Hey here is the 2nd part of my new roof saga. I need the old shingles ripped off - some plywood replaced and the roof replaced.
Company 1 wanted $6k and $20/sheet of plywood over 10 sheets. 25 yr shingle 30# felt
Company 2 wanted $5.2k would replcae all plywood 25yr/30#
Company 3 wanted $3.2k and $30/sheet over 4 sheets. 25yr/15#
Co 1 is out. Co 2 was gotten from an ad in the paper, Co 3 comes recommended by a friend, both (actually all 3 have satifactory BBB ratings). I asked Co3 what about 30# - he said that the manufacturer doesn’t recommend it for a 25 yr shingle - just for a 30-40 yr. Any advice?
Having driven a few roofing nails myself, you need to make sure the company will do the following:
Replace any and all damaged wood- rafter tails, etc.
Replace plywood or rotted roof boards
shore up or brace sagging roof rafters
vent attic properly at peak AND eaves
And if you have a shallow pitched roof,especially if you live in a temperate zone and get snow or ice, ask what the additional cost to put rubber on the first course instead of felt- the rubber membrane is expensive but WELL worth it.
Get this in writing.
15# felt is usually MORE than sufficient- the felt is really used to help unify the roof during installation but once in place it serves less function; 30# is nice but you’ll never even notice the difference, not in longevity or leak-proofedness.
Talk to people who have had roofs done by this company.
Also, make sure they have a good guarantee- ask to see a roof that they had problems with and talk to that customer. Do they have a whole crew devoted full-time to fixing someone else’s screwups?
Good luck. That’s a LOT of money to spend on a roof, so make sure you get what you pay for.
Also, make sure they put dropcloths on all your bushes/landscaping before they rip roofing- otherwise cleanup is TROUBLE!
I dropped ‘how to hire a roofer’ in a search engine, got this, which is pretty nice:
http://www.todayshomeowner.com/managing/19980601.pros.html
Love this gem:
“Did the roofer damage any bushes or flowers, and did he leave
nails in the driveway? Flat tires are a common complaint during and
after a roofing project. Good roofers pick up any dropped nails with
large rolling magnets throughout the job.”
&
"When a roofer comes by to look over your job and work up a price,
note his appearance. Pride extends beyond the job site. If he isn’t
clean enough to sit at your breakfast table, do you really want him
working on your house? Then detail the full range of your
expectations. Find out who will do the work and the foreman’s name.
And get everything in writing. "
BTW, we needed to get a permit. It cost $175.00 here for the permit. (California)