Albert J. Wagner

Our house was built 17 yr ago and Albert Wagner and Sons put on the roof and the small balcony. The attic showed a number of spots where water was coming in. The balcony had permanent leak stains and looked like it was starting to crumble a little at the bottom. We were told by two roofers we need a new roof and that flashing had never been used in the balcony. So we called our original roofer to come out and give us a third opinion.
Albert Wagner and Sons said they would send someone out to look at the roof and we didn’t need to be home. I said I had to be there to show the roofer the water spots in my ceiling and the attic. George, the new owner, showed up as scheduled. We showed him the ceiling stains and the attic and he told us that our roof was good for another ten years and we do not need a new roof. We asked him, «Don’t you need to see the roof?» He said he didn’t. We said we’d feel better if someone actually looked at the roof. He said he would send someone over that week to climb up on the roof and inspect it. As for the balcony and flashing, he said he didn’t know about that and couldn’t tell from looking at it, but it seemed fine to him.
He couldn’t wait to leave and he never sent anyone over to inspect the roof. We were puzzled by his behavior. He obviously never intended to give us an estimate since he came over without a ladder. He pronounced our roof good for ten more years without ever looking at it. The only thing we could come up with was that he was concerned we might sue him for work done by the previous owner.
George, if you read this, I’d like to tell you that we don’t know why you chose to waste our time as well as your own. My message to you is that I believe it’s always better to be honest with clients.