Before You Sign a Roofing Contract: Advice From a Pittsburgh Roofing Company Owner

Quick Facts About EAS Roofing

How Did EAS Roofing Get Started?

EAS Roofing completed its first job in 2010, the same year Eugene's first child, Kylie, was born. The idea for the company came a year earlier, while he was working the Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show for another contractor.

He noticed that every roofer at the show was selling shingles, and none of them were talking about what it would be like for a homeowner to work with them. When he asked visitors about their roofs, many said they'd had them replaced recently but couldn't remember who did the work.

"They'd given a company thousands of dollars and couldn't even name them. I set out to change that in Pittsburgh." — Eugene Smith, Owner

That focus on the homeowner's experience still shapes how the company operates. You can read more about the team on our About page.

What Certifications Does EAS Roofing Hold?

EAS Roofing holds four manufacturer credentials:

• CertainTeed Select ShingleMaster
• TAMKO Platinum Contractor
• Owens Corning Preferred Contractor
• VELUX 3 Star Certified

Each one requires passing the manufacturer's training courses and tests. CertainTeed also keeps checking after the designation is earned. It verifies that the company's insurance stays current and that customer ratings stay above 4.5 out of 5 stars.

"It's not a badge you get once and keep. You have to keep earning it." — Eugene Smith, Owner

What Does EAS Roofing Do Differently?

The differences start with materials. EAS doesn't install cheaply made shingles or products the manufacturer won't stand behind.

The rest comes down to how the job is run:

• In-house scheduling. Appointments are handled by EAS employees, not an outside call center.
• A real inspection. The technician who visits your home inspects the roof to find out what actually needs to be done.
• Property protection. Crews use the Equipter RB4000, which keeps old roofing debris from landing in your yard and landscaping. They also lay down tarps so your grass doesn't burn in warmer months.
• A project manager on every job. One person is responsible for answering your questions and addressing concerns while the work is underway.

What Roof Replacement Price Should Make a Homeowner Suspicious?

Both very high and very low quotes deserve a closer look. At the high end, some companies push homeowners to sign the same day, hoping they won't get a second estimate to compare. At the low end, the price is usually only possible by cutting corners on workmanship, materials, or both.

EAS typically prices in the middle.

"We have to make a profit to stay in business and to be here to cover your warranty, but we're not looking to hit home runs on any job." — Eugene Smith, Owner

Eugene has also seen homeowners pay a premium price and still end up with shortcuts and a contractor who wouldn't come back to fix problems.

His advice is to pay attention to who is giving you the quote. A roofing technician should be able to explain in detail how your roof needs to be installed.

"We spend a lot of time making sure the professionals who show up know what truly needs to be done to do the job right." — Eugene Smith, Owner

Two shortcuts he sees often:

• Standard shingles installed on a low-slope roof that needed a low-slope product such as Flintlastic
• Intake ventilation left out because adding it would raise the price

"We'd rather justify our price once than have to explain later why we didn't give you what you really needed for a lifetime." — Eugene Smith, Owner

For a starting estimate, try our roof replacement calculator or see our breakdown of roof replacement cost.

What Hidden Roofing Costs Surprise Homeowners Most?

Rotted wood decking

Damaged decking is the most common surprise, and EAS crews find it nearly every week. Even a thorough inspection of the attic and the underside of the roof boards can't reveal everything, because some damage is only visible from the top side of the wood once the old roof is removed.

That's why the unit price matters. Some companies quote wood replacement per square foot, which makes the number look small. A standard sheet of plywood is 32 square feet, so a $5-per-square-foot rate works out to $160 a sheet. EAS charges about $80 to $85 per sheet.

"We try to make everything crystal clear with our homeowners up front." — Eugene Smith, Owner

Extra layers of old roofing

Less often, crews find more than one layer of shingles under the current roof. EAS includes the price for removing additional layers in the estimate, so homeowners know the cost before they sign.

Whoever you hire, ask for these prices in writing up front. If something unexpected comes up, you'll have a baseline for what it should cost.

Does EAS Roofing Offer Financing?

Yes. EAS offers roof financing through Service Finance Company, LLC, with terms from 12 months to 10 years.

Most EAS customers choose the 10-year option. There is no penalty for paying the loan off early, so homeowners can keep extra cash available for other expenses and pay down the balance faster whenever it makes sense.

What Roofing Challenges Are Common on Pittsburgh Homes?

Pittsburgh's housing stock covers a wide range of ages and styles, and many homes come with challenges you don't see in newer suburbs:

• Steep or long front steps. Crews often carry every bundle of material up a long flight of steps before reaching the roof, set ladders on curved slopes, and then carry all the old material back down to the dumpster.
• Built-in box gutters. Many older homes have box gutters attached to the roof framing, which takes extra care to work around during a replacement. Learn more about our gutter services.

When Is the Best Time to Replace a Roof in Pittsburgh?

Early spring. On hot days, walking on new shingles can scuff off the protective granules. Spring temperatures are cool enough to prevent that and still warm enough for the adhesive strips to heat up and seal the shingles together.

What Is the Most Common Mistake Homeowners Make?

Waiting. A small leak or a few missing shingles is easy to ignore, but Eugene says "out of sight, out of mind" is the wrong way to treat a roof.

Leaving early warning signs alone can lead to replacing the decking under the shingles or damaged insulation. Wet insulation sitting in a dark attic can also grow mold. Any of these can add thousands of dollars to the eventual repair.

EAS inspects roofs for free.

"I know it sounds insane to think we're coming out and spending our team like that for free, but we're hoping that if something is wrong, you hire us. Either way, we come out free of charge." — Eugene Smith, Owner

What Advice Does EAS Give That Other Roofers Might Not?

An honest assessment, whether the news is good or bad. If your roof doesn't need replacing yet, EAS will tell you to check back in two or three years. Other times, a homeowner expects a small roof repair and the roof can't be repaired.

"Nobody would want a doctor who was afraid to talk about the bad news and only wanted to tell you the good." — Eugene Smith, Owner

What Happens When a Roofing Job Doesn't Go as Planned?

The most unusual job Eugene remembers started as a standard re-deck. When the crew removed the old decking, the home's overhangs fell off. The framing didn't meet current building code, and the homeowner had built those overhangs himself.

"You don't expect to show up to replace a roof and find out the framing is the problem, or even worse in this case, that the person who built it is standing right there asking you to fix it." — Eugene Smith, Owner

The roof needed to be fully reframed, including new overhangs and outlookers.

"It backed up our schedule, it upset the homeowner, and it was hard work we weren't prepared for." — Eugene Smith, Owner

Eugene explained to the homeowner why the framing had to be brought up to code and got his approval for the added work. Then the team loaded a truck with materials, brought in extra crew members, and rearranged other jobs to keep the project moving.

"We had to make sure the roof was watertight by the end of the day. After a long 12-hour day, we got it 100% watertight for the night and came back the next day to finish the framing." — Eugene Smith, Owner

What Do Homeowners Ask on the First Visit?

• How much will it cost? This is the reason most people call. An accurate answer requires someone to see the roof in person, which is why EAS starts with an inspection.
• How long will it take? In other words, how long will the work disrupt daily life. EAS works to keep the disruption low, though a roof replacement is serious work on the outside of your home.
• What's the warranty? EAS backs its roofs with a lifetime warranty, which Eugene calls the strongest warranty in the industry.

What Do EAS Customers Value Most?

Communication. Not the price, the thank-you gift after the job, the wrapped trucks, or even the Equipter. The customers Eugene hears from most want to know when the crew is coming, how the job will be done, what it will cost, and what to expect along the way. See what Pittsburgh homeowners say in our customer reviews.