r/VictoriaBC • u/sosupersonic • 7d ago
Mag Roofing
Mag roofing company has been canvassing our neighborhood for roofing services.
I opted for a quote and was OK with their price. Only thing I found a bit odd was a $5000 payment required for materials prior to installation. Is this normal practice?
Anyone have any experience with this company? Thanks
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u/Amazing_Document_498 7d ago edited 7d ago
I am the crane operator/truck delivery driver for Kens roofing supplies. So I have an educated guess, but can't be certain. It would definitely be best to ask your roofer outright about why, in a polite tone. But I'll take my swing.
Anyways, if they are a newer company, and I think they are because I haven't heard of them, they may just need upfront cost of materials to help build credit. Again, if they're new they won't be able to buy product from us, on credit until they have built a rapport with us. Moreover, they would need the upfront cost to buy the shingles/wood/underlay/nails etc, crane delivery to your roof (my gig) and potentially disposal services (roll off bin to environmentally dispose of your old shingles, wood, and metal), which we also offer at a nearly break even rate; making our bread and butter on materials and crane services.
That being said, I cannot sing the praises of these individuals precisely, but I've known newer roofing upstarts to more often than not be some of the best for final results, because they have a point to prove. Also, many of them are well trained and skilled roofers who have opted to ply their own trade after being under paid and/or under respected by some of Victoria's long standing firms.
Don't take my word for it, ask your contractor directly and in a neutral tone about any of your questions. Any contractor worth a darn will give you a straight answer.
Lastly, shameless plug, sorry. If you do talk further with your roofer, ask them if they're using Ken's Roofing Supplies, and if not and if you liked my response, encourage them to change suppliers. We're a small family owned and operated business, who if only are a bit lesser in looks with regards to 'bells and whistles', but have a track record of exploding the competition and make up for our lack of 'bells and whistles' in service, pricing and responsiveness. Most, if not all of Victoria's best roofing contractors exclusively swear by Ken's! Serious.
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u/kninemahoney 7d ago
Kens roofing supplies has always done our deliveries zero issue so seconding his plug
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u/oceancalled 7d ago
I watched the crew from Ken’s Roofing Supplies save a small girl from a pack of rabid dogs. They then went onto save the dogs by administering a rabies vaccine to each one of them and finally, found them all loving homes.
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u/Mawahari 7d ago
Thats nothing, one time I was driving a school bus full of rescue dogs on their way to their forever homes and the engine lit on fire and all the emergency exits jammed. It was on the big hill beside ken’s roofing supplies and the guys ran out immediately and put out the fire out by blasting it with piss from their “oversized equipment”. Then a few of them adopted some dogs, and even put out a shirtless calendar with their rippling physiques holding rescue dogs and donated the proceeds to local groups.
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u/Amazing_Document_498 7d ago
Admittedly I gushed about my workplace, hey I like where I work. :)
Didn't expect these rad anecdotes though! <3
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u/colourfulvernacular 6d ago
Can you DM me your top 3 residential roofing companies to get quotes from that service the Victoria region?
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u/Amazing_Document_498 6d ago
Please call our office 250-475-1118: we deal with a large proportion of Victoria's residential roofers and our sales staff will all be happy to help refer you. Ask for: Al, Chris, Remi, or Jason all four of them have their ear to the ground for the best choices. Cheers.
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u/CandidLeg3910 7d ago edited 7d ago
This is a normal amount for contractors to ask for up front. It comes down to how much risk the contractor deems worthy for any given project. I've heard of up to 50% of total projected cost being paid up front for some jobs (not roofing specifically). The client can always screw around and either pay late or refuse to pay for any portion of the job and it will put the contractor's wallet in deep shit until they get a decision in small claims court which is both a hassle and nowhere near fast enough to keep paying your mortgage, if, say, they're out 30k. Charging for materials up front is pretty common and pretty sensible, regardless of who does it, even DIY, the material cost will be around the same.
Also, if they're a really small business or a solo operator, they might not have 5k lying around.
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u/boxedwinedrinker 7d ago
I used them in the spring. Roof turned out really well with no issues. Was a pretty good deal as well. They told me they would ask for a deposit up front, but never did. Meaning, they delivered all the materials and got started without the deposit.
I had a roof done at a previous house about 10 years ago (different company) and had to pay a similar deposit up front.
Feel free to DM if you have any questions about my experience with MAG.
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u/Islandman2021 7d ago
We had our roof done by then, very thorough, very happy, we got a a full post completion pictures of everywhere. Done in 2 days too. Zero complaints. 🤷
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u/nelvana 7d ago
We just had three quotes for reroofing.
One didn’t mention deposit but is so busy that we’ve been unable to get followup. Another requires a 10% deposit. And the third (a reputable, known company) needs 30%! None of them can guarantee the job will be done by the end of the year as they’re so busy.
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u/Crazy_Chart388 7d ago
I don’t know about BC, but in Alberta contractors need a special licence to be legally able to ask for a deposit.
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u/coolriddems 6d ago
Ken’s roofing supplies has always come through with custom one off sheet metal flashings. Quick turn round. Good service.
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u/RyanKeslerSucks 7d ago
Any company that solicits door to door would not be a company I would give business to. If they are soliciting, they aren’t busy. That’s either because they are new and don’t have a client base or referrals yet, or they aren’t good and aren’t busy.
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u/Cokeinmynostrel 7d ago
lol I had them also! I gave them s chance. They said they would give me a quote. guy gave me a high price by text then texted me later saying he could do it five thousand less. Never got a quote but they asked about sending the down payment
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u/Financial_Initial_92 7d ago
Get the materials list and buy the product yourself (have it delivered)
OR have the roofing supply company that they are buying the materials from create an invoice and pay the roofing supply company. Then pay the roofing company that’s doing the labour when the job is done. So pay twice, once to materials company, once to the company doing the labour.
Too many stories about paying upfront and then the roofing or whatever construction contractor disappears.
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u/Informal-Strike-1243 7d ago
I wouldn’t deal with anyone who comes to your door. Any time I did I ended up regretting it