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What is the number one complaint against roofing contractors ?
Reliability ! The contractor did NOT do what he said he would do. Weather the salesperson was late or did not show up, or they start your job a month later than originaly scheduled, or they cut corners on the installation. It is by far the biggest complaint.
How do I find a GOOD contractor ?
Do your homework ! CertainTeed says to look for seven things.
- Full name and address of the company.
- Does the company carry insurance ?
- Is the company licensed or credentialed contractor ?
- How long has the company been in business ? ( usually 3-5 years is safer )
- Will the company provide job references ?
- What is the company's workmanship warranty ?
- What is the company's track record for soving cusomer complaints ?
What are the symptoms of a roof in need of service ?
- Leaks
- Curling shingles.
- Granule loss
- Cracked shingles
- Ice build up.
How much does a new roof cost ?
There are many variable when estimating roof replacement costs. The total square footage of the roof areas, how steep your roof pitch is, layers of original shingles that need to be removed are the main 3 factors. Other factors are possible wood replacement, ventilation upgrades, and shingle selection.
 A standard 1000 sq. ft. bungelow style home built in the 1930's-1950's with a steep pitched roof and two layers of shingles to remove generally costs around $3000-$4000.
 A basic 2000 sq. ft colonial style home with a low piched roof, and one layer of shingles to remove generally costs around $5000-$6000.
 A 3000 sq. ft. home built in the last 10-20 years with a steep pitched roof and one layer of shingles to remove generally costs around $9000-$12,000.
These are very basic #'s using a 30 year dimensional shingle. An accurate analysis and measurement is needed for an accurate estimate.
Roofing terms
- Tear off- To remove existing roofing material from the house.
- Recover- To install new shingles over existing shingles
- Valley- The area where to roof sections meet.
- Ridge- The peak of the roof
- Hip roof- A roof shaped like 4 triangles
- Gable roof - A roof shaped like 2 rectangles.
- Rake- The side edges of the roof
- Eve- The bottom or gutter edge of the roof
- Decking - The wood underneath the shingles. Usually 7/16" OSB sheeting, or 1"x6" roof boards prior to 1970's.
- Drip Edge- A metal trim or molding fastened to all the roof edges. Ensures water flows into the gutter system on the eve edges, and protects the rake edges from wind driven rain
- Ice and Water shield- A sticky rubber material on a 3' roll installed on eve edges, around chimneys, skylights, and in the valleys to prevent leakaged cause by ice daming or severe rain.
- Felt paper- Material used as a vapor barrier to protect the shingles from heat, air, and moisture from your attic space. Also can act as a 2nd barrier from leaks if you have a shingle blow off the roof.
- Flashing- Usually aluminum. Installed along walls, chimneys, and skylights to prevent water from entering seams.
- Ridge Vent- A long continuous vent installed on the peak of the roof with a 4" wide slot for exhaust ventilation.
- Cap- Shingles installed along the ridge vent or hips.
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