My GF just had Home Depot do an estimate for a new roof for her house. They are selling her 50 yr shingles and promises for a super job that will be completed in one day. She has already signed a contract and won't tell me what they are charging her. No one else did an estimate for the work. Comments? And what level of quality can she expect? Thanks. Frank
Ok..first of all, Home Depot actually has NO installers...none.. They are going to use the cheapest labor they can find, meaning, a roofing company that will do the job as cheap as possible, and still allow HD to make money..
She could have probably saved a bundle, by doing herself, what Home Depot did, and thats hiring the company herself.
Home Depot sells Trane AC too right?
Wrong.
They simply offer one for display, and subcontract out with the authorized Trane rep in the area to do the installations for less than they would normally, but charge the homeowner more than the same company would have, installing it at normal prices....
Its all about one thing...convience.
They told her they are not sub-contractors and are employees of HD.
That is so she gets a warm and fuzzy feeling. Reality is they do not have their own installers but simply find whomever will work cheap and then beat them up more for a lower price.
Unless HD has changed things dramatically in the last week or so....doubtful.
she can expect the cheepest job they (home depot) can get. That means low-end materials, low-end labor, and low end results. A 50 year warranty on the shingles is meaningless. It only covers the shingles if they are properly installed, and even then, only covers the shingles (noth the labor, underlayment, or damage to the structure when the poorly installed shingles leak). As an example, most shingles specify a distance from the edge that nails should be, and a set number of nails per shingle. They also specify the amount of overlap for each row, how much gap to leave at the end of a run, what type of underlayment, roof pitch, etc. the shingle is supposed to be used with. If you don't believe me, go to the Depot, and actually look at a package of shingles. Most brands print it right onthe package.
Now imagine that you're some college kid getting paid 8-10 bucks an hour to install a roof. chances are good its either really hot or really cold (just because thats the way the world works). Just for fun, climb up on your roof and just sit there for an hour or two - you'll be amazed at how cold/hot it gets up there. Now imagine that you have to handle the shingles (they're either frozen or hot enough to burn), place them in exactly the right spot, and put in nails at the right places and the right depth. Remember, this is all for a few bucks an hour...... What quality of work do you *think* they're going to do?
--JD
Thanks for the insight on HD services. Good to know when you are thinking of having something done.
Sounds like you have definitely been there, JD. Thanks for pointing out the reality of the situation. Hopefully it will make some think before they act.
Whoa whoa whoa, You forgot one thing. #1 Your right Home Depot has no empoyees that do their work. #2 Quality depends on which crew you end up with. #3 Not all people contracted by Home Depot do a lousy job. Some guys in the trades actually take pride in their work. I know they are few and far between but it is true. How to protect yourself from getting shoddy workmanship is another story. It is true some roofers can do a roof in a day with out compromising quality and yet it is true some crews can botch a roof job so bad it will leak more when they are done then before you did anything. The good news is you have the backing of Home Depot and the 2 mill liability insurance they require their contractors to carry. I would know I am one of them!
True, BUT, that is not the way the world works and you know it.
Amen.
2 million? thats all? BTW, if it matters, once HD has your money, you play hell getting satisfaction, whereas a smaller company, that relies on its good reputation, will be willing to fix a botched job much faster. I should know..I have already started to service some of the crap Trane installs done a while back by HD subs..frank1492 Spilled my beer when they jumped on the table and proclaimed in :
They lied...sorry.
NOI
Hi, Ditto. HD is middle man. Tony
Yep. Expect crappy work followed by a nightmare trying to get them to do the repairs under warranty. Eventually they'll do something less than great to repair it and you'll never be happy.
MHE,
frank1492 posted for all of us....
I think the quality could be good or BAD. Since she most likely has 3 days to cancel, take advantage of it. Have her ask for references, licenses, insurance. This will most likely prove what the others have said per HD NOT having their own crews. It's her HOME, something not be messed with-called piece of mind.
This is Turtle.
the highest price , the lowest quality, and the fastest completion of the job ever. You better talk to your GF.
TURTLE
I've heard good stories, I've heard many bad stories. Depends on who the installers happen to be for the job. I'd rather invest my money at the casino; at least you know what the odds are. Ed
frank1492 wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
I got a roofing estimate from them. It was three times what I ultimately paid another licensed roofer. This doesn't mean anything for your area since as others have said HD uses local contractors, they don't have consistent prices or quality.
Got to say all the people that contract to do the work for HD are not bad. I had a sliding glass door removed and French doors put in. The guy did a great job and went the "extra" mile It needed the slab raised and he poured a concrete base. From my understanding this was above and beyond the normal install, but he did not charge extra for it. And he did a great job on the install. Price was also in line with three other companies I check with.
Same guy did my neighbors front door and the one from his garage to the kitchen. He was also happy with the work.
They lied, or she misunderstood. However, most roofing contractors use the cheapest labor they can get, too. When I had my roof done, I had the feeling that all the workers would run if somebody came to the house and asked for green cards. Pat
My sincere thanks to all who have offered their opinions. Despite all the negative comments, she has decided to go ahead with it. I am hoping her experience is close to the better one that a couple of you have reported. It could certainly happen. Frank
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