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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? >