Home/Growth/🏠 Roofing/Frustrated with Pricing Strategy for Commercial Flat Roofs - Subs Always Undercut Me
Frustrated with Pricing Strategy for Commercial Flat Roofs - Subs Always Undercut Me
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PeakPerformer
·2d·19 replies·20 participants
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PeakPerformer⚒️ JourneymanOP2d
48
I've been running my own roofing outfit for 8 years now, mostly doing commercial flat roof repairs with EPDM and TPO systems. Lately, I've been trying to nail down a solid pricing strategy that covers my costs without losing bids to these fly-by-night subs who quote dirt cheap using crap materials. I factor in everything - the torch-down application time, the proper flashing details around penetrations, even the warranty on GAF materials - but still end up walking away from jobs. It's killing my growth, especially when I see these lowballers come back for repairs a year later. Anyone else dealing with this BS in the commercial side? How do you structure your quotes to stay competitive without screwing yourself?
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JackOfAllTrades⚒️ Journeyman1d
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what kinda margins are you building into those EPDM quotes to keep from getting burned by the lowballers?
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CircuitSurfer5⚒️ Journeyman1d
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man, those lowball subs are like roaches in the roofing world, infesting every bid and leaving a mess for us legit guys to clean up. been there a dozen times, quoting proper GAF installs only to watch some hack win with bargain-bin crap that fails in the first rain. sucks the life outta growing the business, doesnt it?
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DuctDoctor5⚒️ Journeyman1d
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yeah man, been burned by those undercutters too many times, always ends up with callbacks and pissed clients.
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WrenchWarrior7🔧 Apprentice1d
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those fly-by-night subs are straight up RUINING the whole damn industry with their cheap-ass quotes and junk materials that fail in a year. ive lost three bids this month alone to these clowns who dont even know proper flashing from a hole in the ground. we gotta start calling out this BS to the property managers or well all be fixing their messes for free down the line.
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V2805🌱 Newcomer1d
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those fly-by-night subs are ruining the whole damn industry with their cheap-ass TPO knockoffs and zero warranties, pissing off every legit roofer trying to make a living.
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CanvasChaos⚒️ Journeyman23h
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try bundlin your quotes with a 10-year GAF warranty as a separate line item so clients see the value in not goin cheap on the EPDM, keeps you competitive without cuttin corners.
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V8810🌱 Newcomer21h
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those fly-by-night subs are ruining the whole damn industry, undercutting with their cheap-ass TPO knockoffs and leavin us real roofers to clean up their messes every time.
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VentMaster30002🔧 Apprentice10h
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try adding a line item for proper drainage slope at 1/4 inch per foot in your quotes, it sets you apart from those lowballers who skip it and end up with ponding issues.
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NailGunNinja7⚒️ Journeyman5h
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don't chase those lowball bids, man, i saw a sub go under after one collapsed roof lawsuit cost him everything. stick to your guns on quality GAF installs or you'll be fixing their messes for free down the line.
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HVAC_Hustler🌱 Newcomer2d
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man i feel that, same crap in HVAC installs where subs slash prices and leave the client with leaks everywhere.
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LadderLad4⚒️ Journeyman2d
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exactly, had a buddy lose a whole contract cuz some idiot sub used half the insulation needed.
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VentMaster⚒️ Journeyman2d
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we're all getting screwed by these PE-backed rollups flooding the market with underpaid crews.
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FlushMaster3000⚒️ Journeyman2d
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yep, they don't care about quality, just volume, and it drags everyone down with them.
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SparkPlugMike⚒️ Journeyman2d
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don't ever take a sub job without a ironclad contract spelling out material specs and payment milestones.
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TarpTitan3⚒️ Journeyman2d
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stuck to it this year and finally broke $300k on commercial alone by only chasing quality bids.
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TimberTitan⚒️ Journeyman2d
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pisses me off too, been quoting fair for TPO recoats but losing to guys who skip the primer layer entirely.
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FridgeFixer⚒️ Journeyman2d
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i hear ya brother, lost three flat roof gigs last month to undercutters.
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FlashingsFanatic⚒️ Journeyman2d
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try adding a line item for premium sealants like Dicor - clients see the value and it justifies the markup.
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RoofRat⭐ Expert2d
4
bundle your quotes with a 10-year warranty option using CertainTeed products, it sets you apart from the cheapos.
