The primary reason for this guide is to give homeowners the knowledge they need to determine whether they are really getting a good deal or just being lead to think they are.

As with most things in life, being knowledgeable helps reduce the odds that you will be taken advantage of. Education is key. The reality is many homeowners have very limited knowledge of roofing and can easily be convinced they are getting a high quality roof at a low price, when in fact they are not.

Keep in mind that, essentially, every replacement roof is a custom roof comprised of different materials. Much like buying a new custom home, you should expect to be involved in the selection process, which means you need to be adequately informed about the options available to you.

Unfortunately, many discount roofing contractors intentionally neglect to inform you of all your options, because their intent is to minimize the material side of the equation with the idea, “it’s just a roof.” They do this because there’s a lot more profit to be made if cheaper materials are used.

If you have a contractor whose price is significantly cheaper than the other bids, you need to start asking questions. It is likely they are making up their profit by using lower quality materials and/or unskilled labor.