Five days does seem tight—wonder if they're just covering themselves because of how crazy material prices have been lately? Have you asked if they'd consider extending it if you kept them updated on the insurance delay? Most contractors I've dealt with are flexible...but not all, unfortunately.
"Most contractors I've dealt with are flexible...but not all, unfortunately."
That's been my experience as well. Five days is definitely on the shorter side, but given the volatility in material costs lately—especially roofing shingles and plywood—I understand why they're cautious. I've seen some suppliers adjust prices weekly or even daily after major storms. Still, most reputable contractors will accommodate reasonable delays if you keep communication open and transparent. It might help to ask if they'd be willing to lock in labor costs separately, at least temporarily, while materials fluctuate.
Good points all around. A few things I've noticed from my own experience:
- Contractors usually appreciate transparency—if you're upfront about delays or uncertainties, they're often willing to work something out.
- Locking in labor separately is smart advice. I did that with a deck project last year; materials jumped significantly, but labor stayed stable.
- Five days seems tight...but given recent price swings, I get their caution.
Hang in there, navigating this stuff can be tricky.
Yeah, transparency definitely helps smooth things out. But honestly, five days feels a bit extreme—most contractors I've dealt with give at least two weeks. Maybe try negotiating a middle ground, like 10 days or something...could ease the pressure on both sides.
Yeah, I get where you're coming from, but honestly, roofing materials can be super volatile price-wise—especially lately. I've had shingles jump nearly 15% in a week before, no joke. So while two weeks sounds reasonable, it can put us in a tight spot if suppliers hike prices unexpectedly. Ten days might be doable though...gives customers some breathing room without leaving us holding the bag if things go sideways.
