Roof Shingle Quality

How to tell if the shingles a contractor is using are the ones being paid for and are good quality in the first place? The roof goes on while I'm gone, the wrappers are cleaned up - how to tell? House and TRACTOR shed need new roofs.

Get a steel roof!! End of story.

Yep, what Bruce said.

are they all done? if not there should still be bundles of shingles on the roof or ground and if not i'm sure there is a dumpster on site for the old shingles,which is probably where the wrappers would be.

In Colo. you have to have a permit to re-roof. And then inspected. If not required in your state Building inspector might check for you. Where they bought from you local supplier.

We had slate roofs on everything when on the farm.
Hal

We had some wind and hail damage to the church roof, the insurance adjuster pointed out that the shingles were seconds, he knew from the code on the back of the shingles.
(it was then remembered that the shingles were donated when the church was built)

Ask him for the name of the supplier he got them from. They should be able to tell you what was delivered to your site.

I do not trust roofers. I am sure there are honest roofing contractors, just as there must be honest used car salesmen and honest televangelists, but it is a business that is full of questionable characters. Some are outright crooks, but most are content to cut corners wherever possible. Most folks won't know if the contractor cheated on the exposure, but going to six inch exposure from five will reduce the number of shingles by 20 percent. Manufacturers make similar shingles with different lifetimes, yet you can't easily tell the difference between 20 and 25 year three-tab shingles. Or between 30 and 40 year architectural shingles.

For me, the solution is to do the job myself, a decision I usually regret. But if you can't do it yourself, you really need to be watching the job so you know what you're getting. Otherwise, you'll just have to trust that the roofing contractor is using the specified materials and installing them correctly.

Use large construction project controls, real easy, get the specified shingle product data, and or have the specified material called for in the contract, in CLEAR language, and be there when the material is delivered to inspect that it is the specified material. If anything other than what is called for in the contract arrives or is installed, REJECT the material. If anything than the specified material is installed, reject that material and make sure the contract states that the contractor is 100% liable. A properly written contract/proposal should easily protect your interest. Given its a narrow scope job, get product data on all materials to be installed, have that information submitted by the contractor, and only approve of same. Contract should read that payment for material and installation is subject to approval of material when delivered and installed, any reputable outfit will not have a problem with this, others may walk. YOu can't write a contract so tight that a contractor won't do the job, but both you interests should be covered, and NEVER pay a dime up front, NEVER, that is the only leverage you have. You can however pay for acceptable materials once delivered, that is helpful to small outfit, and will keep them honest, they deliver the wrong material, they own it not you. You could also make arrangements for the material to be delivered yourself and assign it to the contractor to install, with the same provisions, or any reasonable thereof. Scope of work is important, dot your I's and cross your T's, inspect your expect. Another word of advice, BE THERE, when the work is commenced, until its finished, you never let a contractor work without them knowing someone is watching, it may sound harsh, but thats the game you play if you want things done right with contractors, not all are incompetent or thieves, that is for sure, but if you have any doubt, be there, its your dime, and its your fault if it does not go as you expect, I've seen it so many times with residential jobs, people get taken because they don't play hardball with these guys.

Tell the contractor you want an extra bundle still in the wrapper for possible future repairs.
Also, some brands (like Certainteed, Tamko) have information on the plastic strip on the back

Like Bruce said. Steel and done.

(quoted from post at 03:40:41 06/18/14) Tell the contractor you want an extra bundle still in the wrapper for possible future repairs.
Also, some brands (like Certainteed, Tamko) have information on the plastic strip on the back

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I too, always ask for an extra bundle for future repairs.
If not, ask them to save you a few of the wrappers so you
can cut the labels off and stick in the filing cabinet with the contract.
It also helps in 10 years, if the roof gets blown off, you can tell the Ins company and repair crew exactly what's up there.

In in-laws built a new house 14 years ago with the "best" organic shingles that Certainteed sold. All bad now and Certainteed has a recall on them. So much for brand-names. I'll take steel anytime.

May I suggest buying the 30 year painted steel and be done with it?

Wow. I must live in a charmed area. I can name a half dozen, maybe more if I think hard about it)local contractors who do roofing and every one of em is as honest as the day is long. Don't know of anyone who has ever resorted to a written contract to do roofing.

Its foolish, people can do what they want, but when it goes wrong, having the simplest form of it in writing, is better than nothing. I know plenty of reputable contractors from my years in the business, all of them have standard proposal forms, will sign a standard subcontract agreement or whatever it takes, its those who don't, that will not get my business. I hear you, but the days of a handshake are over, way over when it comes to contracting and being smart about conducting business.

Roof systems like many other building components need to be warrantied, and it has to be installed to meet the criteria, a contract will back that in a court, so at least you get what you were sold at least, of course if there is a claim or problem, that can be another can of worms in its entirety.

Personally, I hate someone being taken for their money, happens a lot in residential work, and always with an informal agreement, some contractors don't like guys like me involved, but that just shows you they may not be reputable, want to get away with something, with an unsuspecting customer, who knows nothing about the contracting business.