Meeting w/roofing co. - advice?

Simpsongal1

We still have not decided whether to get a new roof (I posted about it on MM last week).  But we're meeting w/one of the companies tonight to discuss options and prices. 

 Any advice on questions to ask?  Unnecessary products/add ons?  We see ourselves in this house for the long haul.  But I don't want to buy a Mercedes when a Chevy will do.

ETA:  I posted about getting estimates a couple weeks ago too.  Well I don't have final numbers to post b/c the estimates were waaaay higher than I thought.  Apparently, the deck alone was going to cost $20K.

FoxinFiji

Hmpf I wish I could find the other long posts I wrote about roofing on the nest but they must have been too old.  I'll sum it up quickly:

- roofing over old singles = Bad

- 30 or 40 yr shingles = Good

- Architectural shingles = Better than 3-tab

- GAF/ELK is a good brand but there are others

- ridge vents = Better than side vents and can easily be converted to a ridge vent during roofing

- ice and water shield should be 7' up from the edge of the exterior wall (not the overhang itself)

- 30# felt = Best

- Write in contract any rotten plywood found will be replaced at __ cost per sheet.  Don't let them roof over questionable plywood...if they aren't getting paid additional for it that is what they will do

- straight black shingles are hard on your cooling bills and are more likely to create ice dams

- have them explain in detail how they will be flashing around openings and the edge of the roof and how the gutters will be affected 

- taking a little more time = Good, you don't want them standing on the new shingles in the middle of the day or early afternoon if you can help it.  If it's hot out the tar and the "grit" on top can smear to the point where you'll see footprints.  

- roofing below 40 degrees = Bad

 

HTH!

emoflamingo

On top of that stuff, since I just had a bad experience with roofers:

1. Make sure they know how to remove and replace a dish. If they don't, call your satellite company or find a local company to do it for you. Or you'll be out $100 for a new dish like I was.

2. Find out if someone who is HVAC certified will be inspecting any vents to your heating/cooling system. Because I am without heat (thank goodness it's warm!) because the roofers didn't know what they were doing and left a pipe unattached to the roof and water leaked in. If no one on the staff is HVAC certified, find someone to inspect it as soon as the work is done. If any work needs to be done to fix it, tell the roofing company ASAP. The advice I received here is third party HVAC, which was too late for me but will help you out.

3. re: the plywood replacement especially, make them call you if there are ANY other changes when they get the roof off. The people had to re-do part of my roof because they didn't replace some plywood and it created a wrinkle in the shingles on my roof.

Good luck!

Simpsongal1

It's funny you said that foxin' - my dad said to at least wait until autumn, when the weather is cooler.  He said it's not good to put on a roof in the hot weather.  On the other hand, we really need to make sure our attic is properly vented before the DC summer.

Thanks for the info!

FoxinFiji

Spring and autumn are the best times.  You have to worry about rain more in the spring but if it's not too complicated of a project they might be able to do it all in a day maybe two.  If it's in summer you can still do it just try to have them come in one-three mornings.  They might not like that but you're paying them and good roofer will try to work on that kind of schedule anyway.  Roofers are very early morning people. 

Simpsongal1

The meeting went well.  It's a very reputable company, so they're not the cheapest.  But the price seemed reasonable.  The only unknown is the underlying plywood.  It's $70 per sheet to replace (T&M), and I know some of the plywood at the edges of the house is rotting. 

I'm wondering whether we should get another quote, just for comparison.

FoxinFiji

It doesn't hurt to get a second quote.