Question: My roofer says I owe him more money

[BigTex]

I had significant roof damage after hurricane Ike. Roofer says I needed a new roof so I signed on the dotted line for it. His quote was for 5400. Now that it is done, the roofer says he somehow underbid the job by 11 squares of shingles. And that it comes to about 2500 extra.

There is a line on the contract that says :

Purchaser agrees to assign contractor all rights purchaser has in Casualty and Homeowners Insurance should some be available toward the payment of work performed by contractor not to exceed the amount of this contract price.

I am a reasonable person and would be prepared to meet him halfway on his mistake, but since he was a expletive , I believe the line in his contract says I dont have to give him thing over the amount he quoted.

Am I correct ?

 

[buzzincuzzin]

Missed by 11 squares????????? He can't read a tape or count.

 

[BJ4TIDE]

I am a roofing contractor myself. First thing, the guy is a real goob to have missed the square count by that much. I personally have misfigured before, but 11 squares of roofing equates to 1100 square feet of roof surface. That is like a 22x50 area. Anyway, back on track. In the event that I under figure the # of squares, I either just take the hit OR if it is a roof that was paid by the homeowner's insurance, I will contact the paying adjuster and send a supplement; which they will usually pay. I can say a $2500 hit would be HARD to take, so if I was the roofer in question, I would be hoping the insurance co. would be willing to open the file back up and pay a supplement.

 

[jthomas666]

He's either an idiot or a crook.

 

[Bamaro]

I dont see how you legally owe him anything. Just curious, does he have a license? He doesn't sound too swift.

 

[Ark-Tider]

He gets the jobs by being the lowest bidder. He stays in business by adjusting the price at the end. I wouldn't pay him a diime.

 

[bamanut_aj]

I am a roofing contractor myself. First thing, the guy is a real goob to have missed the square count by that much. I personally have misfigured before, but 11 squares of roofing equates to 1100 square feet of roof surface. That is like a 22x50 area. Anyway, back on track. In the event that I under figure the # of squares, I either just take the hit OR if it is a roof that was paid by the homeowner's insurance, I will contact the paying adjuster and send a supplement; which they will usually pay. I can say a $2500 hit would be HARD to take, so if I was the roofer in question, I would be hoping the insurance co. would be willing to open the file back up and pay a supplement.

truth. Have him contact your insurance company. You don't him a penny.

But the fact that he missed 33 bundles of shingles would make want to take a good hard look at the work he has done so far. Check your flashing, pipe boots, ridge, etc.

Additionally, the insurance adjuster would have calculated the materials needed as well. He would have then calculated a cost estimate using Xactimate, or some other program. So on the one hand, if your adjuster's estimate jives with the roofer's original estimate, your roofer may be SOL. However, if the adjuster's estimate was 11 square MORE than what the roofer quoted you, the adjuster should have caught that and raised an eyebrow.

Generally, a supplement is only going to help him the case where some decking was found to be deteriorated after the shingles were removed, or it was determined that the roofer is going to have to remove 2 layers of shingles rather than 1 layer that was originally estimated.....things that the adjuster would have missed. I think he may have a tough time 'recovering' 11 square. I think insurance is paying less than 90.00/square for material only.....I realize he's got paper, nail, labor, removal, haul-off, etc. but he'll be lucky to get anything, much less 2500.00.

 

[BigTex]

I dont see how you legally owe him anything. Just curious, does he have a license? He doesn't sound too swift.

Yes, A reputable company that was recommended to me. A company that I had also used previously a few years ago when I had a few shingles blown off . Not enough damage to warrant fileing a claim on that one.

 

[Displaced Bama Fan]

He's either an idiot or a crook.

OR BOTH. Who did you use, so I'll know to avoid them if they do business in Katy.

 

[bamanut_aj]

Yes, A reputable company that was recommended to me. A company that I had also used previously a few years ago when I had a few shingles blown off . Not enough damage to warrant fileing a claim on that one.

How much of the roof was originally slated to be replaced? Did you adjuster say that all of the roof should be done, or just a portion? If only a portion was to be replaced (say, the back side) and now it's your roofer's opinion that the WHOLE roof should be replaced, then he should take that up with your adjuster. Supplements are to pay for additional legitimate work to be done above and beyond the appraisal and the contract....not because "oops, I can't estimate."

 

[rolltidescott]

I agree with the advice to send him to your insurance company. Let him explain to them EXACTLY how he messed up the quote.

 

[BigTex]

OR BOTH. Who did you use, so I'll know to avoid them if they do business in Katy.

Roof Roof is the company name....RoofRoofer.com is their website.

 

[BigTex]

How much of the roof was originally slated to be replaced? Did you adjuster say that all of the roof should be done, or just a portion? If only a portion was to be replaced (say, the back side) and now it's your roofer's opinion that the WHOLE roof should be replaced, then he should take that up with your adjuster. Supplements are to pay for additional legitimate work to be done above and beyond the appraisal and the contract....not because "oops, I can't estimate."

Roofer said entire roof needed to be replaced. Original adjustment called for only partial. They way under paid the damage. I had a 2nd adjuster comeout for it and he added a lot more to it but I never saw that paperwork and have yet to be paid any addiitonal money.

 

[Tider@GW_Law]

You may want to go ahead and familiarize yourself with the information on this website.

 

[bamanut_aj]

Roofer said entire roof needed to be replaced. Original adjustment called for only partial. They way under paid the damage. I had a 2nd adjuster comeout for it and he added a lot more to it but I never saw that paperwork and have yet to be paid any addiitonal money.

it's in the insurance company's hands, if that's the case. I'd get a head start and contact them. IF the original claim was only for a partial, and IF an adjuster came out and supposedly approved a supplement for more, then you should be off the hook. But IF there is suddenly no paperwork or proof that the insurance company approved more work, I don't know what where the liability lies.

Lawyers? What say ye?

 

[pcolatide]

This seems like an apropriate time to pass on one of my favorite real life stories.
About 15 years past, the Florida State Representative from my District, had a carpet installer to replace the carpet in his house. Apparently it was a large house as approximately 3500 SF of carpet was installed. Upon finishing the job there was a spot in the carpet in the foyer about the size of a dime. The installer tried to remove the spot and failed. The State Representative ( A transplanted New Yorker) refused to pay for the job. The installer offered to replace a section of carpet that contained the spot. But the State Rep. would not agree to that and claimed the carpet would not look right with the section of carpet replaced. The installer tried to compromise on agreed upon price but the State Rep would not agree.
Of course there was a mechanic's lien on the house, the case goes to court and the carpet installer is awarded the house valued at $350,000. The carpet installer sells the house and donates the money to charity.
Of course the State Rep. is defeated the next election because even the transplanted community which elected him to begin with recognized what a fool they had elected.
I hope your sitution ends better.

 

[BigTex]

Re: My roofer says I owe him more money - Update

Yesterday I recieved a 2nd check from the insurance company that more than covers the installers screw up. While legally I dont think he is entitled to one extra penny, morally I believe he is. I am going to pay the extra.