House Repair WWYD

rxbeth · September 2011

We knew when we bought the new house that we should get the roof redone before winter comes. Since we are in and settled now, we had a few people come in a give us quotes.

My question is, what do you think of having someone reshingle your entire roof and do it under the table? We would go buy the shingles and then this guy and a few workers do the job. Is this something you would consider?

Personally, anything under the table makes me nervous because if something were to happen to someone doing the job, they wouldn't be insured like they would if a company were doing the work, right? Am I just overly cautious?

Any advice and insight would be welcome. TIA!

katsblaze · September 2011

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

I am speaking from experience. DH and I had a bad roof on our house, and realized we couldn't wait any longer to get it fixed. We really didn't have the money to do it. My dad had tenants who did this for a living and owed him some money, so they agreed to do the work at a very cheap price, and under the table. DH and were hesitant but did it anyway. Umm yeah, we fired them half way through. They did a lousy job, and pretty much half axxed it. So basically one side of our house has a GREAT roof (had to get my BIL to finish the job for free on weekends, since his contracting business was busy, which is why we didn't hire him in the first place) and the other side is crap.

I would never do it again, and plus you want all the paperwork clean, and like you said if someone fell and hurt themselves, you do NOT want to be held liable.

eeeeva · September 2011

I wouldn't do it. Working in the construction/design industry it makes me very nervous. You don't want to take the chance of someone hurting themselves or doing a crappy job.

ring_pop · September 2011

There are some home related things I would be willing to have done under the table, but a roof isn't one of them. It's too important that it be done properly.

LesPaul · September 2011

I wouldn't. If something were to happen to one of the workers, you could be held liable. Plus, if they didn't do a good job, and you had leaks or structural problems later on, it could cost thousands more to fix what they messed up. I would go with a reputable contractor (do you have Angie's List?).

karimychel · September 2011

If you were talking fixing a hole in a wall - I would say yes. But having unlicensed guys working on my roof would be a big no. There is way to much liability in having someone get hurt.

raynes · September 2011

Well, we would do it, but it would be people we knew/family doing the work. Pretty well all of the work we've had done on our house has been under the table.

crystaljkbj · September 2011

raynes:
Well, we would do it, but it would be people we knew/family doing the work. Pretty well all of the work we've had done on our house has been under the table.

This. My uncle and dad owned a construction business. My uncle now runs it with his brother in law since my dad has passed so we have many family/friends who do construction. DH worked in construction for 10 years also. All of the work we have done like that is under the table, but everyone who does it we are either related to or have known and worked with the family for many many years.

karimychel · September 2011

Others bring up a good point - if it is family or a VERY close friend, I would allow them to do it, but no just some random friend of a friend type deal.

rxbeth · September 2011

I'm leaning towards the business but wanted to know what other people were thinking because it's about $1500 difference.

One of the 2 quotes we have is from a company owned by one of the guys I went through RCIA with. The other is a family friend who did ILs roof just a few months back. Not sure is he does this for his line of work but IL were happy with the work. My Dad was also trying to get me to go under the table with the guy who did his roof last time. When my Dad was younger, he, my uncle and my brothers would just do it but not anymore.

Pretty sure DH is on my side and wants to give RCIA guy our business and have the piece of mind of a warranty and an insured company.

rebaann · September 2011

I would want a guarantee for something as big as a new roof, so I wouldn't do it.

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