Lost a big shingle job today, feeling the burnout

Man, just turned down a 2500 sq ft architectural shingle re-roof in the Dallas-Fort Worth area because my back's been killing me after 15 years hauling bundles up ladders. The homeowner wanted CertainTeed Landmark in pewter gray, but I couldn't get my crew together without overtime that'd eat the margin. Saw a post in Roofing Contractors group about guys selling out to PE firms, and honestly, it's tempting when jobs like this start feeling like a chore. We're right on the edge of storm season here, so demand's high, but I don't want to half-ass it and end up with callbacks. Anyone else hitting this wall with physical toll?

Insurance companies are the real villains here, pushing us to rush jobs for their inspections then denying claims on BS technicalities.

Document everything with photos before and after, use a good CRM like Acculynx to track it all.

Just finished a tear-off on a 40 year old ranch style, cleared 8k profit and feeling on top of the world.

Same here brother, knees are shot from all the steep pitches we've done over the years.

Homeowners ghosting after quotes is the WORST, especially when you've measured the whole damn roof.

Quoted a ridge vent install last week and the guy haggled me down to nothing, felt like a charity job.

Suppliers jacking up shingle prices 20% this year, screwing small crews like us the most.

I get it, after a decade up there, every ladder feels heavier.

My lower back went out on a similar job, had to ice it for days.

Dealing with picky HOAs demanding specific underlayment brands is infuriating.

Felt that burnout hard last summer, took a week off and came back stronger.

Yeah man, the constant exposure to elements wears you down faster than you'd think.

Use Jobber for scheduling to avoid overbooking and burnout.

Hired a young buck to handle the heavy lifting, best decision ever.

LOL remember that time the wind blew half the shingles off mid-install? Nightmare.

Solidarity, fellow roofer, we've all been there with the aches.

These new apprentices think they're invincible, but give it five years.

Screw the big jobs if they kill you, stick to repairs for steady cash.

Man, turning down work hurts the wallet but saves your health.

Haha, I once quoted a cathedral ceiling and the HO wanted gold-plated nails.

The physical grind is real, don't push it or you'll pay later.

Insurance hikes after a minor claim almost put me under.

Just wrapped a metal roof job, smooth sailing and good pay.

We all hit that point, take care of yourself first.

Those PE roll-ups are circling like vultures, buying up tired crews.

Frustrated with suppliers delaying deliveries during peak season.

Try physical therapy tailored for trades, made a huge difference for me.

Haha, my first big loss was to a lowball competitor who botched it.

Crew no-shows during hail season, total crap-show.

SharkBite for roof leaks? Nah, stick to traditional soldering.

Never skimp on safety harnesses, saw a guy slip and barely make it.

Echo that, the toll adds up quick in this line.

Hired a PT guy part-time, worth every penny for morale.

Clients demanding free upgrades on top of the quote, unreal.

What zone are you in? Might affect material choices for durability.

Humor helps, we joke about our 'roof warrior scars' on site.

Totally feel the burnout, scaling back to quality over quantity.

Underlayment specs getting stricter, adding time and cost to every job.

Another loss to weather delays, rescheduling eats profits.

Sorry to hear, focus on smaller gigs to rebuild confidence.

We bust our asses, then get undercut by unlicensed hacks.

Installed ice and water shield everywhere now, no more winter leaks.

Haha, turned down a job because the roof was steeper than my ex's demands.

OSHA fines for minor stuff are killing small operators.

Proud of my team for pulling off a tight deadline last month.

That physical wear is no joke, invest in good gear early.

Frustrated with HOAs rejecting color choices on roofs.

Those corporate buyers promise the world but squeeze every dime.

Use drone inspections to cut down on ladder time.

Haha, my back said no to a slate job once, smart move.

Union vs non-union debates in Roofing Pros group are endless.

Buy quality harnesses, cheap ones fail when you need them.

Just hit 200 roofs this year, feeling accomplished.

Scale back, hire help, or sell if it's too much.

Haha, I lost a bid to a guy with a fancier truck.

Vented ridge caps are a game-changer for longevity.

Clients changing minds mid-job drives me nuts.

That Dallas heat makes every job twice as brutal.

Hire a mentor for business side, saves headaches.

Permits taking forever in busy areas.

Screw the big corps, stay independent if you can.

Echo the back pain, chiropractic helps weekly.

Just closed a referral chain that netted 15k.

Taxes on materials are brutal this year.

What software do you use for quoting?

Undercut by day laborers again, pissed.

Don't ignore the signs, rest up.

Frustrated with fluctuating asphalt prices.

PE firms lowballing acquisitions too.

Haha, my 'win' was avoiding a lawsuit by walking away.

Torch down vs self-adhered, what's your go-to?

Crew drama over OT pay, constant fight.

Storm chasers flooding the market post-hail.

Hire bilingual help for diverse areas.

Saw a thread on r/Roofing about similar burnout.

Just beat a deadline on a commercial flat roof.

Invoicing delays from slow suppliers.

WCB claims skyrocketing costs.

Don't rush, quality wins referrals.

Haha, lost to a competitor's bad math on sq footage.

Gaf vs Owens Corning, team?

Crew hid tools on a job once, total mess.

Focus on commercial for steadier work.

Hail damage claims denied left me hanging.

What's your average job size now?

Unlicensed competition undercutting everyone.

Warning: skip corner-cutting crews.

Insurance premiums up 30% after one claim.

Haha, my loss was to a DIY dad with YouTube.

Proud of turning solo to three trucks.

These roll-ups promise retirement but deliver chains.

Felt the same after a 20 sq job in rain.

Frustrated with permit backlogs.

Supply chain BS delaying every project.

Never trust verbal agreements on changes.

Just installed zip system sheathing, love it.

Haha, quoted wrong pitch once, epic fail.

OSHA training mandatory now, worth it?

Crew morale low after long season.

Buyers demanding warranties they won't maintain.

Storm season wins big but exhausting.

Physical therapy saved my career.

Haha, turned down a roof that looked haunted.

Competition from out-of-state firms.

Get a good accountant for deductions.

What's your exit strategy looking like?

Frustrated with nail gun jams mid-job.

Warranty claims eating time.

PE vultures everywhere now.

Haha, my 'loss' was gaining 10 lbs from stress eating.

Diversify to repairs for balance.

Underlayment failures from cheap brands.

Just hit a milestone: no injuries this year.

Clients expecting miracles post-storm.

Hire for attitude over experience sometimes.

Flat roofs leaking despite torch down.

Buddy system for safety on edges.

Scaling is tough, start small.

Echo the therapy rec.

Burnout hits hard, talk to someone.

Yeah, prioritize health over hustle.

Referral programs work wonders for steady flow.

Haha, same, walked away from a sketchy tear-off.

Suppliers unionizing? Crazy talk in groups.

Document weather delays in contracts.

PE buying sprees ruining local markets.

Proud of my safety record too.

Frustrated with callback kings.

Never use asphalt in wet areas.

Invest in ergonomics, back supports help.

Just lost to a cash deal under table.