Any roofers in the house?

[Homerr]

Well...I put it off long enough...<br />I need to re-roof the house.<br /><br />I got some estimates...(no vaseline comes to mind) <br /><br />I can probably do this myself... Is there anyone here that can lend a hand in tips?<br /><br />WHat kind should I buy, how do I start, etc...<br />I'm told to start from one corner and work your way up?<br /><br /> <br /><br />H.

 

[jim phillips]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

have you looked in to metal roofing it will out last shingles

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

H,<br /><br />What kind of roof? How many square feet (roughly)? What's up there now? Do you know if it just one layer or more?<br /><br />There are just tons of "how to advise" out there that walks you through the process step-by-step.<br /><br />Just note that one of the reasons why roofers charge so much is the cost of their worker's comp insurance - a very high percentage of roofers become disabled.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

Hommer,First off I would suggest tearing off the old roof . I know of people going over top of the old ones but that is not the right way to do it. If you have any valleys on your roof you better be careful the way you go about flashing and tyeing in the shingles if you don't get it right it will leak. If you have hips they are not as bad. Also if you have two levels of roof or dormers that means there will be step flashing and counter flashing involved. If you just have a standard A-roof it should be no big problem to do. Don't forget new drip edge and some ventilation. If you do have to do a lot of flashing and such dont try to use the old stuff , buy new you will be glad you did.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

If you live in a snow belt, installing a Weatherguard edging on the roof deck at the rakes,valleys and gutter line. This will help prevent ice dams. The Weatherguard is a self adhesive rubber based roll of underlayment that goes down before the roofing felt. Be careful, take it slow and by all means , Don't fall off the roof!!

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

Homer, I am 69 years old, and have been roofing all of my life, with my first job when I was 12 years old. I was on top of a two story house by my self,roofing a very large house on V-J day in 1945. If you get regular shingles, there is pretty good instructions on the bundle, and if you are handy, you will have no trouble, and to be honest ,if you are good at following instructions, and a fair hand you will do a better job than most roofers, as they are going to slap them on fast, with only one thing in mind, and that is get it done, collect their money, and get on to the next job. If you run into trouble along the way, just ask up, and I can give you expert advise.

 

[Homerr]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

Thanks for the tips guys...<br /><br />I went to the local hardware store, and they firgured I'd need 58 bundles for my project.<br /><br />I'm going to use the 3 tab (20 year).<br />I'd like to use the metal stuff, but I got 3 quotes, and they are in the $8000 to $12000 range! YIKES!<br /><br />90% of what I need to do is realtively flat, so it should be easy. There is only 1 valley about 8 ft. long.<br /><br />I'm looking at approx. 1700 sq. ft.<br /><br />I bought a book while at the store...Will make some good reading until it cools down outside before I get to work.<br /><br />H.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

Homer, if you have 17 squares, and the bids are $8000 ($470.58 a square), and $12000 ($705.88 a square), roofers in your area do not have enough competition, or someone is trying to rip you off.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

Walt,<br /><br />What should his quotes be for asphault and metal? <br /><br />How much roughly should he be saving by DIY?

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

Hello Ralph, I have not put on a roof in a long time, and do not know the going rate. And when I put on my last one, you were only putting metal on barns, and shop buildings. But there is no way, that inflation has boosted the cost to over $400.00 per square, for asphalt, or fiberglass shingles, which is what Homer is talking about, when he says 58 bundles rated for 20 years (although they will last longer than that under most conditions). They may be getting it, and if that is the going rate, all these unemployed people I have been reading about ought too start going into the roofing business, and give them some competition, and they will not be quoting those prices then. I have put on MANY roofs, and I have built many homes, that a roofing contractor put on the roof, and I have never seen a roof put on by a full time roofing contractor, that if a good do-it-yourselfer that can read, and follow the instructions on the bundle of shingles will do a better, quality job of it. I have never seen a FULL TIME ROOFING CONTRACTOR put shingles on as the manufacturer prescribes, all that I have ever seen, will put 2 nails per shingle, whereas there should be 4 fasteners (they may use staples) in each shingle. The only roof I ever put on that I was ashamed of, was many years ago when I was working for a homebuilder (supposedly the premium builder in the area), and I was not too happy with his/my construction foremans method of putting on a roof.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

PS- As for how much would he save, figure he says he has 1700 square feet, if he means the 1700 square feet of roof, and not 1700 square foot of floor in the house, it will take 17 squares, at three bundles per square, which is 51 bundles, and I always figured 10% for waste, which would make 57 bundles of shingles, and I do not know what the present price are for shingles, but if they are $15.00 a square, that would be $855.00 for the shingles, that means the $8000.00 dollar bidder is charging $7145.00 for putting them on, which is rediculous, and makes a savings of over $7000.00 for DIYS (if the going price is $15.00 a bundle), there will be a few extra cost, for nails, flashing, etc.

 

[FLATHEAD]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

Lakeman with all due respect I have never seen a roofing contractor put shingles on with only two nails.I would think in the south a roof put on like this would not last very long before the shingles start to sag and fall off. There are alot of good roofing contractors out there that will do a good job.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

PS PS PS !! I made a mistake in the former PS, I first stated if the shingles were $15.00 per square, I meant if they were $15.00 per bundle. You buy them from Lowes, or whereever by the bundle, but you figure and pay for the job by the square, which is three bundles per square. There are 33 square feet per bundle, and 100 square feet to the square.

 

[Homerr]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

OOPS!<br /><br />Sorry guys...<br /><br />The high quote was for lifetime METAL roofing. The highest quote of $12k was some kind of metal lifetime-pressure-something-or-other. I don't remember.<br />The $8k stuff was a type of Styrofoam insert stuff. "Pressure Point" roofing. Good outfit from what I hear.<br /><br />Am I getting baffled with BS or? Just one more of those things I want to learn about so I don't get screwed. Kinda like a woman going to a auto mechanic and saying "Just fix it" ! <br /><br />As far as the sq. feet, I just did a rough measurement from edge to edge, top to bottom.<br />The roof is approx. 80 ft. x 20 ft. on the side I need to replace. <br /><br />Composite was considerably less, but still not something I want to pay if I have the ability to do it myself...Besides I've always wanted to learn.<br /><br />I bought this home from my Dad, and he had the South side of the roof done a few years ago. He seems to remember it costing around $2k.<br /><br />The 3 tab (20 year) stuff I was looking at is $8.58/bundle at Lowes. I figure around $600 for all material (felt, flashing too)<br />I'd put the 25 year stuff on, but the other side of the roof already has new 20 year. <br /><br />I bought a good roofing book today, which I will study like the Bible tonight. I'll probably start ripping the old stuff off tomorrow a.m.<br /><br />Lowes will 'Roof deliver' if you buy 10 or more bundles. Beats busting your arse packing them.<br /><br />I got my boat to the point I can work on her in the winter (covered up), so I have to get back to my honey-do list! <br /><br />So what's better...NAILS or STAPLES?<br />I would like to utilize my shiny new air compressor! <br />If I could, I'd use my sheetrock gun and screws! Dang I love those...you can fasten anything with them! LOL!<br /><br />Thanks again guys...The help is greatly appreciated!<br /><br />H.

 

[lakeman1999]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

Flathead, once the sun hits the shingles, the tar strip does it's job, and sticks them down. If they only put one nail in a shingle they are not going to fall off. How many houses have you crawled up on the roof, and watched the roofers put four nails per shingle?? I would be willing to bet, that in most homes built in your area, it is as I have stated.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

H,<br /><br />Look into renting a roofing nail gun. It will make it go that much faster. Do you have a small compressor?<br /><br />Getting roof delivery is awesome! That should help the 'ol back!

 

[Homerr]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

20 gallon - 6 horse compressor.<br /><br />It should handle the job.<br /><br />H.

 

[Scoop]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

Doing the job yourself is not that bad most of the time. I have done a number of roofs for myself and others. Just follow the instructions. <br />If you get ice where you live, then a good underlayment to prevent ice backing up under the shingles is a good idea. I had extra put on my house because there are areas of this roof that cannot get any air to cool the underside of the roof. Make sure you have enough vents to keep the underside of the roof cool.<br /><br />Unfortunately for me, my house had three layers including the original shakes from 100 years ago. They had to replace all the decking, cut peak roof vent, put extra ice sheeting, do a wrap around porch, with 8 peaks and one side that had a slope of around 70 degress. Took and experienced crew of between 7 and 10 a week to finish. They did an unbelievable job. Unfortunately for 30 year shingles it cost 15K.<br /><br />Everyone referred to my roof as the widow maker. Good luck with your roof. Homerr

 

[Homerr]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

Well,<br /><br />I already broke my foot a few years ago falling off a ladder while pulling down some old stuccco....<br /><br />I figure the house owes me one....<br /><br />H.

 

[jim phillips]

Re: Any roofers in the house?

bY ALL MEANS RENT A ROOFING NAILER IT WILL SAVE YOU MORE TIME THEN ANY THING ELSE. SNAP CHALK LINES AND RUN IT. WITH A HELPER IT WILL GO FAST