Most homeowners make a reroofing decision once, maybe twice in a lifetime.
With costs hovering in the thousands of dollars, repairing or replacing a roof can be one of the most expensive projects a homeowner undertakes.
So how do you make sure that your roofing project is a worthwhile investment rather than a costly mistake?
According to a trade group of roofing contractors, homeowners stand a better chance of getting a good roof at a fair price if they do their homework. That means studying up on everything from the various roofing materials available to the reputation of roofing contractors.
Charles Griffiths, president of the National Roofing Contractors Association, said the subject of a new roof comes up so seldom that homeowners rarely get a chance to learn from previous experiences. He suggests homeowners do a lot of research before entering into a contract.
Instant info
The NRCA is one source of information. By calling the organization`s hotline (800-USA-ROOF), consumers can order a free kit designed to help them weigh available options and evaluate costs. The kit also includes a list of NRCA-member contractors in specific areas.
With more than 3,200 member companies in all 50 states and 35 foreign countries, the organization represents commercial and roofing and
waterproofing contractors. Though the association does not make referrals based on the skills of its members, it points out that contractors who join the trade group are more apt to have a permanent place of business, be well-versed in industry operations and be insured, bonded and licensed.
Many states have licensing requirements, but state and local governments can`t attest to a roofer`s workmanship and business practices. Homeowners have to rely on their own investigative work to find a roofing contractor with whom they feel comfortable.
Griffiths, owner of Binghamton Slag Roofing Co. in Binghamton, N.Y., said that too often consumers ”don`t look closely enough into a contractor`s background.”
Check out references
After getting recommendations from friends and neighbors, homeowners should check a contractor`s customer and financial references and visit job sites. A call to the local Better Business Bureau will reveal whether complaints have been lodged against a company and, if so, whether they were resolved.
A fourth-generation roofer with more than 25 years of experience, Griffiths said roofing is perceived wrongly as an easy-entry business. He said that`s why phone books are filled with roofing companies that are in and out of business before they learn the trade.
”It may not be that they`re trying to defraud a homeowner,” he said.
”It`s just that they don`t know what they`re doing and it may take them a year or so to realize that they`re not good at it.”
A written proposal will help consumers spot a contractor`s inexperience. Proposals should be thorough, and include the costs of materials and labor, information on warranties for materials and workmanship, and start and completion dates.
Lower may not be better
When comparing proposals from different companies, consider more than the price. Contractors who submit extremely low bids may have to skimp on product quality or labor.
The typical reroofing options are repairing, which requires patching and general maintenence; recovering, which involves installing a new roof on top of an old one; and replacement, which means removing an old roof and installing a new roof.
Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, said NRCA member Ronald Ricketts, owner of Ricketts Roofing in Orlando.
”Be realistic with a repair,” Ricketts warned. ”It`s a temporary solution. There should be a fund already set up for replacement.”
Roofing materials come in different grades, with corresponding prices that range from economy to top-of-the-line.
Other variables that may figure into the price are access to the roof and the intricacy of the roof`s design, Ricketts said.
Consumers should be looking for an estimate that fits their budget and a job that meets their needs. But they also need to consider durability.
The estimated life expectancy of a roof can vary from 10 to 40 years for designs with wood shingles to 15 to 40 years for roofs made with metal materials, according to the American Society of Home Inspectors.
By dividing the total cost by the number of years the roof is expected to last, homeowners can determine the annual cost of a roof. That figure should help consumers measure the value of their investment.
Ricketts said that while new roofs can be expensive, homeowners usually see dollar-for-dollar benefits of the investment when they sell their homes.
”It`s one of the few things that depreciates very little,” he said.
