Legitimate reasons to withhold final payment when a new roof looks wrong can include incomplete work, obvious damage, or work not done according to your written agreement. However, you should document the problem, communicate it to the roofing contractor in writing, and allow time to inspect and fix legitimate issues.
You shouldn’t refuse payment just because you don’t like how the roof looks when completed. Many problems are merely cosmetic or temporary until certain conditions are met. Others may indicate improper installation that affects the roof warranty or life expectancy.
Should You Pay if Roofing Work Is Not Complete?
In most cases, you should not make final payment until the roofing work agreed to in your contract is complete and passes inspection. The Ohio Attorney General suggests withholding final payment on home improvement contracts until the work is 100 percent complete.
Compare what you see to the contract, proposal, material list, and approved change orders before paying. The contractor should install the roof and perform any related work included in your agreement. For example, roofing work may also require replacing flashing, vents, or damaged decking; cleaning gutters; or removing construction debris.
Refer to your signed contract to remind yourself of when final payment is due. Check whether your agreement includes a clause for final inspection, a certificate of completion, a punch-list process, and/or dispute resolution.
What Problems Can I Use To Withhold Payment?
Incomplete work, visible damage, leaks, and other obvious problems may allow you to withhold final payment until the contractor investigates. Try to connect the concern to specific responsibilities the contractor agreed to under your signed contract.
Examples of issues that may justify delaying final payment include:
- Loose, missing, buckled, or otherwise visibly damaged shingles
- Shingle courses that are uneven or have unexplained gaps
- Visible fasteners not in approved locations
- Loose, missing, or poorly fitted flashing
- Signs of leaks or new water stains on the ceiling
- Sagging rooflines or areas that don’t appear level
- Missing, loose, or otherwise unfinished roof vents, gutters, trim, or siding
- Different materials from those listed on the contract
- Leftover debris, nails, or other materials on the property
- Damage to landscaping, siding, gutters, or other parts of your home
Shingle lifting may occur temporarily on new roofs installed during cold weather. Roofing contractors know asphalt shingles often require warmer temperatures and sunlight exposure before their adhesive strips fully seal.
Roof shingles can also appear slightly different when viewed directly after installation. The color may change under different lighting conditions, your roof’s slope and surrounding trees can affect how they appear, and cloudy days can make a roof look different than sunny days. Visit from different angles and ask the contractor whether this is expected.
Even if you don’t think the problem is the contractor’s fault, they should still inspect your roof and clarify whether it is temporary, simply an aesthetic issue, or something that needs to be corrected.
Should I Refuse Final Payment Completely?
Don’t automatically refuse final payment without first reviewing your contract and discussing the concern with the roofing contractor. Withholding payment in excess of what is reasonably tied to incomplete or disputed work could result in a separate payment dispute.
How you respond should depend on the severity of the problem. An active leak, missing flashing, or unfinished roof section is a more serious concern than whether you like the way the roof looks.
First, ask the contractor to inspect the work and respond in writing. Clearly identify what you believe is wrong and what actions you expect the contractor to complete before you release final payment.
Instead of writing, “The roof doesn’t look right,” point out that a specific row of shingles is not lying flat, it looks like flashing may be missing around the chimney, or your contract specified a ridge vent that was not installed.
Providing specific written notice gives the contractor an opportunity to investigate your claim. This also creates a record of your disagreement if you can’t resolve the problem.
What to Do (Or Not To Do) Before Paying the Roofer
Prior to making final payment, ensure that the roofing contractor completed the scope of work outlined in your contract and provided any required documentation. Reviewing your agreement helps you identify whether you have a legitimate installation issue or simply misunderstood something about your contract.
Things to check include:
- Whether the roof contains the correct shingle manufacturer, product line, style, and color
- All roofing materials and accessories match what was listed on your contract
- Flashing, roof vents, drip edge, and roof penetrations look finished
- Any decking repairs included in approved change orders were completed
- Gutters, siding, landscaping, and other property were not damaged by the contractor
- Contractor cleaned the yard, driveway, attic rafters, and gutters
- Completed the required permits and inspections
- Left behind workmanship warranty information and the manufacturer warranty
- Written change orders are accurate and match what you approved
- The final invoice matches the agreed-upon contract price plus any authorized change orders
For this reason, Atlas Roofing & Siding recommends obtaining a detailed written estimate before installation begins. The estimate should include the work to be done, materials to be used, warranties, and other important terms. Clear, objective documentation gives both parties a checklist for determining when the work is complete.
Should You Provide a Roofing Punch List?
If the roof is mostly complete but you have remaining concerns, provide a punch list to the contractor. A punch list is a written record of work that still requires completion or clarification before you provide final approval.
Photograph each concern and clearly describe its location. For example, state that you observed loose flashing on the chimney’s left side or damaged siding under the rear roof slope.
Email your list or use another method that creates a dated record of your request. Ask the contractor to confirm the inspection date and when corrections will be made.
Remain professional in all communications and refer to your contract. Keep in mind that most reputable roofers want to correct workmanship issues before the homeowner considers the project complete.
Should You Get a Second Opinion on the Roof?
You may want an independent roof inspection if the contractor dismisses your concerns, your roof is leaking, or you can’t determine whether the roof was installed correctly. An independent roof inspection will have another qualified roofing contractor examine the shingles, flashing, roof ventilation, decking, and other components.
Ask the second contractor to provide you with photographs and written descriptions of what they observe. Ask them to explain the difference between installation issues, cosmetic issues, storm damage, and the normal attributes of new roofs.
An independent inspection does not necessarily mean the first roofing contractor breached your agreement. However, having an unbiased report can help both parties understand the problem and what repairs may be necessary.
Atlas Roofing & Siding provides roof inspections, as well as roof repairs, replacements, and preventative maintenance. Located throughout Central Ohio, its roofing services cover everything from your roof’s initial assessment all the way through installation and future maintenance needs.
What If My Roofer Demands Payment?
If your roofing contractor demands payment and legitimate work is still outstanding, respond in writing and cite specific contract terms. Explain which items are still in dispute and request a date by which the contractor will perform an inspection or make the necessary corrections.
Never ignore phone calls, emails, invoices, or formal letters from your contractor. Contractors have specific contract collection rights and can potentially file a mechanic’s lien against your property under Ohio law. Your exact rights depend on your agreement, any improvements made to your property, and other facts.
If a significant amount of money is in dispute or your contractor threatens legal action, you may want to consult with an Ohio attorney before refusing payment. You also have the option of contacting the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section. This office provides information on many consumer topics and operates an informal complaint-resolution process.
What Should I Do If My New Roof Is Leaking?
If your new roof is leaking, contact your roofing contractor immediately and take reasonable steps to limit further property damage. Photograph or record the leak and cover furniture, flooring, and other belongings if it is safe to do so.
Avoid making permanent repairs or hiring another company to alter your roof before allowing the contractor a reasonable opportunity to address your complaint. Emergency repairs may be necessary in some situations, but don’t make changes that could affect the workmanship warranty or make it harder to identify the leak’s cause.
Save all receipts related to emergency repairs, temporary coverage, or interior cleaning services.
How Can Atlas Help?
Atlas Roofing & Siding can inspect new roofs that “don’t look right” and determine if there was an installation issue, incomplete work, damaged material, or simply an aesthetic problem. Once we find the cause, we can explain it clearly and recommend the repairs needed to protect your home.
Should you withhold final payment if something looks wrong on your new roof? It can be appropriate to withhold final payment if you discover unfinished work. However, the best course of action is typically to document the concern, refer to your contract, and allow the contractor time to fix the issue.
Contact Atlas Roofing & Siding today and schedule a professional roof inspection in Columbus, OH or a nearby Central Ohio community. An experienced roofing contractor can inspect your roof, explain what is wrong, and identify what should be corrected before work is considered complete.
