newjerseynewsroom.com

BY WARREN BOROSON

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

BOROSON ON MONEY

Well, now I have a new roof on my house. Cost me over $9,000.

Houses are forever needing to be fixed. Some old-time American humorist, Elbert Hubbard, once said that you can always tell a homeowner. He’s the guy who just came out of a hardware store.

The re-roofing job was done fast – in just a few days. Several young men worked at the same time. I didn’t mind when they left. While they were working, I had to draw the blinds for privacy. And I didn’t complain of having to listen to the dreadful music the workmen played. Workers have certain inalienable rights.

The roof looks OK, except that some tiles haven’t been pressed down. A spokesman for the roofer said the sun would warm them down. I hope so.

Now, I had chosen that particular roofing company because it had seemed efficient. I had gotten six or seven bids, and its bid was near the low end. Besides, the contract specified PAY WHEN DONE. I liked the idea of not having to pay anything until all the work was done.

So, if there were any problems, I could negotiate from a strong position.

But after I had signed the contract and before the work even started, I was asked to pay for materials. I reminded the company: PAY WHEN DONE.

Yet as soon as the workmen finished up, within minutes I was asked to pay up. The entire amount. Because I hadn’t put any money down! Before I had given the area a careful inspection.

I should have agreed to pay, say, half until I had made a close study of the job.

But I did pay. I don’t like to be suspected of being a crook.

But later on I found pieces of broken tile all around the house, and in some cases large pieces. And in the back gutter I found broken tiles, a pencil stub, nails, metal pieces, paper, a cigarette butt. The company promised to send someone to clear out the gutter the next day. And the company did, but the work was just adequate. I had already spent a half-hour atop a ladder cleaning out the gutter.

Meanwhile, there are two gigantic pieces of plywood on my property where a dump had been placed – and deep depressions in the ground. I guess I have to saw down the plywood and burn it in my fireplace.

Also, I didn’t get an itemized bill showing that I had paid the bill and what work had been done. I complained. Eventually I got a handwritten, skimpy note. Now, the price was $8,992, plus $450 for permits and fees.

I had asked my home inspector about those permits. Check with the town what the town charges, he suggested.

I called the town’s building inspector.

There are no fees, he said.

Would the town do any inspection, to make sure the roof was put on ok?

Nope.

I wonder: Was that $450 charge just a way for the roofer to make some extra money?

And to make the price look less than $9,000?

Anyway, one lesson is – as always – to pay workers slowly.

Another lesson is: Get someone knowledgeable to check that the job was done right.

Was “six feet of an ice-and-water barrier,” per the contract, installed? Were the shingles nailed down with eight nails per shingle? Was “a roll vent ventilation system” installed on the ridge?

Search me.

Now, I had sagaciously hired a home inspector to determine whether I really needed a new roof. (He said yes.) As part of his job, I should have asked him to inspect the new roof.

The thing to remember is: The people you’re hiring with are pros, and you’re an amateur. You could use a pro on your side.

To receive Warren Boroson’s column regularly, drop him a note at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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