Consumer Facts

Straight Talk About Your Roof

- by Jim Staats, the area's foremost residential roofing expert and owner of Vanguard Roofing & Construction Co., established in 1967

Q: HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I NEED A NEW ROOF?
A: Appearances can be deceiving, but older roofs tend to curl up and crack as they dry out from the sun. The granules fall off as they deteriorate washing down the roof into gutters and drainpipes or on the "drip line" where water drops to the ground. A good asphalt fiberglass shingle should last 20-25 years before replacement is necessary.

Q: IF MY ROOF IS LEAKING DOES IT MEAN I NEED A NEW ROOF?
A: Not necessarily, but the best advice is to call a competent professional to see if the roof can be repaired. Very often, because of wind, ice, or tree branch rubbing on the roof, a shingle or flashing will become dislodged which can easily be fixed. An experienced roofer will be able to estimate approximately how much longer your roof will last. If the roof is only a few years old, most leaks develop from poor workmanship during installation.

Q: I'M CONFUSED ABOUT WARRANTIES. DO SHINGLES LAST 25, 30 YEARS OR LIFETIME AS THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMS AND WILL THEY STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS IF THEY DON'T?
A: Good question! Shingle roofs put on during the 60's and the 70's were typically asphalt type and could generally be expected to last about 20 years. As the industry introduced fiberglass shingles in the 80's, many problems arose because of poor design causing cracking and buckling. Many roofs have already failed that were applied in the 80's and while some warranties have been honored with some manufacturers providing materials and labor cost for replacement, there are many others just pro-rating material cost and/or burying their claimants in red tape. Today, a 30 year architectural shingle is probably the best buy for the money. From experience, there is no reason to expect an expensive "lifetime" shingle to last much longer.
Since many of the shingles look and feel alike, advice backed by many years of experience from a professional roofing contractor can be most valuable in making material choices.

Q: CAN I PUT A ROOF ON OVER AN EXISTING ROOF?
A: In certain cases yes. Much labor can be saved as well as landfill costs by not removing the existing roof but there are considerations that must be met. 1) If there are already two roofs on they must be removed. 2) If there is any structural damage of the roof sheathing due to leaking, the sheathing must be replaced. 3) If the existing shingles are too buckled to insure a smooth job going over them.
In some municipalities, fire codes will not permit the application of one roof over another. To achieve the best possible job in going over an old roof, application should be strict accordance with NCRA (National Roofing Contractors Asociation) manual for steep roofing.

Q: DOES IT COST FOR AN ESTIMATE?
A: Almost all contractors will provide you with a free estimate and it is recommended that you get three for comparison. March and April is not too early if you expect to find a reputable contractor for that year. Recently, I was contacted by a homeowner who under pressure in late September, made a decision and chose a contractor who had hired 19-year-olds with little training and experience doing major construction and roofing work. Catastrophe followed with major damage to their home, a botched-up job with little hope of recovering his or her losses through lawsuit.

Q: HOW DO I SPOT FLY-BY-NIGHT ROOFERS?
A: First of all, take your time. Don't be pressured into signing a contract until you feel confident that all of your questions have been answered and you have confidence that your job will be done well. Perhaps this check list will help separate legitimate professionals from fly-by-night operators.

__ HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN IN BUSINESS?
The failure rate is high for roofers who have only been in business a few years. A guarantee means nothing if your roofer folds up and leaves town.

__IS ROOFING THE CONTRACTORS MAIN BUSINESS?
There are many people out there these days that claim to do everything - painting, carpentry, siding, roofing, etc. While there are certainly exceptions, most of these general contractor types lack the experience, know-how and equipment to apply roofs as professionally and safely as a roofing specialist.

__DO THEY HAVE REFERENCES?
Ask for at least 3 or 4 references for roofs the contractor has done 1, 5, 10 or more years ago. Look at the jobs if you can and ask to visit the site of where the contractor is currently working. Does his crew appear neat and respectful? i.e.: Employees who look sloppy probably do sloppy work.

__DO THEY HIRE EMPLOYEES OR SUB-CONTRACT?
The most quality control conscious companies have employees on their payroll to do the roofing work. Many local companies, and especially national, use sub-contractors with little control over quality. Make sure that your contractor has direct control over employees.

__DO THEY HAVE INSURANCE?
If your contractor doesn't carry workman's compensation insurance on his or her employees, you could become liable in case of an accident.

__DO THEY PRESSURE YOU FOR A SALE?
Professionals try to present the facts and allow the customer to make an intelligent decision.

__DO THEY ASK FOR MONEY UP FRONT?
While it is customary practice for contractors to ask for a payment schedule of 2 or 3 installments (depending on the job size), don't feel obligated to release any money until materials are on the job and work has been started. There are many scams where fly-by-nighters will give a very low price, take a check to get started the next day and never show up.

Q: AM I AT RISK IF THE CONTRACTOR DOESN'T HAVE THE NECESSARY INSURANCE?
A: YES! The roofing contractor is required by law to carry workman's compensation on his or her employees, yet there is still a large percentage of roofers who don't provide the protection. If a worker slips off your roof and breaks his or her back, you could become liable. Don't take a chance, general liability will not protect you in the event someone gets injured. Don't accept someone's word for it! Ask to see policies and effective expiration dates.

Q: HOW DO I KNOW WHAT IS A FAIR PRICE?
A: You have to shop and you have to make comparisons. Unlike products where you shop for price for the same item in different stores, you are buying a service (and products). Price is subjective. You need quality workmanship, good materials, and a fair price. The lowest price could easily wind up being the most expensive if the work is being done by amateurs.

IN CONCLUSION
Look for professionalism in every aspect! A new roof can be expensive but a wise investment in protecting your valuable home and furnishings. While this is only a brief overview of concerns that you should have as a homeowner, there are many technical aspects regarding shingles, flashings, ice shields, ventilation, chimneys, gutters, fasteners, as well as specific information on alternate roofing such as slate, wood shingle, copper, tin, rubber, modified, and other flat and standing seam metal roofs.

Testimonials

Personally, and on behalf of the Sisters of the Kenwood Convent of the Sacred Heart, I would like to extend our sincere appreciation and heartfelt thanks to you for the replacement of the slate roof on our Chapel.

~Kenwood Convent of the Sacred Heart

Past Roofing

Copper roofing Residential project Residential project Slate roofing