"Always helps to know exactly what's supposed to be included, then match it up line-by-line with the actual work done. A bit tedious maybe, but worth it in the long run."
Yeah, I totally get what you're saying about it being tedious. I'm still pretty new to roofing, and honestly, when I first started, I didn't realize how much detail goes into invoices and contracts. Thought it was just "replace shingles, fix leaks, done," but nope—there's flashing, underlayment, drip edges...the list goes on.
Funny story actually: last month we were working on a residential job, and the homeowner came out halfway through asking why we weren't replacing the drip edge. Turns out our boss had accidentally left it off the invoice entirely. Luckily, the homeowner caught it early enough that we could sort it out without too much hassle. But it made me wonder—how often do these things slip through unnoticed?
I've been trying to pay closer attention since then, asking more questions about what's included and why certain materials are used. Sometimes I feel like I'm bugging my supervisor with all my questions (he probably thinks I'm annoying by now), but hey, better safe than sorry, right? Plus, it's kinda satisfying when you catch something small that could've turned into a bigger headache later.
One thing I've learned is that photos really help. We started taking before-and-after pics of every job site recently. Makes it way easier to double-check invoices later on. Do you guys do anything similar? Curious if there's other tricks or tips out there to make this whole process less of a chore...
- Totally agree on the photos—saved me more than once when contractors missed something small.
- Had a similar issue with flashing being left off an invoice. Luckily, I caught it early, but it made me wonder how often homeowners end up paying for stuff that never gets done...
- One thing I've started doing is asking for material receipts or delivery slips. Helps confirm exactly what's been ordered and delivered to the site.
- Also, I try to do a quick walkthrough mid-job if possible. Contractors might roll their eyes a bit, but it's worth it to catch issues before they're covered up.
- Curious if anyone else has had luck using drone footage? A colleague mentioned it recently—seems like overkill maybe, but could be useful for larger properties or tricky rooflines.
Drone footage sounds cool, but honestly, might be a bit much unless you're dealing with a huge property or complicated rooflines. Have you tried just using binoculars from the ground? I've done that a few times—quick, easy, and no need to deal with drone batteries or flight permissions. Plus, contractors seem less annoyed by binoculars than drones buzzing overhead... Has anyone run into privacy concerns with drones, though? Seems like neighbors might get touchy about that.
"Plus, contractors seem less annoyed by binoculars than drones buzzing overhead..."
Definitely agree—contractors I've worked with get pretty irritated by drones hovering around. Binoculars are usually enough for basic checks, but sometimes you miss subtle issues like flashing details or hidden valleys. Privacy-wise, had a neighbor once come out pretty upset when we used a drone near the property line... understandable, honestly. If you're going drone route, probably best to give neighbors a heads-up first.
"Privacy-wise, had a neighbor once come out pretty upset when we used a drone near the property line... understandable, honestly."
Yeah, neighbors can get touchy about drones—I learned that the hard way too. Binoculars usually do the trick, but for tricky spots, nothing beats a quick ladder climb and a closer look.
