How Roofing Consultants Can Save You Money

How Roofing Consultants Can Save You Money

Mario Williams is a partner at Lone Star Roofing, a third-generation family-owned and operated roofing company located in Texas. A graduate of the University of Texas, Williams is known throughout the state as an expert in commercial and industrial roofing techniques. In this article, he tells us how hiring a roofing consultant can save you money in the end.

 A roofing consultant is someone who can come out and examine a job site to determine what needs to be done. This isn’t a contractor; it is a separate person or company who can give you unbiased advice on the status of your job and what needs to be done.

 Hiring someone like this can help you in all situations, but it is especially helpful if you are working on a big factory or a commercial building, a job that is over $5,000, $10,000, $15,000, all the way up to $100,000. With projects like this, hiring a roofing consultant who has been there before and is willing to come out and give his advice should be your first step after deciding that a new roof is what you need.

 Not only can a roofing consultant give you good information and let you know what kind of condition your roof is in to begin with, but he can also educate you on what kind of roof you currently have and what some good solutions to your current problem could be. This is going to help you become better prepared when getting estimates from contracting companies, and allow you to compare apples to apples in terms of what kind of roof you are really asking for.

 Usually, the decision to overlay a roof, patch it up, or just start over and tear the roof off and put a new one on is something that a roofing consultant can help a homeowner or building owner make after finding out a couple key factors. These common issues have to do with what this person plans to use the building for in the future.

 A few questions a roofing consultant might ask include:

Is the owner going to sell the building soon, or in three years or less?

Does the owner plan on renting the building out in the future?

Is the owner planning on keeping the building forever?

Are the owners hoping to pass this building down to their kids?

 The answers to those questions will all affect what the course of action is going to be in this kind of situation, and what is a good deal really is in terms of overall roofing materials and costs.

 For people who have never undertaken a roofing project before, hiring a roofing consultant is a great way to get insider knowledge. Using that knowledge, you can feel comfortable talking to various contractors about their estimates, knowing that you already have the background information to determine what is and is not a reasonable amount to spend on the project. And because the consultant should not be a roofer himself, there is no need to worry about any ulterior motives that might be influencing his advice.

Watch this video about roof repair contractor

This clip demonstrates how to repair rips in the fabric of a soft roof on a car. These slashes are often caused by vandals. It can be difficult to make a quality waterproof repair which looks good; however a good repair can be made with Stormsure Flexible Repair Adhesive. It will remain strong, yet flexible. It is tough but also waterproof and abrasion resistant. Ideal for leaking seams, windows and fixing trim too. Please help to answer the question about roof repair contractorwho is responsible for the follow up repair, the original contractor or their subcontractor?
Sequence of events…
New roof installed in late 2003.
April 2005, multiple leaks appear in front and back of home. Roofing company comes out to repair leaks.
Roofing company sends out a subcontractor to replace drywall and repair the wet plaster and paint ceilings late 2005.
Its now June 2009 and the wet-plaster work has separated from the ceiling and basically fallen away and leaving large holes in the ceiling. Think cafe tray size – two of them (where the roof leaks originally pooled).
I had an independent repair team come out to tell me how much it would cost to repair the initial ceiling repair. They stated it was done wrong to start with, hence the reason the patch to the wet plaster has pulled away and crumbled. I contracted the roofing company and requested that they address and correct the ceiling issue. They told me that their liability for the repair work was completed once their subcontractor completed the initial repair and if I have new problems, that I have to work it out with their subcontractor. That seems wrong to me. I believe that the roofing company should still be on the hook for the bad initial repair. – what do you think / know / have legal advise for?

Roofing co. also said ceiling repairs are not covered by a warranty. I fear I will have to go to small claims court.

Is it true, as the roofing company said that their liability for the ceiling repairs had ended and I, as the end consumer now have to work it out with their subcontractor? (who did not repair the wet plaster correctly (per the contractors I brought in to give me an estimate of what it will take to fix the original problem $900).
About Author

Mario Williams -
About the Author:

Mario Williams is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Save money with the Guide to Roofing or more Home Care articles at the Yodle Consumer Guide, The Yodler. Also check out How Roofing Consultants Can Save You Money




Related How Roofing Consultants Can Save You Money:
June 18th, 2010 | by roofing contractor |

No Responses to “How Roofing Consultants Can Save You Money”

  1. By john d on Jun 19, 2010

    i would think if you had damage to your roof that would be covered by insurance you would have already contacted your insurance company. the contractor can look at the roof, assess the damage and give an estimate. filing a claim is your responsibiity (if it's your house). in most cases, repairs from general wear and tear are not covered by homeowners insurance. contact your insurance company yourself to find out if the repairs will be covered before committing to anything with a contractor.

  2. By spazzy_mcg on Jun 19, 2010

    Since you are a Yahoo user, why not try the Yahoo Yellow Pages:

    http://yp.yahoo.com/

    Check out any prospective contractors references and ask for a certificate of insurance proving that they carry liability and workers compensation insurance. Do not give your contractor a large downpayment … no more than 10%, with the balance due upon completion.

    Good luck with your search.

  3. By Wordpress on Jun 19, 2010

    @coldsud17 That’s a great observation, and very important. Yes, in addition to sealing around the pipe collar (to prevent wind driven rain from being forced under the shingles on the slick metal surface of the pipe collar) with Geocel Tripolymer Sealant — I always put a “quarter size” application under old shingles that have been lifted up too.

    Location of the Geocel is about one inch up from the bottom of the tab, right in the center.

    Thanks!
    -Bill T-

  4. By cool_yada_yada1 on Jun 19, 2010

    Go ahead…it started what? leaking again. You could go up into the attic (loft) and look for the dripping while a friend uses a hose on the roof. Because it was roofed doesn't mean it was roofed right.
    Call the contractor back and let him know right away.

  5. By Blogger on Jun 19, 2010

    I don’t know if you showed it but where you had to pop the old shingles up so you could get to the nails holding the ones you removed. did you reseal them with the caulk because usually if it’s an older roof they won’t reseal that well or at all causing a tab blow off.

  6. By Free Blog on Jun 19, 2010

    Thanks for replying, Johnny.

    I understand the labor cost issues, but I’ve been called to repair pipe collars that have been repaired this way. It seems some roof repair guys don’t pay attention to where the flange integrates with the shingles (especially on the plastic units) and sometimes overlook issues like cracking, cracked shingles, etc.

    Be careful out there; one “callback” would be a lot more expensive and damaging to your reputation than $50 to $100 for labor to replace the whole unit.

  7. By Joe v on Jun 19, 2010

    There is ALWAYS someone who is willing to do the work and will do a good job. Typically this person does not advertise and works on referral. Continue to ask your neighbors and friends and local supply stores (not Home Depot) and you will come up with someone.

    The insurance you speak of is typical and all licensed guys can provide this.

  8. By magnetic_azimuth on Jun 20, 2010

    I think brother deserves a huge hug and a thank you from sis! He was taking care of his sister because most of these guys will not do that! Oh, there might be a couple but I sure as heck haven't found them.

  9. By Anonymous on Jun 19, 2010

    I wonder how long it actually takes them to fit a new one ?? Because i cant assume it takes 4 minuits ;D

  10. By deedy66 on Jun 20, 2010

    Contact the "Contractor's State License Board". The board will investigate a complaint such as this. Obviously, the work wasn't done properly or there would be no leak ! The contract should be for a "scope of work". That would make the contractor liable. He cannot deny responsibility if the roofer was paid by him.

  11. By WPBlog Shop on Jun 20, 2010

    If it looks good and it doesn’t leak, it’s been done correctly. Time/labor is too expensive for me to do them this way, but it works! I have learned to peel the rubber boot off the aluminum, cut the o-ring off the bottom, then slid it down over the original cracked leaking boot. I can redo a whole house in under 5 minutes of being on the roof. That really cuts down on our labor costs/adds to the profit. And it still looks good and it doesn’t leak.

  12. By Anonymous on Jun 21, 2010

    You’ve done this before

  13. By Anonymous on Jun 21, 2010

    Any ideas how I could fix the pipe collar on an electrical riser without disconnecting the power? The upper portion of the rubber has a BIG hole. I was thinking of cutting a collar at the bottom with tin snips and laying it on top of the old collar. Then maybe laying rubber from another collar under the split and using a tripolymer sealant. A roofer suggested filling the hole with MP-1 sealant. Otherwise we need an electrician.

  14. By Anonymous on Jun 21, 2010

    Thanks for the good words, Ponch. Yes, it can be a real hassle trying to find someone that can replace pipe collars on their roof correctly.

    -Bill T-

  15. By Danny on Jun 22, 2010

    The drip edge should match the fascia and soffit. It's available in all of the colors that the F&S come in, so there's no excuse for not using it. White drip edge with brown fascia looks terrible, as you can see. Hope this helps.

  16. By perfecttiming1 on Jun 22, 2010

    Most typically, it's a sprayed polyurethane foam system. Simple repairs can be made with a sealant, unless you need a section replaced.

Post a Comment