I hired Robinson Roofing and Construction for a full roof replacement on my home in the Rutledge…read morearea. The initial document provided was an estimate of $21,100, broken down as $7,420 for materials and $13,680 for labor. It was explicitly not presented as a fixed quote. In my understanding, and based on standard industry practice, an estimate indicates the final cost could vary (higher or lower) depending on actual materials used and site conditions.
The job was completed, but a significant amount of the budgeted materials remained unused. Rather than adjust the final invoice to reflect only what was actually used (which I believe would have been appropriate for an estimate), the contractor billed me the full $21,100 exact amount from the estimate. They then attempted to reclaim the leftover materials instead of providing any credit or reduction for them.
When I asked to retain just a small portion of the unused materials, the response via text became heated and argumentative. At the time of completion, I was still owed (and have not received credit, return, or resolution for) 5 bundles of shingles, 1 roll of roofing paper, and 3 rolls of ridge vent--items included in the materials budget I paid for. Exhausted from the repeated arguing, I eventually paid the full invoiced amount to end the dispute and move forward.
Additional issues arose during the work:
The contractor did not perform the labor himself but subcontracted the job to another crew (a group of Spanish-speaking workers). He is unable to communicate with them in Spanish.
Despite my roof being fully sheathed with plywood (as specified and existing), there was a failure in conveying the need to use plywood decking. As a result, OSB (oriented strand board, a less expensive alternative) was installed in places instead.
The wrong color hip and ridge shingles were ordered and installed. One of the workers pointed this out to me directly. When I raised it with the contractor, he became upset and stated that I "would have never noticed" if the worker hadn't mentioned it.
I received a butt-dialed voicemail from the contractor while he was speaking to someone (a woman) about the job. In it, he said "I was watching every little move" and planned to fire the subcontracting company for poor performance after the job was finished. Hearing this completely eroded any confidence I had in his oversight and professionalism.
In my opinion, these issues reflect poor communication, inadequate supervision of subcontractors, questionable material handling, and a lack of respect for the value of my high-end home (valued at approximately $2 million). The billing felt misleading--presenting an estimate but charging a fixed amount without adjustment for actuals--and the overall process was unprofessional and stressful.
I searched the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance's public license verification database (verify.tn.gov) for Robinson Roofing and Construction and could not locate any active contractor license under that name or obvious variations. Given that state law requires licensing for roofing projects over $25,000 (as prime contractor or roofing subcontractor) and Jefferson county requires a home improvement licenses for jobs down to $300, this added to my concerns about accountability and standards. Without a license can he even be bonded or insured is someone gets hurt on my property? He also stated that the workers were probably in the country illegally. had I know all of this beforehand, I would have awarded the job to a different contractor.
The workmanship appears functional from a visual standpoint, but the combination of billing disputes, material discrepancies, communication breakdowns, and the voicemail incident made this one of the most frustrating contractor experiences I've had. I've worked with other professionals who provide clearer contracts, fair adjustments, calm resolutions, and transparent oversight--this fell far short.
I strongly advise others to get a detailed, written contract specifying fixed pricing (if that's intended), material allowances, subcontractor details, and exact scope upfront. Verify licensing independently via TN.gov, insist on clear communication, and document everything. Based solely on my experience, I would not recommend Robinson Roofing and Construction and suggest exploring other options for peace of mind.
1 star (only because platforms don't allow zero).
