Roofer on Roofing Subcontractors | Illegal Roofers | Kareem Hunter 

Total respect for a guy who busted his tail and then is running his own shop. These are the best business owners.

All I can say is we need more men like this gentleman. Great interview!

Dmitri you are man. Great job. Keep giving all the small business hope and a way to do better tomorrow

I don't know Kareem personally, but I'm from Ft. Wayne and know of him and i think what he's doing out here is awesome. We need more local business owners like him. And I appreciate what he's doing with some of these youngsters. They are learning a skill, making good money and learning how to do life the right way. Plus I've seen his jobs and they do good, solid work! If I worked for somebody like him when I was younger I would probably still be in the trades. Anybody that is doing right by our youth and younger generation is good in my book. THESE are the kinda men our youngsters need to look up to. Especially on the Southside (where I'm from and live).

I love how this guy wants to make the roofing industry more attractive to the younger generation

He is exactly right with everything he said. Really enjoyed that.

If your Roofing it's ideal to have a good lawyer saved in your phone. Also put a lien on a property if nobody's is paying. And get texts and papers signed with ink before starting a job. Roofers are in high demand and well respected. Its a tough job only a certain breed could do it.

You’re absolutely right Kareem. Great interview.

Seen his roofs around town..great residential guys

Dmitry discusses with Kareem Hunter subcontracting issues and Illegal immigration in Roofing industry. Let us know what you think on both issues, we value all feedback. How do you think we can solve labor problem? Comment below

FINALLY! Someone’s talking about this! I live in Miami and we’re the illegal subcontractoring capital of the country. Everybody is inexperienced and nobody wants to learn the craft correctly. They just wanna be a middle man kinda like what a broker is to a buyer and the bank in real estate just to make their easy cut!

Mad respect for this man

Im in the Indianapolis Roofing trade myself (im 45), and been doing this for 23 years, and he speaks some real truth about this tradework. 100%

Good video👍 in my late teens early 20's I used to help my Union roofer uncle on his side jobs, mostly residential re-roofs asphalt torch down, some shingles too. Lots of long hot days hard work and fair pay for a kid who didn't know much about the trades or about life. During one of his slow times I took what I thought was a temporary job as a painters helper and ended up sticking with it. Now 12 years later I run my own painting business and doing well in life and work. My uncle is over 70 years old and still roofing, swears he's going to retire "next year"..... The time I spent working with him taught me about hard work, character, and making something out of nothing. Looking back I carry many of those lessons with me still.

This was a great interview. This channel has so much value in the content. Top notch entrepreneurs that have alot of wisdom to share to other trades in similar circumstances.

These two are super!

One of your best videos

Great interview man! I can relate to what your saying!💯 I've been subcontracting for 11yrs in June. Been subcontracting off the same contractor since 2009.

This guy went through the same thing I went through before starting my own roofing co. We never got paid for over 15k in jobs. It happens a lot in the industry and it’s sad that building departments can’t put a stop to a contractors license if a sub submits a complaint. I take it steady and we’ve never owed anybody money. Idk how people that rip others off go to sleep at night with that on their conscience. They not only robbed them of their money but also their time and dedication.

love this guys work attitude! I wish he was here in Texas

So true, good questions 🙌🙌

Great conversation indeed!

Me to man I hate conflict also. Just keep moving.

What a great episode!

Really awesome perspective

I started off in construction, I liked it but then I realized i couldn’t work when it rained, I couldn’t make a decent living first starting out, the shear number of people with job site chronic injuries, and the risk of dying on the job and what would happen to my family afterwards if I had one, I realized I needed a college degree in something that was realistic. Construction is profitable for the owners of a business, or workers who have a high demand skill. The rest of the construction workers are used and abused. At least in my market.

I agree. Do want to get the work done. But at same time I need professional and done right over fast. I'm 39 now. But still love working.

Love his advice

Trades are the way to go! Earn while you learn! I remember all of my friends coming home from college after they graduated and moving back in with their parents. By that time I had three or four years of roofing under my belt and already making 50 Grand a year. I never meant to be a roofer, I just needed a job.. Now 27 years in the industry, as an employee I'm well into six figures a year, family Under full insurance, I've had a 401k going for 25 years, along with a pension. Of course more is always better, but I certainly can't complain. Not only do people not believe me when I tell them what I make, but when I tell them what I do for a living they always give me an odd look lol. Apparently I don't look the role.

First of all I like listen to your stuff. You have good coverage This was my second day of listnington to it. About the contractors skipping out and not paying people is very wide spread on storm troupers.I fallowed hail storms for the last 25 years before I retired in 2006 because of a wore out body. I don't know how much money I had been cheated out of. One time I did go in to the office with a loaded .25 pistol. The company owed me for me for two jobs. I wasn't worried because everyone in the office had warrants for their arrest. 2 were for felonies. A guy had to run from Austin to Dallas and back but I got my money. (I was drunk as hell when this happened. I did more work for the company in Phx. a year later and by then I had quit drinking and the 3 guy were gone. Just a case of the liquor talking and I could of put in some time in the pen easy. You are right where that fighting don't solve anything, thats what courts are for. There is always small claims court for under $ ??. On the illegals. If we did not use any for 5 years there would be a backlog or roofs for 10 years easy I was in business in the Far northern Panhandle of Tx. I also done lots of work in Ok. and Kan. I don't know how many I used over the years and didn't worry about it much as long as they had something to say they were legal. They could get false papers anywhere for $100 back in the 80,s and 90,s. In the whole time I only had one picked up on a job. What I didn't like about the illegals was they were getting a little to smart and contracting jobs on their own. I'm not talking about subbing but furnishing material etc.I had 2 different guys that went on their own in a storm in Dalhart Tx. It was back to back storms in years The first was 1999 then 2000.In 99 these guys subbed of me. I fired one crew for stealing. They got lots of stuff. At times the back door to the shop was open and If they needed a box of nails , etc they just went and got it. Most the time if I wasn't there then the office girl was by herself and didn't know what was going on. I caught the guy on the spot and he had 25 boxes of nails along with 2 nail gun that needed repair. The next year both of the subs were knocking on doors of the jobs we done. Outright telling people they would do the job for $1,000 less up to $2,500.They knocked me out of about $75,000 to $100k profit the best I could figure. I went and told the people these guy didn't have any insurance, Etc. and told them what would happened if one got hurt on their job.Only one went back with me. It is the old 'money talks" routine. In all the town of 8,000 pop was overloaded with them knocking on doors I tried turning the two guys into the state of Tx. but they wouldn't do anything because one's last name was Lopez, the other was Gomez. The woman from the state said they don't go after them with name like that as there is just to many of them and most don't have a permanent address in Tx. 2 years prior they got me and by the time it was over it cost $85,000 plus. Would of been more but I told them to take that and settle 100% or try to get more and I run. I said either way suits me.The woman took the money and gave me receits saying everything was paid in full.. I was always worried that they would attach my bank account but they never did. In fact they never even audited me once. How I got caught was furnishing tools, trucks, and telling the men where to go each day. I did not withhold anything and thats what got me. All it took was one guy signing up for unemployment. I have been on some very big hail storms where one company done 3000 jobs of all types in a year easy. My first storm was Denver in 1984. Two company's I worked for done about 4,500 to 5,000 each in about 1 and a half years. They had about 40 salesman working for them and I couldn't even start to mention the crews. They would hire anyone. Most their jobs were good but I sure seen some bad ones when they put me on leaks and repairs. Also that same year there were about 3 or 4 other pretty big company's in Denver. The same company's (if there still in business won't set up anywhere that they can't do a certain amount of jobs or money. ) Myself I finely found what I wanted, a small town pop 1,750 and lot lo little towns around. I never went further than 100 miles from my house.

This guy is cool and right that's why I do it I remember in high school saying why would you want to be a roofer there some of the lowest paid in the trade then I found out what you can make and here I am

Great thoughts! Thank you

Bravo!

so true gave up roofing did it for 30 years cant find good help so very sad

What a great interview! Kareem really nails it with his opinion. The root of the issue is educating the youth about learning a trade skill. College is not for everyone, and that doesn’t mean those people can’t be successful. I went to college, got my degree in radio/TV and ended up working with my dad on roofs. Honestly it was the best decision I have ever made!

I grew up in a family buisness. My dad Started me out at 12 13 years old duting summers. Then at 16 i went full time. Roofing nasties. Every week. And i mean every week 10/12 4 layers, resheet. Day in day out. In 2004 i started my own companie. I dont very well, each year was a learned lesson. I started subbing. (Shingle roofs) but i consisting made a average week was $1500 to $1800 a good week. $2300 to $3000. If i was contracting my own job easy 4k 5 k a week. Unfortunatly i had to shut the doors in 2018. I was 40. Early on in my cardar i was told (young buck) its gonna make a old man outta you fast. Now im 43 and am pretty much 65. Tore up, shoulders done, hips done, hands done, i live in pain. Now after all my success im a repair man for a big companie. Decent steady W2 job. But i live in pain Roofing fxcks you up. Do it smart I worked like a manaic and paying for it now

so true

100% right. Good video guys

I feel like there definitely is interest in the younger generation but it's mostly Hispanics whose parents whether legal or illegal were in roofing/construction, or kids from lower income communities. My dad has been roofing for about 25 years working for the same company and I'm 19 and looking into getting my c-39 license here in California and starting a company with him. I am still in college though I am considering dropping out completely since I am going to be an entrepreneur regardless, or completing college and running the business while still in school while my dad does most of the actual work. Also about the illegals, it's really 50/50 like he said, there are those that only know fast and low-quality work as is done in most Hispanic countries since they're not regulated like the US, but there are those that are very skilled and contribute greatly to a team. I feel like those that do good work in the trades and live good lives here are very underappreciated.

That's real talk right there.

Subcontractors need to have a contract with contractor specifying conditions of work. If payment is not made initiate a mechanics lien on the property. That bad publicity is something a contractor will avoid.

I 100%agree with this guy !!the money its there !!

In texas it's closer to 85%... almost half construction is now here.

Great Video

Yeah I remember you now Thanks for all the work I wouldn't let you side my dog house

This is the truth . we need roofing to be a respected trade to attract the next generation. Thay need to see that they can make good money, but also that we deliver value to the customers as a trade.

This guy soo right about Texas! My dad was roof contractor in the 90 and early 2000 and business was good until a lot of illegal came in extremely under cut down to $40 square foot! Sad!!!

Great dude!

Good video. A good rule is to not be a sub very often, if at all, in restoration. Be a real Contractor.

What do the first three letters in contractor spell? CON! That’s why I prefer the owner builder model.

Let's face it, Roofing sucks! It is certainly its own kind of breed. 140 degrees heat index on the roof, sometimes guys passing out, incredibly hard work. Your average person cannot handle or do this. Sometimes you have to be out in -10 degree weather depending where you live. It has its moments of fun, but very few people can actually do it well. It's not an attractive job. I agree, chase the money! That's really what makes it worth it.

He is very correct. I start people in Eastern North Dakota with no construction experience at all at $20.00 an hour with overtime pay after fourty hours and if you kindly ask them to fetch the jobsite radio from the trailer they will argue because they don't want to go down the ladder. I offer a raise to $22.00 in a month if you actually show up to work and dont question every task. I think I have to finally give up on an in house installation crew and focus on completing small roof repairs myself plus sales while subcontracting to crews from Texas that actually want to do the job!

Very true we need the paizas, good interview , subs check contractors BBB before working for them .

That's the problem with being a sub.... they know they can not pay you for the last job.... what can you do. Shout out to Snow-B-Gone in Cleveland Ohio, that shorted me the pay for the last push I did for them in 2002. It was a big storm. I'd have to look in my file to see what they owed me, it was almost $300 IIRC, it was at a time in my life when $300 meant a tremendous amount. I even had to pay taxes on the money they didn't pay me, since they put it on my 1099.

You said Romania?! :) Good topics, Dimitrii!

That money doesn’t matter when it’s 120 on a roof and that hot mop has been in your hand for 8 hours or you see someone fall to their death some people just don’t have the guts for it 10 year roof donkey out of Georgia but I’m glad I learned all I learned about life on the roof and off it

Decade long roofer here

300 square in 4 days. Man you guys are animals good on ya. I would need a week off after doing that I wonder how long that pace is sustainable for.

2035 not just roofing but all trades will be in such high demand . Roofing will be the top dog in demand though as its only the 1% that make it roofing. Great money but you get up there and earn that money every single day. Broke my back for companies back in my younger days , and unfortunately my back is no longer able to take the load of roofing. Miss it everyday.

And we should make a challenge about resistance.

All comes down to paperwork too easy, if in your contract you say you will rip off existing shingles, ice and water the bottom, paper the rest, replace boots, ect ect thats what you do and if they have a problem when the job is done go back to the paper work

I was fixing to say, I haven’t had a legal crew in Texas but maybe a handful of daca kids that are working under there fathers.

I had the pleasure to work for storm roof when I started my business I didn’t stay long but they used to pay really good for LP and hardie in Minnesota. This is my 4th year I only have 1 company that kept like 2,500 for 1 piece of metal small piece from a fascia he tried to pay me 1,500 from 4,800 o told him keep the money I don’t need pocket change maybe you need it more than the crews. My best friend thinks the jobs we do in construction are low class jobs she’s American she doesn’t understand how this truly works I can be on the worksite or work from home I can be making money and take care of my son being a subcontractor I created a network of people and companies my phone rings 24/7 contractors like working with me because I’m honest and very respectful with homeowners we have good references 3 siding crews is hard to find good siding crews good installers good with the breaker

1000 roofs a year is nothing bro... We did 4,000-4,500 roofs a year like butter i’m starting to truly realize the value of my education and experience at Hanson’s

Many American or young people don’t wanna do the hard work especially now a days. I’m 32 and I love roofing and my own lil company that I been trying to grow, I grew up in roofing, my dad and his side of his family all did roofing so it was naturally for me to stick with it, I remember being 8 or 9 yrs old running the hot tar kettle or my dad and the crew handing them shingles or roofing the bottoms for them and now I rarely can find any Americans that willing to help like back then so most of the time I’m working by myself or I use a crew from a bigger roofing company that let me use one of his crews when I need help. I don’t do any sub work because of the pay I use to get calls from contractors with new construction paying 20 a sq or the bigger roofing companies trying to pay for a 1 layer tear off 30 to 50 a sq to the subs for wallkables. I take pride in my work with the details,workmanship and everything like that so I’m higher , My dad said he was getting paid that back in the late 90’s to early 2000’s. I love my fellow Mexicans or illegal workers but I notice the lazy ones or the ones that just started charge a lot less and there work shows that, because I been back on jobs where the homes owners tells me they found someone cheaper for example I start at 210 a sq for 1 layer tear off for everything furnished in TN but they might found someone for 180 or cheaper a sq but at times I gotta go back out months later to fix there mess where they messed up on or insurance jobs where they try to keep,some money and get someone cheaper to put the roofs on

Came across a company today who uses a sub which makes me nervous. Connecting the dots how these businesss are connected, I guess one working off another's license, leaves too much room for fraud. Customers could be left with the liens if subs not paid.

Well what are the rates that you see fair than in the roofing industry, contractor to subcontractors? Down in Ga they put subs walkable 50$ 8/12-9/12 $55 11/12-/12/12 $60. Tear off and install.

For those of you that are in the roofing business maybe my customer POV might help I got 6 roofing quotes 1 Latino crew 2 Amish crews and 3 American crews (yes they’re all American I’m just being specific) 1st American was the first to answer after calling several others didn’t even put me on hold and for that simple reason I almost hired him till I met with him I felt like he didn’t think I could afford it and his bid was the cheapest 2nd American stopped by didn’t even care to talk much and never even sent me the estimate I felt he thought I also couldn’t afford it 3rd American taught me lectured me on roofing and really showed professionalism he was now Ahead 1st Amish gave me options on shingles explained everything and also lectured me on roofing his bid was one of the highest 2nd Amish stopped by for few minutes (raining) said he would send me the estimate but never did The bid for the Latino crew was in the middle of the others and I went with their bid the reason why I chose his bid was because he simply had the skylights he said he would throw in for free and he also explained the process Now had he not thrown in the skylights for free I would’ve gone with either the 1st Amish crew or the 3rd American crew but the Amish guy was the one to really sell me on the job even though his bid was higher Btw only reason why I didn’t reshingle myself was because I have mild epilepsy so wifey and mother didn’t want me up there even with a harness

The flip side of the coin is with there being less of us it makes the rest of us more valuable. But truthfully wages are the biggest issue. You have to find that magic number for the market you are in, otherwise soon it will be all subs. I would bet it is already 70-80% subcontractors here in Michigan. I am one of the dinosaurs still with actual employee's but we are losing ground quick.

Subs that team up with contractors that dont offer any value to homeowners and bid down are the ones that get burned. If you are a sub do your homework on the contractor you are or want to work for check if they have a website look at reviews ask around ask about the material they install so u can get a good picture on who you're dealing with

I don’t like confrontation either, I have put a better contract guidelines, and I’ve enlisted a law firm, and another problem that has came up is with my insurance restoration business, and once they see the amount of money insurance is willing to pay, the costumer gets money hungry, and the insurance company on a couple jobs insurance company sent my money to home owner and they did not pay me, any advice for other contractors going thru the same thing?

Insurance industry is the biggest part of the problem, they are the gatekeepers. Here in Kansas they tell homeowners to shop around get 3-4 bids knowing they will most likely choose the lowest one saving the Ins company money. I have had the INS company actually go out and find cheaper bids on bigger jobs. Yes pay is a big factor, make it a trade, stop the chuck n trucks, and have the roofing company work directly with INS company just like Auto shops and health care.

Damn I hate hearing stories of guys getting stiffed for $...I woulda slapped a lien on the property ! Im pretty sure he coulda still did that being the sub

You should be paid good to roof if you know what you’re doing. People take the lowest price in roofing not truly thinking about how the roof is literally protecting your entire investment. I did a repair on a million dollar house a week ago that had wall flashing lapped backwards. Took the whole ceiling out. Seems like every time i think “this is the most messed up job I’ve ever seen” a call comes in on another one that is worse. It’s getting absolutely terrible quality speaking here in Florida

If a roofer working 8-9 hr days applies 9 sq/day earning $300/day or $1500 per week . Who is to say that earning 60k in 40 weeks is working too cheap? Where else can unskilled labor earn between $35-$40/ hr?

Bring trades backkkkkkkkk!!!!!

What are people paying their subcontractors? In WI in one area it's $20/sq for tear off and $35/sq re-roof on a 3-5 pitch house.

We have a shortage of Americans who want to roof. I have been at this for 30 years. I’m a dying breed.

I’m a Mexican 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽 I’m not ashamed of that

Wat are the steps that I have to do to start my own iam tired of going from paycheck to paycheck or job to job just to make ends meet I have 1yr of roofing experience

Also I'd like to know how long he had that best crew ever am I the only guy that can't keep anyone around or what I'm small but still steady just hard to find guys that you don't have to pay more than you make

Stop by fort Wayne and play a round of golf if youd like!!

For every illegal working in America is an American that did not apply for that job or said the pay was too low

I just would like to know what single installer is making $100-200k a year? Single installer not crew.

Raw garlic is good for a cold Dimitri

That’s the only bad thing about roofing when you sub contract you get screwed around

while my country men keep doing this job for so cheap, Americans will never want to do it....

I wish I knew how much roofers make before I went on college

Just found the 2nd part of the interview And I agree one million percent there is such a problem with illegal workers that it makes it hard for us legal skilled guys to get work. Why would they pay someone with skills and who is legitimately able to be in his country a decent wage when they can pay any legal immigrant half of what they would pay us to do the same work. I have no problems with immigrants or people trying to make a living to provide for their family but when companies take it advantage of them and undercut regular citizens is not fair.

i would have to agree with hunter...we have a realy hard time finding crews and kids to train....we pay very well 15 hour to learn roofing siding trade .more you no the more we pay..top installer make 30 to 45 hr ..or 100 to 175 per sq...he who how to swing the hammmer will make a killing over the next 30 years .think about supply demand

Damm right. I have asked sooooomany company owners or subs or lead crews. They all say the same thing..... The new generation does not want to work hard for the money since its easier to be a blogger or make money playing games.

Realest shit I've heard

Shoutout to The Slavic immigrants who work construction

Let's be honest. You can come to this country from anywhere in the world and undercut wages on all jobs. The reason young Americans don't have work is because they have to support a family system here in the United States. We don't live 10 men in a rented apartment on substandard wages in jobs with employers who's abuse of employees runs rampant. Undercutting Americans is easily done when your confused, alone and vulnerable. Occasionally I see non-Latinos running jobs, but taking a job with such great risk, and as demanding should be paid at union roofing scale.

Just wondering making roof great again hat...is it from c3 roofining?

My father brought me to work right out of high school, he paid me by the bundle so the money i made was determined by the amount of effort i was putting in. Been 8 years and i haven't looked back, roofing is great if you're willing to put in that effort and grind it out.

Keep them kids off phone.

IVE RAISED 2 SONS , 2 SON N LAWS AND A NEPHEW + THEIR FRIENDS ON THE ROOF , NO BETTER LIFE THAN BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH YOUR FAMILY. MOST PEOPLE SAY YOU DON'T WORK FAMILY AND FRIENDS , NEVER WORKS OUT , BULL , I DON'T PLAY NO DAM GAMES , GET RIGHT , OR HIT DA BRICKS .

Divide by 40? You mean 52?

U right man identify them