Cheap Roof Restorations: Is That Roofing Price Too Good To Be True ?

Are you looking for a company that will help you with your roof restoration needs? If so, then you know how daunting it can be. The roof is such an important part of the home. It is only normal to want to find a contractor that will get the job done.

For many households, roof repair is a big expense. So we understand how tempting it can be to go with whoever has the cheapest prices. That phone number you saw from the sign on a light pole that advertised set prices without seeing the roof for only $1,800? Let’s put it this way: if it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.

 

How Much Does Roof Restoration Cost in Melbourne?

With all the signs around town that promote a full roof restoration at $1,500-$1,800, it is easy to see why many believe that this cost is the industry standard. Unfortunately, this number is misleading to unsuspecting homeowners. And it has caused much more harm than good.

Increase the price throughout the job

For starters, a “set price” for roof restoration without seeing the roof is unrealistic. That’s because roof repair doesn’t fall in the “one size fits all” category. Every house has different needs. Moreover, roofs come in different sizes and are made of various materials.

Therefore, without assessing the condition of your roof first, contractors aren’t in a position to know what kind of work is required. As a result, insufficient information will cause pricing to be inaccurate.

Because of this, some homeowners have found themselves cashing out more than they thought they’d pay. It was only after the job was done that they were told that the price they’d been given was subject to change.

 

Low-quality work

How is a roofing company able to charge clients up to half as much money as the competition? Roofing is one area where you don’t want to be cutting corners. $1,800 might not sound like much for roof restoration, but it’s a lot of money if it’s being thrown out the window.

Why? Because behind such low costs, there’s often a fair amount of foul play involved. A cheap roof restoration company will want to save time and money. At first, these may seem like minor details. However, it is only a matter of time until what seemed like a great deal turns out to be a recipe for disaster.

For instance, let’s talk about cleaning. Washing your roof thoroughly is important. When done properly, it will help the paint stick on your roof for many years to come. A good wash takes between 4-6 hours, whereas dodgy roofers won’t go over an hour or two.

Another way in which amateur contractors rip off customers is through roof repointing. Rather than repoint the entire surface area of your roof, a cheap restoration company will only repoint areas that are visible to clients. They may also simply patch over parts of the roof that are poor pointing.

How do dishonest companies get away with it? They know that homeowners won’t climb onto the roof to inspect the job for themselves.

A cheap roof restoration company is also more likely to use inferior quality materials. For example, paint buckets will already have been opened. Then, the paint is diluted with water. At first, you won’t be able to tell the difference. A freshly painted roof will be visually appealing, that is until the paint begins to peel in 8-12 months time.

What a stark contrast this is to the 10-15 years you’ll get from a job well done! From pressure washers to paint machines, a reputable roof restoration Melbourne company will invest tens of thousands of dollars in the best equipment possible. That’s because they know that it is by having the right roofing equipment that they can provide a high-quality finish.

 

Scams

How do you know if the roof restoration company you would like to hire is legitimate or not? Do some research. It is your right, as a consumer, to gather all the information you can to make the best decision possible. Do they have a professional website? What is the company’s business name? Are they listed in the Better Business Bureau?

Unfortunately, simply having a tradie’s name and phone number isn’t enough. That’s because the phone number is often a pre-paid one. It can get disconnected or change at any time. This is done on purpose, for two reasons. The first is not to deal with follow-ups from unsatisfied customers. The second is because they won’t follow up on their bogus warranty claims.

Another problem with dishonest contractors such as these is that they are using illegal advertising. Having a pre-paid phone number helps them stay off the radar when the local council calls about the matter.

 

Surprise visits

One unsuspecting homeowner in the Middle Park area lost $8,000 to con men claiming to be qualified roofers. Mr. Chheda had been approached by two men while tending to his garden. At first glance, they seemed to be legitimate. The men were eloquent speakers. They had even printed flyers displaying their ABN.

The men proceeded to inspect Mr. Chheda’s roof and point out problem areas. Finally, the tradesmen told him that for $11,000, they’d replace his roof and his skylight. It seemed reasonable, unlike the $1,800 advertised on lamp posts across Melbourne.

Then, things took an unexpected turn. The men who seemed friendly at the outset began pressuring Mr. Chheda to sign a contract. He also says they were demanding him for money right away to get started on purchasing materials.

Dishonest contractors will use intimidation tactics to get things their way. This is especially true with those they perceive to be vulnerable, like the elderly or those who aren’t native English speakers.

Mr. Chheda adds that the men pressured him further by starting “work” on the roof and threatening to leave it unfinished if they didn’t get more money. The roof of Mr. Chheda’s front bedroom was covered with only some roofing iron and plastic sheets.

As Mr. Chheda waited for the tradies’ return, they made up excuses, such as not being able to find the right colour of material for his roof. Then, the men disappeared without a trace. Unfortunately for Mr. Chheda, there wasn’t much that the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal could do to help.

The New Look Home Restorations business didn’t have a street address. How about the email and phone number on the flyer? Also bogus. One led to an automated message of “subscriber voicemail box is full.” The other was left unanswered. As for the ABN, it was registered under John Smith.

In the year of 2016 alone, homeowners in Victoria were scammed of $477,000. The Consumer Affairs Victoria had received over 200 reports of fake tradesmen, with 66% of them taking place in the roofing industry.

 

The today-only offer

In another scenario, a middle-aged woman was approached by a fake tradie while exiting her car. He pressured her into accepting a quote and paying him upfront with $5,000 in cash. The man said he’d return the following day to get started on the roof, which he said was in need of repairs.

The following day, he told the woman to stay indoors while he and his team got started on repairs. Some trees were cut down and there were loud, banging sounds coming from the roof. The next thing she knew, the costs had risen to $9,000. Again, the conman asked her for money, to which she replied she would have to write a cheque.

Once again, the man persuaded her to hand him over additional cash, which he said was necessary for buying more supplies.

The man was the ringleader of a group of conmen posing as roofing contractors, electricians, and even government officials. The fake tradie told the woman that he had seen charring on the roof, suggesting a problem that might require an electrician. She was told rewiring her home would cost $26,000 but that he could get her a deal for $20,000.

The victim went to the bank and withdrew the money in $100 banknotes. When she returned home, an individual pretending to be a government inspector was waiting for her. He claimed that her house was unsafe and threatened to cut off the electricity. She was “fined” $30,000 for it, which the roofing contractor said he could help her get away with only paying half of the amount.

The man suggested she take out a loan to pay for the fines. At this point, the victim asked to see some identification and receipts. He didn’t have any. The man was identified and arrested due to fingerprints on the flyer he left the victim. Detective Melhuish, who worked the case, warns Melbournians to “never pay for cash jobs and no jobs need to be done right away.”

 

The Importance of Hiring a Professional Company

How can you be sure that you are not being ripped off? Ask for a quote and compare it with those of other roof restoration companies. Has the company done previous work in your neighbourhood? What are online reviews saying about the company? What roofing equipment and materials do they use?

Here are a few important qualities to consider as you weigh the legitimacy of your roofer:

Credibility

A good roofing contractor will have a proven track record. Their website will have testimonials, while their company listing will have positive reviews. If they have a social media page, you’ll see photos and videos that showcase their work.

 

Qualifications

When choosing a professional roofing company, make sure that it is licensed and insured. In Victoria, there are two types of roofing licenses. A roofing license allows a contractor to perform a complete roof replacement or the installation of a new roof. A roofing improvement license allows for repair work only.

What are the benefits of hiring a licensed roofing company?

First, qualified contractors have the know-how that is required to get the job done right the first time around. When you hire certified roofing contractors, you are entrusting your roof with people who won’t pull a fast one on you.

Second, they have years of work experience. As a result, they will be able to answer all of your questions. A licensed roofer will find a roofing solution that works best for you.

Third, hiring a licensed contractor that is also insured means the company values its employees’ safety. This is also a protection for you in case of a work-related accident.

 

Warranty

By hiring professionals, you are maximising your chances for a successful roof restoration project. But you know what they say: you can never be too careful.

We recommend you take extra precautions by inquiring about the company’s insurance policy. This protects you from the rare scenario where human error has been made. It also provides you coverage in case of situations that are out of your control, such as harsh weather conditions.

It is also wise to ask about the company’s warranty period. A good roof restoration company will offer you guaranteed protection for anywhere between one to five years. It is even better if the company has public liability insurance!

Hire locally

When you hire local contractors, you have a team of tradesmen nearby who are ready to help you if things go wrong. Although roofing problems are rare with experienced professionals, it can happen. By hiring a local contractor, you will be saving yourself time and money.

How?

The less travel time there is, the quicker they can resolve the issue before it aggravates any further.

Another benefit of hiring locally is that the contractor is familiar with your area’s roofing needs. For instance, homes in the Bayside area face environmental factors such as salinity and humidity. Knowing this, your roof restoration company will counteract these weather conditions with a rust-resistant product.

 

Get the Job Done Right with Vivify Roofing

If you are in need of a roofing contractor in Melbourne, look no further. At Vivify Roofing, we have 15 years of experience in the roofing and guttering industry. Our company offers roof restoration and painting, gutter and downpipes, tile to tin, terracotta roof restoration, roof repointing, roof bedding, and more.

Vivify Roofing is a professional roofing company that homeowners can trust. We have countless positive reviews from satisfied customers. Our business has a 4.9 rating on Google.

We also have a 10-year product and workmanship guarantee as well as up to 25 years of manufacturers’ warranty on selected products and services.

For a quote, call us on 1300 475 097 or use our Online Quote Request Form.  Simply fill out the “Quick Brief” with information such as the size of your home, the type of roof you have, and what material it is made out of. This will help us calculate the cost of restoring your roof.

Don’t throw away your hard-earned money on some cheap restoration company that will rip you off. There are many things that can go wrong when hiring fake contractors. They risk increasing the price at any given moment. Due to low costs, you can expect that their work and the materials they use will also be of low quality.

We, on the other hand, have earned the reputation of delivering high-quality results. That’s because we use only the best materials for our roof restoration jobs, such as Colorbond, Premier Roof Coatings, and Ridgebond by Rooftech. Moreover, we are true to our word. You can expect our work to be done on time and in accordance with industry standards. We encourage you to read our reviews on Google and see firsthand what past customers have to say about us.

Of course, it is only normal to have questions and concerns. We are happy to be of help. We cover a variety of topics on our blog and on our website. However, you can always give us a call or reach out for more information.

In the past few years, many Melbournians have been tricked into falling for roofing scams. Don’t be fooled by surprise visits or today-only offers. With Vivify Roofing, we have the credibility that homeowners look for in a restoration company.

Our qualifications are what make us stand out from the rest. We offer our customers a generous warranty policy. And because we value our employees, we make sure that our work environment is a safe one for everyone.

We are also based in Melbourne, therefore we know all about this city’s volatile and unpredictable weather conditions. That’s why we pride in giving your roof the care and meticulous attention to detail that it needs to continue to protect your home against the elements.

As a result, you can rest assured that your roof will last for many years to come.