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Posted by Big_Jake on April 13, 2008, 6:49 pm
>
>
>
> > About 9 years ago the two 20 year old skylights on our 120 year old house
> > started to leak, and the 15 year old shingles looked wavy, and we
> > reluctantly began to think, a little, about getting a new roof.
>
> > Over a period of 9 years or so, we had 7 or 8 roofers come by and give an
> > estimate. All but two said the same thing:
> > $5000 more or less; $6/sq foot for plywood as needed.
>
> > The first of the two exceptions was a two-man outfit who told me the house
> > had to have plywood nailed on before the shingles went on and that the job
> > would cost about 7500 (this was about 8 years ago).
>
> > I remember thinking that they fellow must be crazy since everybody else
> > gave a figure of 5000.
>
> > But we didn't do anything about the roof except to put down a plastic
> > bucket and, later, two plastic buckets, when it rained.
>
> > Finally, our next door neighbour had her roof done. Her house is a twin of
> > ours and is the same age. She told us it was costing her 9000+ and they
> > were going to sheath the house in plywood before putting on the shingles.
> > We thought that must be an unnecessary expense since all the other guys
> > only used plywood as needed.
>
> > While that job was going on, we thought maybe it was time to get the job
> > finally done, and called in a big local outfit that had a good reputation
> > according to the local newspaper poll.
>
> > The salesman was adamant that in a house as old as ours, it was necessary
> > to sheath the roof in plywood; and that as a standard thing they then
> > added felt, followed by the shingles. He quoted a figure of 9000+
>
> > We were shocked at the cost, but not quite as shocked as we would have
> > been if we hadn't seen the work being done on our neighbour's house: I
> > could see that they were using plywood and felt, and I could see that the
> > exposed roofboards looked like hell. I couldn't tell what ours looked like
> > because our attic is finished, but it seemed reasonable that they would be
> > in similar shape to those of our neighbour.
>
> > We called in another outfit that had also been given good marks in the
> > poll. Their salesman quoted the usual 5000/$6 per sq foot. By now, I had a
> > slightly different perspective and asked him if he thought felt might be
> > good to put on the roof before the shingles. He said that would be good
> > since it would make the roof 'smoother' - this is without any mention of
> > plywood. I then asked him about sheathing in plywood and he said that
> > could be done for $1900 or so.
>
> > After that, I realized that a roofer who is willing to be honest with you
> > about what is needed for a proper roofing job is a rare bird, and we
> > decided to have the first outfit do the job.
>
> > The roofers arrived in late March. They took 4 days to do the work, and
> > when I called to point out a small, almost invisible, 'skirt' they had
> > missed, came back the next day to finish. The gentleman who does the
> > flashing showed up the next day to flash the chimneys and back porch. The
> > roofing team was helpful and pleasant. All in all, the company could not
> > have been more professional, or exhibited more knowledge of the ins and
> > outs of the business, including how to make it as painless as possible for
> > the homeowners.
>
> > Given my vast ignorance, I feel we dodged a bullet and were damn lucky to
> > find the outfit that finally did the job.
>
> What was an open attic, then finished, with wavy shingles after 15
> years, I wonder if lack of venting is still overlooked. You will know
> in 10-15 years.
Up until about 10 years ago, I could buy 20 year shingles at the big
box stores. I wouldn't think it odd for them to be failing at 15
years of age.
JK
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