Roofing contract/quote included: cost per sheet for replacement plywood (in the event it was required), a list of materials including quantity/type/brand/model/cost of felt, vents, and shingles, brochures and applicable warrantees for all materials, a description of work performed, and a 3-year warranty on all labor.

Gutter contract/quote included: a schematic showing each piece of gutter/elbows/downspouts to be installed, and a 'Scope of Work Performed' document, which specified the required deposit, how the work would be performed, and what materials would be used. A 'Lifetime Warranty' on all materials and labor was also included.

We also received the kind of bare-bones quotes you describe with nothing but the type of shingles and price specified. Our neighbor went with one of those companies and it took over 2 weeks to roof his house as compared to the 2 1/2 days it took my contractor to roof my much larger house. And the quote we got from our contractor was only $150 more than the one we got from his contractor, so you don't necessarily have to pay more for professionalism and quality.

I'd keep shopping around. Roofing contractors are plentiful in our area and we were able to get several quotes within a week. Good luck!

Thanks for all the help!!

In addition to the specs of materials used, should the contractor specify how much materials will be used for the job, such as linear ft of gutter, # of downspouts, square ft of roof/siding/soffit/fascia?

Ours did.

The good roofing contractors specified the number of squares, felt weight, number and/or length and type of vents.

The seamless gutter guys gave us a schematic showing every piece of gutter with its length, # elbows, and # downspouts. They even gave us a materials list with prices so we could calculate and compare the price of doing it ourselves.

One roofing contractor had a whole presentation package compete with color copies of newspaper articles about their 'family owned' business. They probably do great work but we'll never know because their price was 40% higher than everyone else.

Everything should be spelled out. That's the only way you can be sure you're comparing apples to apples (i.e. same type of vents, shingles, felt, scope of work, warranty, etc.). It helps to know exactly what you want in advance of getting quotes. That way you won't have to backtrack to find out how much so-and-so would charge to do something differently and then wait for a revised quote.

That reminds me of another reason we chose our roofing contractor - he didn't try to coerce us into using his favorite shingles, vents, etc. Instead he listened, gave us his opinion only when asked, and said he'd do the job whichever way we preferred. Afterward, he followed up with us TWICE to ensure we were happy with the results.

We had almost 50 square installed and found only 2 roofing nails and a small piece of plastic shingle wrapper on the ground afterward. Our landscaping was completely intact. We are completely satisfied and would recommend him to anyone.

Below is the proposal submitted from a contractor we are likely to hire. We feel it is incomplete but can't be sure how specific it needs to be. Would appreciate suggestions/feedback on what are still missing or can be a problem with this proposal.

Roofing
- remove 2 layers of shingles complete tear off down to decking
- check for rotten plywood - 2 sheets 4x8 included if more is found $40 per each sheet
- install new 15lb felt paper, ice and watershield by all gutter edges, new ridge style rof vents, clean/haul away roof debris.
- install new shingles 30 year Elk High Definition Accentual Shingels 3100sf color to be specified, $7000
- remove old chimney - lower front plus install new plywood, $300
- remove replace 120lf 1x8 pine wood/primed also remove old gutters to install ice watershield over wood fascia, $500
- install 3 skylights brand/model xxxxx sized at 24x72, $4200
- skylight warrantee is attached as well as manufacture roof warrentee

formosalily said:
"- remove replace 120lf 1x8 pine wood/primed also remove old gutters to install ice watershield over wood fascia, $500."

Why would you place ice and water shield over the wood fascia? Makes no sense.
Why are you removing the chimney?
It says they are removing the gutters. It doesn't say they are putting anything back.
It mentions a ridge vent, but that's only half the system. Where's the other half?
Attic venting is very important. This guy is clueless as to the requirements.
Ron

Thanks so much for your reply, Ron! We are removing the chimney because the fireplace that used to utilize the chimney was no longer there when we bought the house. With regards to the vent, there are currently 6 or 7 pipe-looking vents on our existing roof. Is that the other half of the system that should have been mentioned in the contract?

Lily,

Hope the bath is well!

A few small things on the roof:

The ice/water shield need to run high enough up on the roof so that it's "inside" the exterior wall of the house. If you have large overhangs, you may need two courses of I&W.

It should be noted that the I&W will be installed IAW manufacturer's instructions.

Drip edge? Where's mention of the drip edge? Have new drip installed. Do not reuse the old. I usually use F8, which is larger than most, it's about $6 for a 10' length. I run drip up the rakes and across the eaves.

Do not allow them to simply have the shingles overhang the sheathing by and inch or so. The shingle will eventually droop and crack. The shingles should overhang the drip by about 1/4" or so...which can vary...which leads me to say:

"The shingles will be installed IAW the manufacturer's installation instructions. The instructions just happen to be printed on the inside face of the paper wrapper that encases each bundle of shingle."

Have them follow the manufacturer's nailing schedule.

Chimney flashing? existing will be removed and replaced with new. I prefer lead or lead-coated copper. New step flashing will be installed, new counterflashing will be let into the mortar seam between the brick.

Do not let them reuse any existing flashing.

Do you have a DWV pipe coming out of your roof? Have them install a new boot. About $4 for the boot. Do not let them reuse the existing.

Skylights. Again, have it specified that the lights will be installed and flashed IAW the manufaturer's installation instructions.

Have it specified the the work done will meet or exceed any loca, state, or national building codes that may apply.

Is a permit being pulled? Is it required that one be pulled.?

I don't use pot vents, so I can't comment on them.

Foundation and landscaping plants will be protected from damage during the tear off.

I use hot dipped galvanized nails, but I live in a coastal environment.

You're using a 30-yr shingle. Have you given though to using a 40-year? Roofing is mostly labor, the cost of a 40 yr shingle over a 30 may only be about $20 more per square, or about $600 more for a roof of your size.

Lastly, all work will be done in a workmanlike manner. And did I mention that it should be specified that everything should be installed IAW the manufacturer's installation instructions?

Best of luck!

Mongo

Hi Mongo, so good to hear from you!!! How was your trip to Paris? I am sure you and your daughter had a great time there. My parents' visit ended today, they are now on the flight taking them to the other side of the world and I miss them already....

About the bathroom, the crack on the corners was fixed according to you and Bill's instructions. Everything seems fine on the surface for now. We are keeping our fingers crossed that this is the end of our bathroom nightmare.

Thank you so much for your suggestions for the roof. Now that we are done with remodeling the kitchen and the bath, it's time to update the exterior of our home before Winter arrives. Having the unfortunate experience with the bath, we are trying to do whatever we can to make sure the contracts for exteriors to include everything that should be addressed and specified. I like your suggestion to include the statement saying "installed IAW the manufacturer's installation instructions", which solved our problem of not having enough knowledge to specify how everything should be done.

You mentioned you don't use pop vents. The pop vents have been on the roof since we bought the house, do you have any recommendations about other vent options that are superior than the pop vents? We would like to take this opportunity to replace anything that is out-of-date with current industry standards.

I don't believe our town requires permit for replacing roof (it would certainly work towards our advantage if it does so the work done by any contractor's will be validated by pros before we have to accept it!) One question though: how can I ensure all work is done IAW manufacturer's instructions? (sorry, this sounds like a dumb question...)

Thanks a lot for your suggestion about going with 40-year shingle. I am going to ask the contractor to update the proposal to include that option. BTW, between ELK and GAF, do you prefer one to the other?

As always, many thanks for your help!

Explicit instruction of a manufacturer is put on every package I'm shingling it's even check it out online would be good so that you can be informed and occasionally spot check your contract or

13 year old post dug up for that why?