Posts Tagged roof repair
The Average Cost of Common Roof Repair Projects
Posted by ryan in Uncategorized on September 20th, 2011
Depending on what needs to be done, the cost of roof repairs can vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.
The average cost of a simple roof repair in the United States is about $600, but many factors must be taken into consideration to come up with a more accurate estimate of how much any particular roof job will cost.
Shingle Replacement
The most common roof repair is the replacement of several damaged shingles to eliminate leaks. Replacing a few shingles is not as inexpensive at it may seen, however. Shingles are sold by the square, enough shingles to cover 100 square feet. These squares can cost $100 or more, and finding an exact match for a roof that has faded over time can be time consuming too.
Replacing damaged shingles also requires roofing nails, which cost about $65 per roll, and roofing cement, which often costs more than $20 a gallon.
With prices like theses, it is easy to see why contractors charge at least $250 for a small repair and often charge several hundred dollars more than that.
If a problem has existed for a while and the plywood underneath the shingles has been damaged, each sheet of plywood costs around $20 plus installation.
For roofs with several leaks, the most common way of fixing the problem is overlaying a complete layer of new shingles on top of the existing one. Taking into account the prices above, it is no surprise that contractors charge as much as $2 per square foot for new shingles installed over existing ones.
Other Roof Repairs
When a roof leaks in the valleys created where two or more different angled surfaces come together, it could be a failure of the flashing. Flashing is a piece of metal that covers inside angles so the exposed edges of the wood don’t take on water. When this fails, water can come in around the plywood and creates leaks inside the home.
The cost of replacing or resetting flashing depends on how much needs to be done. The materials are moderately priced, but the installation of them can be costly. In the case of flashing, a number of shingles have to be raised up or removed to place the new flashing, a tedious process that adds to the labor bill.
Labor usually costs between $45 and $75 per hour, depending on the region, and jobs with complicated angles or large areas that need repairing can take a full day or longer to complete. Chimneys, skylights and unusual roof lines can add to the complexity of a job and therefore cause labor costs to mount up.
In fact, leaks often develop around holes in a roof that have been cut for things like chimneys, skylights and vents.
In addition, when a storm causes roof damage, it often damages skylights too. Because installing a skylight requires a number of shingles and flashing pieces to be removed, this one simple task can cost $450 or more.
Problems Only Worsen
Because roof damage often causes leaking onto the plywood below the shingles, homes can be experiencing structural damage from roof problems long before leaks appear. That makes it very important to tackle roof repairs as soon as possible.
The exact cost of roof repairs also varies by region, by season and from one contractor to the next, and there can be as much as a 300 percent difference from one contractor to another.
It pays for homeowners who don’t plan to do their roof repair work themselves to choose a reputable, established roofing contractor they know they can trust.
Mid-Atlantic Roofs Take All Sorts of Weather Abuse
Posted by ryan in Uncategorized on August 19th, 2010
Residents in the Mid-Atlantic area know how all about the bipolar weather. In 2009 and 2010, the region suffered one of the worst snowstorms in decades, and the overall snowfall in most of the region was over 3 feet. However, not four months later, the Mid-Atlantic States started to feel the onset of one of the hottest summers in quite a while. Not only did the summer bring heat – it brought some violent thunderstorms through the area as well. Some of the Mid-Atlantic areas that are affected by the constantly changing weather include Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and the District of Columbia.
The severity of the weather did a lot of damage to the area. Not only did the heavy snowfall basically shut down the region for days, the snow on top of homes and businesses caused damage to buildings and their roofs. That amount of snowfall can damage not only the roof, but also the foundation of the building. Once that is compromised, the price of repair just skyrocketed.
Once the dog days of summer hit, so did the thunderstorms. One precaution that should be taken before the stormy months is to have your gutters cleared of debris. A few storms have also been very violent, knocking out power for hundreds of thousands of people in the DC metro area, as well as elsewhere in the Mid-Atlantic. The staggering amounts of rainfall and even hail can cause small cracks and abrasions to occur in a building’s roof. If the problem is not properly fixed, or goes unnoticed for months, serious damage can take place on the roof and also to the foundation of the home. After such storms, it is important to take a look at your roof to check for loose shingles and visible signs of wear. Caught early, the roof can be protected very cheaply. Otherwise, the costs could pile up very quickly.
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.
3 Essential Factors to a Positive Roof Repair Experience
Posted by ryan in Uncategorized on August 31st, 2009
When your roof needs repairing, you want to be sure to get the best value for your money with the least amount of hassle. When entering into any roof repair project, there are three essential factors that will help ensure that you have a positive experience.
1. Find a reputable roofing contractor committed to quality.
Do your homework. Check references to ensure that your contractor has the experience and the dependability to make your project a success. Ask to see examples of previously completed projects in your area, and speak with the previous clients. You want to be sure that your contractor will live up to your expectations. Most problems in a roof repair project can be avoided with a good contractor.
2. Obtain multiple estimates.
It’s important to shop around to determine what constitutes a fair price for your project. Obtaining multiple estimates is how you’re going to find the best deal. Contact three companies at an absolute minimum. Once you’ve checked the references and are sure that your prospective contractors are reputable, you’ll be able to choose the best deal. Knowing all your options is going to help you feel confident and satisfied when you make your decision.
3. Know the game.
Knowing what to expect during the course of your project is the biggest factor that will lead to positive experience with your roof repair. Educate yourself on the process. This is the best way to avoid getting taken advantage of. For example, it’s well known in the roofing industry that you should not pay for the job until it has been finished. A contractor that requires money up front is questionable. Also, expect that your roof repair contractor be able to provide a time frame in which the work will be completed. These and other facts are important to know before beginning. The more knowledge you have about the process, the better your experience will be.
Why Southern California Homeowners get Away with More Low Cost Roof Repairs and Less Replacements
Posted by ryan in Uncategorized on August 17th, 2009
In sunny Southern California, homeowners can get away with more low cost roof repairs and less roof replacements. The reason? It’s the weather. Southern California is home to some of the most mild weather in the country. Sunny skies and 80 degree temperatures nearly year-round means little damage to your roof. A popular roofing choice in Southern California is tile. Tile roofs usually cost $6-8 a square foot and can last indefinitely under proper conditions. In a wetter and colder climate, tile might break and leak due to ice and storms. In Southern California, the warm weather and lack of ice means a tile roof can last a lifetime without being completely replaced. Different things can cause tiles to break or other problems to occur with a roof, so repairs may be necessary at times. On the whole, however, homeowners in Southern California can have roofs that last much longer than in the rest of the country.
While asphalt shingles are cheaper than tile, they need to be replaced more often. In Southern California it makes more sense to invest in tile, that way the roof will last much longer. In the rest of the country, tile roofs tend to need replacing after 20 or 30 years, but in warm and dry regions like Southern California, they can last much longer. This is why homeowners in Southern California get away with more low cost roof repairs and less roof replacements.