Posts Tagged contractors
How to Assess Multiple Roof Repair Estimates When You Need Repairs Fast
Posted by ryan in Uncategorized on September 14th, 2009
When you need roof repairs fast, you don’t always have time to carefully review multiple estimates and take your time choosing a contractor. You need to know you’re getting a good value without compromising on quality. How do you go about choosing between estimates when you’re short on time?
Assessing estimates quickly isn’t very hard, but you don’t want to just jump at the lowest price, especially if it is drastically lower than the others. A price that is dramatically lower than its competitors could be cause for suspicion. However, you do want to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.
The best thing to do is to look over the references and choose the company that you feel most comfortable with. A good contractor will have a good attitude and be willing to work with you to meet your needs for a fair price. Avoid contractors who seem disinterested or unwilling to give you the information you require to make your decision. A good contractor will be more than willing to give you multiple references and examples of previously completed projects.
Ask your prospective contractors for references, and call them. Speak with previous clients and ask, “Would you hire this contractor again?” That’s the quickest way to get an idea of a company’s credibility. If the previous clients seem happy and satisfied, then you can reasonably expect that your experience will be a good one.
No matter how desperately your roof needs repair, you can’t take chances with bad contractors. Make sure the contractors are licensed and have good reputations. The experiences of previous clients is the best indication of your potential satisfaction.
Cost Factors of Roof Replacement
Posted by ryan in Uncategorized on June 16th, 2009
Like any other home modifications, roof replacement is an investment with numerous upfront and back-end costs. Besides the obvious cash that you must shell out, you must also consider the time and labor required (yes, these are costs). If you want to earn the highest possible return on this investment, you must factor in all three aspects of roof replacement prior to making any commitments.
Roof Replacement Material
Probably the single greatest expense is the actual material used. Typically, asphalt is the most affordable roofing material, costing anywhere from $50 to $150 per 100 square feet. Next up are metal, wood or concrete tiles (starting at $100 per 100 square feet). And at the upper end are ceramic, clay, and slate tiles that can cost anywhere from $300 to $600 per square 100 feet.
Roof Replacement Labor
Although replacing your roof on your own is probably the cheapest alternative monetarily, a professional contractor can save you energy and time; both of which have economic value. Unless you are extremely competent in roof replacement techniques, consider hiring someone else to do the job. It is important that you research contractors and ask for written estimates upfront, but the benefits of outsourcing the labor usually outweigh the financial costs of paying professional fees. Understand, however, that if existing tiles must be removed before new tiles can be installed, this will add to the overall cost, regardless of who handles the installation.
Durable Roof Replacement
As mentioned before, there are backend costs associated with roof replacement. Will your roof last for ten years? Twenty? Fifty? Obviously, the better the materials and craftsmanship, the less often you will have to pay for roof replacement. So even though a professional contractor installing slate shingles might be more expensive than if you installed your own asphalt shingles, you must factor in the lifetime value of any renovations.
Sources:
BobVila.com • Roofing Materials • Jun 02, 2009 • http://www.bobvila.com • http://www.bobvila.com/HowTo_Library/Roofing_Materials-Miscellaneous_Roofing_Topics-A1937.html • 2009 BobVila.com