Comparing Roofing Proposals: Important Tips

Here we go again, Houston neighbors! Watch out for scammers and pretender contractors! We at HES sincerely hope you are well and getting any help you need. Please consider this a PSA reminder for you and any of your friends, family, or neighbors who might suddenly need roof repairs after the storm. Please pass it along if you think it will help. Without further ado, here are some important tips for comparing roofing proposals

Getting Your Roof Fixed

HES has been in the exterior contracting game in the Houston, TX, area for a while. Terrible weather events inevitably bring the “storm chasers” and hucksters to town. All the good local roofers are instantly busy as hell, working around the clock to try and keep up with sudden demand.

Con-Artists Come Calling as Local Reputable Contractors Swamped

These out-of-towner folks slap a sticker on their pickup truck and offer to fix your roof cheaply and quickly if you sign quickly. They exploit desperate homeowners who unwittingly pay for a terrible roof replacement.
Please do your homework and verify to ensure that you choose a trustworthy roofing contractor with an address and many local references in the Houston area. Don’t get tricked by these unscrupulous pretenders. Be very wary of a desire to break the law regarding any insurance claims. It could cost you dearly if the Insurance company figures you conspired with a contractor and manipulated numbers. More on this topic in a coming article.

Roofing Materials and Workmanship

Aside from finding a proper roofing contractor, there’s the matter of materials and quality. Most people do not know much about roofs or what goes into a good, well-built roof vs. a bad one. Frequently, the untrained eye cannot tell one from another, and it may take a couple of years to realize that everything is not as it should be.

In that light, the rest of this article aims to help you understand some additional differences between a Proven and Guaranteed™ roofing system quote by Home Exterior Systems and quotes from companies that don’t detail the items they will replace or reasons why.

Confirm the Following Roof Replacement Proposal Items

When comparing roofing proposals, confirm the following details:

• Roof Hardware, Vents, and Flashing
• Engineered Starter Shingles
• Engineered Ridge and Hip Caps
• Roof and Attic Ventilation

Let’s briefly discuss each of these often-overlooked roofing proposal items.

Roof Hardware, Vents, and Flashing (the various exhaust vents sticking out of your roof)

For example, verify that you’re getting new roof jacks (or boots) and what kind. Roof jacks protect your vent and exhaust pipes that protrude from the roof.

Cheap roof jacks cost an average of $10 apiece, and good-quality replacements each cost about $30. The average home has eight roof jacks. 

The typical Houston area roof has different types of exhaust and venting hardware for different and essential purposes. Most people don’t even know what any of it does or why. When comparing roofing proposals, we urge you to spend a little time on roofing hardware.
However, because this vent hardware pierces directly through your roof, it must be properly installed to prevent premature roof failure and leaks. Our crews tell us that the number one source of leaks they see is poorly installed roof jacks.

 
Real Engineered Starter Shingles & Strips

Engineered starter row shingles or standard shingles modified by the install crew? More than a few improperly trained or unscrupulous roofers will cut corners everywhere possible. They try to avoid the cost of using an adequately engineered first-row shingle by modifying standard 3-tab shingles during the installation onsite. As you compare roofing proposals, ask for an itemized breakdown on how much or how many starter strips are included.
Installing kludged or improvised starter shingles is a big mistake. It increases the likelihood of the shingles lifting in windy, stormy areas and will likely impact the manufacturer’s warranty. Be sure to discuss it and demand the real thing; don’t settle for anything less.

 
Real Engineered Ridge and Hip Caps

Comparing roofing proposals should also include details about the use of engineered ridge & hip caps. Many roofers do not bother and use improvised 3-tab shingles hacked up onsite by the roofer. Hint: You want the real thing. You want the proper shingle for the task.
A hacked-up standard 3-tab shingle saves money but does not offer the proper level of protection for your Houston area home—not even close. Most homeowners would not risk it for a few bucks, but many roofers have no problem cutting corners like this and never mentioning this topic. Why? Modifying regular 3-tab shingles is faster, simpler, and cheaper for the contractor.  

 
Roof and Attic Ventilation

Proper ventilation reduces attic temperatures and extends the life of your roof with balanced intake vents (e.g., soffit vents) and exhaust vents (e.g., ridge vents). More ventilation or less than your space calls for leads to many problems, including excessive energy costs and comfort problems. In some cases, you invite excessive moisture, which leads to mold and mildew and reduced roof life.

A balance of adequate ventilation is essential in Houston’s harsh, humid summertime climate. One size does not fit all. If you walk around your neighborhood and look at each home’s roof, you’ll note many subtle and many not-so-subtle differences.

Every home design is different, but science tells us what ventilation we need, no matter the size or style of the home or roof type. We can know what options will apply to optimize or validate the previous installation. Most home designs offer several design and style alternatives when replacing the homeowner’s roof while preserving sufficient and balanced ventilation.

The Roofer Measured and Evaluated Your Roof and Attic Ventilation

The roofer should evaluate your attic space(s) and guide you on any opportunities or concerns about roof and attic ventilation. Knowing the roofer’s plans for your intake and exhaust options is a big deal and more important than ever.

Consider visiting one of the online ventilation calculators and double-checking for yourself, or call someone you can trust to help you. They are anonymous and free; you only need measurements and a little information about your home. Every roofer worth their salt should be double-checking your ventilation, but too many don’t. Too many roofers will happily sell you unnecessary and expensive powered vents without knowing their impact on your ventilation balance.

 
Balance is Key for Optimal Attic and Roof Ventilation

Balance is the key to proper home ventilation—balance ties closely with your air conditioning system. HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. As with attic ventilation, too much AC is bad because the system doesn’t run long enough to remove humidity and moisture from the air inside the home. Conversely, too little AC makes you uncomfortably warm due to too little cooling for the air volume. Once again, balance is critical to proper comfort and avoiding problems.

Comparing Roofing Proposals Summary

In addition to the usual advice to call references and verify unknown contractors, pay attention to differences and omissions in the roofing proposals. In addition to using quality brand-name materials, check for details regarding engineered starter, ridge, and hip cap shingles. Compare details on various ventilation hardware such as boots and roof jacks. Finally, ensure that the amount of ventilation you will have will be in the range recommended for your space and that it will be balanced. Have them walk you through the numbers until you’re satisfied and agree.

 
Next Time: Roofing Insurance Job Ethics and Law

In the next article, we’ll explore the insurance claim process, public adjusters, and what roofers can and should do vs. what they should never do when quoting your roof repair. It’s a big deal, and you need to know how this stuff works after changes were implemented to lessen insurance fraud.
 
See you then.