7 Ways Roofing Contractors Cut Corners (Plus One Bonus Point You Can’t Ignore)
Introduction
Not all roofing contractors are the same. If you’re currently in the process of replacing your roof and comparing quotes from different contractors, you may notice a wide price difference between estimates. This might lead you to wonder:
“How is it that company B is $2,000 cheaper than company A?”
While there can be many reasons for this — including materials used and specific company overhead or expenses — in today’s post, I want to specifically cover some of the most common ways roofers cut corners and shortchange homeowners to save themselves money (and how Total Elevated Roofing does things differently).
1. Reusing Old Flashing
Many contractors save money and time by reusing old flashing on the house, including step flashing, counter flashing, and even drip edge/gutter apron.
✅ We always replace flashing where needed and install it to code.
Image of existing chimney flashing on an older roof that needs to be replaced
Image of step flashing along the sidewall where a roof meets a raised portion of the house
Image of existing roof with no gutter apron/drip edge installed — leaving a portion of the home exposed
2. Skipping Ice & Water Shield
Ice & water shield is required by code in some states to be installed along the eaves and in valleys — areas where extra protection is critical. Since ice & water shield is roughly five times more expensive than felt underlayment, many contractors skip it and only install felt.
In most Midwest and Northern states (Like Nebraska) Ice & Water shield is required by code.
✅ We always install ice & water barrier to follow code and protect key leak-prone areas — especially here in Omaha, NE.
Roof with two rows of ice & water shield installed along the eaves and valleys
3. Incorrect Shingle Nailing
While installing shingles with nails is a relatively straightforward process, there are several ways a contractor can mess it up — using fewer nails to save time and money, nailing in the wrong spots, or over/under-driving the nails. Each of these can cause serious issues, especially in high winds.
✅ We follow manufacturer specs and install nails correctly to ensure your roof lasts.
Wind-damaged shingles caused by improper nail installation
4. Not Using Starter Shingles
Starter shingles are often required by both building code and manufacturer specifications. Some roofers skip them or just use cut shingles, which increases the risk of edge blow-offs.
✅ We use proper starter strips on every roof, every time.
Existing roof with a row of starter shingles installed along the eaves
5. Cheap Ventilation or No Ventilation at All
Ventilation is often overlooked, but it's crucial for maintaining your roof’s integrity and extending its lifespan. Poor airflow = short roof life. Some contractors install inadequate vents — or skip ventilation entirely.
✅ We calculate proper intake/exhaust based on your attic’s size and layout to ensure your roof breathes properly.
New roof installed without properly cutting out ridge vents
Correct ridge vent cutouts ready for vent installation
Installing new ridge vents over properly vented cutouts
6. Not Replacing Damaged Decking
One of the only unexpected things that can occur when replacing a roof that could change your total roof replacement cost is the discovery of damaged decking. Since shingle nails are driven into the roof deck, the wood must be solid enough to hold the nails without backing out. Code refers to this as a “nailable surface.”
This is also something that some municipalities enforce more strictly than others. Depending on your location, your city may require the contractor to replace sections of the decking or redo it in its entirety.
✅ We inspect the roof deck during tear-off to ensure your new roof is up to code and won’t void any warranties. We also communicate this clearly during the project.
Damaged roof deck sections being replaced with new sheathing during install
7. No Clean-Up or Nail Sweep
A new roof shouldn’t mean a new mess. Some contractors rush cleanup or skip it entirely — leaving behind shingles, debris, or worse... nails in your driveway.
✅ We use magnetic rollers to sweep your property and leave it cleaner than we found it.
Nails found in driveway after a recent roof replacement
Bonus: Hiring Unlicensed or Uninsured Contractors
This isn’t just a shortcut — it’s a serious liability. If a worker gets injured on your property and the contractor doesn’t have proper insurance, you could be held financially responsible. Unlicensed roofers also can’t legally pull permits or meet city inspection standards — which can fall back on you if the city finds out unlicensed or unpermitted work was done.
✅ We are fully licensed, insured, and permitted to operate in Nebraska. No shortcuts. No surprises.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be a roofing expert — you just need to hire one you can trust.
Hopefully, this post helps you understand what to look for (and what to avoid) when hiring a roofing contractor. Whether you choose us or someone else, just make sure the job gets done right — no shortcuts, no surprises.
If you ever want a second opinion, have questions about your roof, or just want an honest inspection — we’re here to help.
