KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Tim Sharp, a homeowner in North Knoxville, is asking why it has taken so long to have his roof replaced. The roofing company received its payment in early October and there is still no roof.
As a homeowner, it can be incredibly stressful when you can’t determine precisely how long your project will take from signing the contract to its completion. The National Roofing Contractors Association said a traditional asphalt roof replacement takes one to two days to install.
Sharp said the unsolicited contractor consultant who checked the roof of his house confirmed it had been damaged by hail.
“He tells me after his brief exam, I think you are sufficient here to warrant a replacement,” said Sharp.
He said his insurance company also examined the roof and agreed to pay for a new one. A check for $10,411 was paid to Storm Guard Roofing and Construction out of Johnson City through his insurance. The company received the money on October 6 according to Sharp.
“After I paid them, I was contacted by their office and was told it would be 13 to 15 weeks,’ said Sharp.
However, the January snowstorm and cold snap that shut down East Tennessee for nearly a week postponed the anticipated new roof on Tim’s home. The next month, Sharp learned he would have to wait for others who were ahead of him. The schedule he was sent shows he was low on their list.
“I was going to be on their schedule in March, didn’t happen. I followed up and asked please advise me where I am on the schedule again and was told it was going to be the first week in April, didn’t happen,’ said Sharp.
Months have gone by and still, Sharp has no new roof. A text message from Storm Guard on April 12 pushes the proposed start date to April 19 due to bad weather. By this time, Sharp’s patience had run out. He texted the company saying he wanted his money back.
“I said I consider that you have not kept the contract, I want a refund. I want a refund. Period. On the next day, someone from their office called and said you are on the schedule for next week which would be this week. I said, no,” said Sharp.
He shared a text with WATE that said ‘Okay, we will send you a refund but you will have to wait for it.’
“The person then said your refund will take about 10 weeks to process and it will be less than 25 percent,” said Sharp.
The reference to the cancellation penalty is found in the final sentence of Sharps’s contract. “Contracts canceled outside of this period will result in a fee not to exceed 25 percent of the total contracted amount,” reads the contract.
WATE contacted the Territory Manager for Storm Guard. On the phone, Jonathan Brown, the representative who came to Sharp’s home last fall, explained that Storm Guard can not install a roof when the temperature is under 45 degrees since the shingles don’t lay properly. Brown also referenced the schedule Sharp was sent saying rain pushed him down the list.
“It’s a line process, so anybody that was put in there before him those people didn’t get built during that time either. We only had two crews to work with because we don’t subcontract out. During that whole process with him, it took a very long time and I apologize to Mr. Sharp for that,” said Brown.
Brown said he was pushing for Sharp’s job to get underway, but he understands why he wants to cancel. We then pointed out the 25% penalty clause the customer pays if there is a cancellation.
“He will be getting his full refund,” said Brown.
However, Sharp is somewhat skeptical.
“I will believe it when I have it in my hands,” said Sharp.
Sharp said at first, he accepted, although reluctantly, the 10 to 12-week time period to put a roof on his house. He understood the terrible weather in January, but as the months dragged on, he wondered if the job would ever start. Once a business has the full amount of your money, what is a reasonable amount of time to start the work? Sharp believes waiting for nearly eight months was unreasonable, which is why he was requesting a full refund.
An executive with Storm Guard spoke with WATE on Wednesday saying, “There were a lot a lot of weather delays over the last five months,” and he “apologized” saying he would be calling Sharp. He also said Sharp will “definitely receive a full refund.”
Sharp told Dare shortly before 5:30 p.m. that his refund is expected next week.
