Home/Rants/🏠 Roofing/Biggest roofing win turned loss: saved $5k on materials but client stiffed me
Biggest roofing win turned loss: saved $5k on materials but client stiffed me
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ShingleShuffler
·1mo·38 replies·39 participants
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ShingleShuffler⭐ ExpertOP1mo
70
So I had this huge asphalt shingle job in the Carolinas, tore off the old GAF crap and installed CertainTeed Landmark with ice and water shield everywhere since these storms hit hard. Negotiated bulk pricing down to $5k off through my SupplyHouse hookup, thought I was golden with a 50% upfront. Crew finished in two weeks flat, but the homeowner ghosted on the final payment, claiming some BS about uneven ridges. Had to file a mechanics lien just to get paid, ate $2k in legal crap. Saw a similar rant in the Roofing Pros Facebook group last month, guys saying always get a lien waiver upfront. Anyone else had a win turn sour like this? TBH, makes me second-guess taking big residential gigs.
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BoxHauler2🔧 Apprentice1mo
20
man that sucks, had a client pull the same stunt after we did a full tear-off on their ranch style.
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CircuitSmasher4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
17
yep, ghosted us too until we threatened court. never again without escrow.
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TileTerror8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
13
lien waivers are non-negotiable now. fight me if you think otherwise.
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RootRipper⚒️ Journeyman1mo
17
exactly, especially on shingle jobs over 2k sq. saves headaches.
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CircuitSnake⭐ Expert1mo
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we use them on every tear-off, no exceptions. client signs or walks.
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PestPatrolPete2⭐ Expert1mo
11
good call, but in my area they still try to weasel out.
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SpraySavant⚒️ Journeyman1mo
12
always verify subs payments before final walkthrough.
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GutterGuru3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
29
same here brother, knees still ache from that job.
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TarPaperTiger⚒️ Journeyman1mo
11
screw these homeowners, they're the real thieves in this trade.
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PipeDreamer12⚒️ Journeyman1mo
20
felt that, lost a whole weekend chasing payment.
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BrushStrokePro13⚒️ Journeyman1mo
16
don't skip the detailed contract with milestones.
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BoxHauler⚒️ Journeyman1mo
12
PSA: get everything in writing, photos of progress too.
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MulchMogul2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
12
insurance won't cover if you don't have the waiver.
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ZapMaster3000⚒️ Journeyman1mo
9
how'd you find that SupplyHouse deal? need tips.
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SprayTanSavant⭐ Expert1mo
9
hit 200 roofs this year, no losses when I enforce upfront 70%.
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BoxBoss2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
12
PE firms buying up roofers just to screw independents like us.
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CurrentChaser⚒️ Journeyman1mo
8
yeah man, roofing life's too short for deadbeats.
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FramingFanatic⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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those carolinas storms? yeah, add extra underlayment or regret it.
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PrimerPal3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
18
screw the clients, time to go commercial only.
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PestPatrol3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
5
had a similar crap-show last year where i cut corners on shingles to beat a lowball bid and the homeowner ghosted me after i laid half the roof... pissed me off for months.
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TarpTitan5⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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fuckin homeowners, man, they lowball you into cutting corners then bail like it's your problem. had one last summer who stiffed me on $3k after i sourced cheap owens corning bundles to hit his budget, left me hangin with half the tear-off done. it's bullshit how they think we're just day laborers, not runnin a business. we gotta start demandin deposits up front or get screwed every time.
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BoxHauler3⭐ Expert1mo
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watched a dmitry lipinskiy vid on this, he says lien first always.
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NailBiter⭐ Expert1mo
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don't rush the final inspection, that's where they nitpick.
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RollerRogue8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
15
client called cops on my crew once, total crap-show.
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DustBunnySlayer2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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had a beer bottle fiasco on site, turned into a loss too lol.
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PanelPusher3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
8
frustrated as hell, same thing happened on my last GAF install.
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LockPickLarry4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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file a mechanics lien within 90 days or you lose your shot at that money, worked for me on a similar stiff last year.
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MopManiac⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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did you have to get a lawyer for that lien or just file it yourself?
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ChillMaster5⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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damn, that 90 day window is a joke when clients ghost you like this. had a similar crap with a roof job in the suburbs, thought i nailed the deal with that $3k material savings, but the asshole stiffed me on the final 4k payment. spent weeks chasing him down, even had to file a small claims myself, and the judge barely gave a shit cuz he played the 'i forgot' card. homeowners like that make me wanna quit the whole damn trade sometimes. you gotta get a retainer upfront next time, like at least 30% before you touch the shingles. i learned that the hard way after eating that loss. seriously pisses me off how they think we're just easy marks.
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SpringSpecialist7⚒️ Journeyman1mo
25
customer thought their dog ate the invoice, hilarious but nah.
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BugHunterPro⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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had a similar crapshoot last summer, poured three grand into shingles for a flip in phoenix and the owner vanished after i installed half. spent two weeks chasing him through small claims but got zilch. these deadbeat homeowners are killing me, man.
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FloorFitter⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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screw chasing deadbeats through small claims, i just add a 20% 'phoenix flake-out fee' to every flip quote now and make em sign a no-ghost contract upfront. if they bail, at least im not eatin the whole loss like some chump.
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SawdustSavant8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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screw chasing deadbeats through small claims, just start demanding 50% upfront on every flip job or walk away, these phoenix flippers deserve to sit in the rain with their half-ass roofs.
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PeakPerformer⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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these deadbeat flippers are the WORST, always pulling this vanish act right when you need that final payment to keep the lights on.
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ColorChaos3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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flippers are the absolute worst, ghosting on payments like it's their damn job while we bust our asses on their crap roofs. should've hit em with a mechanics lien from the start to make these scumbags pay up.
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DrainDragon8⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, flippers are the worst, ghostin on payments after you sweat over their leaky roofs. been there twice this year, left me hangin on 3k jobs and had to eat the cost. sucks how they flip and run, leavin us with the bill.
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GutterGuru⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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mechanics liens are for pussies, i just walk up with my truck and start loading their shit onto it until they cough up the cash. had a flipper try to ghost me on a 3k gutter job last summer and i chained my trailer to their driveway gate, cops showed up but the owner paid double just to make me leave. flippers think theyre slick but they forget we know where they live and work. screw filing paperwork when you can make em sweat in real time. op, next time dont save em money, charge premium and let em feel the burn. yeah it aint exactly legal everywhere but damn if it doesnt work.
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WireWizard10⚒️ Journeyman1mo
15
these deadbeat clients are killing small roofers, rise up.
