Is $8,500 to replace shingles (initial quote) a fair price?
Project Details
I hired a roofing company for a shingle replacement. The contractor removed half the existing shingles as part of an "inspection" before finalizing the price. They then claimed the roof needed a full reframe because previous owners had nailed double shingles on top of the old slate roofing system, doubling the price from $8.5K to $17K. They said they had already started putting shingles down and there was no way to recover the roof, leaving my house exposed in the dead of winter. I expected hidden damages and was prepared for additional costs (up to 50% above the initial quote), but I expected an inspection that would give me a better quote *before* any demolition work began. I was expecting an attic inspection, but the contractor's team started demolition immediately. When I asked, they said the demolition *was* part of their inspection. I'm not disputing the final cost itself, but I'm unsure if this practice of starting irreversible work before providing a final scope and price is standard industry practice. The whole thing felt shady. The contractor blamed the age of my home (125 years), but I feel a pre-tear-off attic inspection or moisture meter should have caught major issues. The contractor claimed they could visually tell something was underneath the old shingles due to the slight thickness of my roof compared to neighboring row houses. After I left a negative review, the contractor responded defensively, claiming I was given "free work" and didn't want to fix my house because I didn't have the money. They also mentioned opening my front porch without my consent, which is now causing problems.
Quote Details
Initial quote based on a visual inspection. - Replace existing shingles
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More Details
Category
Roofing
Price
$8,500
Quote Date
May 16, 2025
Year Built
1899
Roof material
Asphalt shingles
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