Roofing is not rocket science.  I cna't figure out why the contractors are
giving you all that techno-babble.  Most roofers use staples these days.
The guns make the job go faster.  Personally, I think the hand driven
roofing nails hold up better.  Staples have a tendency to work their way
loose after several years or even in bad weather.  There are only a couple
of different grades of shingles.  Get the best, but don't get taken.  They
should be quoting you by the square and not the job as a whole.  Make sure
they are taking accurate measurements of your roof.  It's a lucrative
business.

Greg
47/35/35



-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Trout <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, November 12, 1999 7:53 PM
Subject: very Non-PD: roofing question;


>Hi everyone,
>
>I have a roofing question. We need to replace our 14+ year old cedar shake
>roof and need to know what to look for in materials (composites, no more
>cedar!) and the types of installation.
>
>The roofing industry here is very unregulated compared to the rest of the
>building trades. There are many kinds of installations using many differing
>techniques and materials. Some do it as inexpensively as possible (like our
>builder did, and it has caused damage to the house), and others do a
>super-job.
>
>Anyone know things like: roofing staples Vs roofing nails; where roof vents
>are best placed, or, is it better to use ridge top venting along the entire
>roof instead of vents? (We have square cap vents half way up/down the sides
>of the roof.) One contractor said that unless the roof was vented along the
>top ridge, the manufacturers would not guarantee the materials. Anyone
heard
>of this?
>
> What should be looked for in a contractor, apart from licensing and
>bonding? The ones in the 12-14G range all stipulate that the person doing
>the estimates is on the job to supervise each day and the work is done
>right. They also have up to 41 regular, long-time crews they work year
>around...no really slow periods, and are booking now for spring
>installations. They even go into detail as to the size and metal the
>hammered-in nails are made of; the weight or mm of everything! The details
>of some are amazing; others just say "here's the price" and can't, or
won't,
>answer questions. The high-end ones are the one with photo albums of past
>jobs, homes that can be seen, etc.
>
>We have bids ranging $7,000 to $14,000 for a 25 year composite roof. The
>higher end bids come from the contractors who are not strictly residential.
>The $7,000 estimate came from an established home-roofing company, but they
>declined to go up on the roof to examine the roof and rest of the house
>structures which are affected by water and that can be seen from the roof
>and not the ground.
>
>The estimates which are in the $12,500-14,000 provide the most in details
>for what removal and installation of the roof, quality of the materials &
>workmanship, guarantees, details things needing to be done (include things
>Not need doing), "what if" extra work is needed provisions, etc.
>
>Any suggestions?
>