re saving you the time of calling around. We refer to them as sunny salesmen because they appear after bad weather and make you feel like everything will be fine…
Until you see their work. But they’re long gone by then.
Pay Upfront Roof Repairs
This isn’t always a scam. Many roof repair companies require something from homeowners before they’ll begin work. But you need to ask yourself if they really need three-quarters due before anyone is up on your roof. If they’re asking for almost the entire payment before you even see someone with a nail gun, they may not be as financially solvent as you think.
The Shallow Fix
If you’re seeing water in your home, it has to get into the underlay of your roof, and likely, your attic before it penetrates your walls or ceiling. Some roofing repair contractors will rip off your shingles directly above the problem and slap some new ones down.
Problem solved.
But there’s a lot more to it than that. A quality roof repair company will first assess how the water is getting into your home. It’s also important to “follow the trail” of the water so other damage can be uncovered (or prevented). Naturally, we’ll try to understand why your leak happened in the first place. If your NJ roof repair company doesn’t approach their work this way, you may end up with a bandage on the problem instead of a solution.
You may like this solution at first because this kind of company makes their money by doing a lot of projects really quickly and inexpensively. But in the end, it will cost you more.
It’s much easier to fix the entire problem once than it is to simply patch it and need to come back later when more water gets trapped and mold begins to grow.
Roof Damage Creator
When necessary, we will conduct our roofing assessments using drone technology. We do this because it is efficient and can catch more problems than walking it. Sometimes, walking a roof looking for damage can even cause additional problems, especially if the structure is in jeopardy due to water damage.
Some scammers, especially those who see your roof repair as something the insurance company will pay for, may intentionally cause damage to get the claim approved for a higher amount. When a roofing company is looking at your roof, you want to be there with them. Document things as you see them too. Cell phones are great for this.
The Low Bidder
Most roofing companies have similar costs in order to stay in business. If you ever receive a quote that is much lower than all the others, you should be wary. How are they staying in business if their quote is thousands of dollars less?
One way companies do this is by undercutting the competition to get the job and then raising the price once they’ve ripped up the roof.
Then, your home is under a tarp and you’re at their mercy to complete the job before another storm comes through.
Instead look at the average of the bids you’re getting and talk to your roof repair companies about their estimates versus reality. It’s not something we like, but when it comes to a roof repair, sometimes when you pull off the shingles, you find a surprise and it increases costs.
But if you’re working with Only the Best Builder, we’ve already prepared you for what could be. We’ve been in the business a long time. Two generations, in fact.
Our homeowners work from scenarios, not surprises.
The Sky (errr…Roof) Is Falling
Another type of scammer is the one who will tell you that little leak requires a full roof replacement because of terrifying issues like extensive mold, structural water damage to the joists, and other issues that don’t happen from a leak that was reported immediately.
If your roofing assessment person is claiming these things, make sure they are showing you the damage first hand. This is a popular scam run on people who won’t (or can’t) get up on the roof or into the attic to see the damage for themselves.
Remember, there’s often safety in numbers. If multiple roofing contractors are telling you about excessive damage, there’s a possibility you need more than a roof repair. But if only one roofing company is telling you the sky is falling while others are simply patching, you need to wonder why the difference. It often has to do with their pocket.
Finally, when it comes to roof repair, always perform your due diligence. Research companies, ask for referrals and get 3-5 quotes. Always get multiple quotes not just to save money but to compare what the different companies are saying.
Then call us at (609) 654-1698. Or if you prefer, just fill out the form to your right and we’ll call you to set up an appointment.
Only the Best Builder. The name says it all.