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Roofing Specialist In Modesto, California
Roofing Specialist In Modesto, California
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Why are my bids so different in price?
Why is a new roof so expensive?
As you evaluate bids from your prospective contractors, you might
want to consider the findings of a Consumer Reports study on home
improvements. In a survey of nearly 12,000 homeowners that
obtained multiple estimates, the 40% that accepted the lowest bid
were less satisfied overall with their projects than those who were
willing to pay more for the job.
The old saying, "You get what you pay for," really applies to home
improvement. Consider the following factors that play a part in the
cost of roofing your home:
Workers' Compensation Insurance
A contractor should carry workers' compensation insurance to
protect you in the event of an accident on your property. If a worker
is injured on your property, you might be held liable for all costs
unless the employee is covered by workers compensation insurance.
Companies who carry the proper insurance and follow the Insurer's
guidelines for safety will have higher job overhead costs. These
expenses could be the cause of price variations between
contractors who follow the standards and those who ignore them.
Roofers who do not carry insurance will most likely be cheaper to
hire as they do not have large insurance premiums to pay, but hiring
them brings substantial financial risk.
The Complete Roof System
Roofing manufacturers will not warrant their products unless they
are applied as part of a complete roof system A complete roof
system includes the roof surface (shingles, metal, slate, etc.), wood
decking, underlayment (felt), moisture barriers, flashing, ventilation
and hip/ridge capping. All parts of the roof system must be
considered and included if not currently adequate or reusable.
Not all contractors will include underlayment and moisture barriers in
there bids. Some will not flash properly or will use 20 year hip/ridge
cap shingles on a 30, 40, or 50 year roof. A contractor who cuts
corners in these areas will offer a much lower bid, but the end
product may not protect your home and may not be warranted by
the manufacturer.
Workmanship
Studies indicate that more than two/thirds of the problems that
people experience with their new roofs are due to the contractors
workmanship not the roofing materials. A contractor that stands
behind his workmanship must take the time to train his employees in
the proper installation techniques for each type of material used.
This training increases the overhead costs that are associated with
your new roof. Consequently, the employees of contractors that
provide lower bids may not have the necessary knowledge and
training to properly install your roof, resulting in poor water shedding
performance and future repair bills.
Home Design
The design of your
home also plays a
part in the cost of
your new roof.
The difficulty of
installing your
roof increases
with steeper
pitch, number
of hips, length of valleys and ridge, quantity of flashing, and number
of dormers and roof penetrations.
Therefore, two homes of equal size may have drastically different
roof bids because of the roof design.
Make sure that your final choice of a contractor is based on the
"sum of all parts"; including professionalism, an understanding of
your vision for the project, and a compatible personality instead of
on a single factor such as price.
Why is a new roof so expensive?
As you evaluate bids from your prospective contractors, you might
want to consider the findings of a Consumer Reports study on home
improvements. In a survey of nearly 12,000 homeowners that
obtained multiple estimates, the 40% that accepted the lowest bid
were less satisfied overall with their projects than those who were
willing to pay more for the job.
The old saying, "You get what you pay for," really applies to home
improvement. Consider the following factors that play a part in the
cost of roofing your home:
Workers' Compensation Insurance
A contractor should carry workers' compensation insurance to
protect you in the event of an accident on your property. If a worker
is injured on your property, you might be held liable for all costs
unless the employee is covered by workers compensation insurance.
Companies who carry the proper insurance and follow the Insurer's
guidelines for safety will have higher job overhead costs. These
expenses could be the cause of price variations between
contractors who follow the standards and those who ignore them.
Roofers who do not carry insurance will most likely be cheaper to
hire as they do not have large insurance premiums to pay, but hiring
them brings substantial financial risk.
The Complete Roof System
Roofing manufacturers will not warrant their products unless they
are applied as part of a complete roof system A complete roof
system includes the roof surface (shingles, metal, slate, etc.), wood
decking, underlayment (felt), moisture barriers, flashing, ventilation
and hip/ridge capping. All parts of the roof system must be
considered and included if not currently adequate or reusable.
Not all contractors will include underlayment and moisture barriers in
there bids. Some will not flash properly or will use 20 year hip/ridge
cap shingles on a 30, 40, or 50 year roof. A contractor who cuts
corners in these areas will offer a much lower bid, but the end
product may not protect your home and may not be warranted by
the manufacturer.
Workmanship
Studies indicate that more than two/thirds of the problems that
people experience with their new roofs are due to the contractors
workmanship not the roofing materials. A contractor that stands
behind his workmanship must take the time to train his employees in
the proper installation techniques for each type of material used.
This training increases the overhead costs that are associated with
your new roof. Consequently, the employees of contractors that
provide lower bids may not have the necessary knowledge and
training to properly install your roof, resulting in poor water shedding
performance and future repair bills.
Home Design
The design of your
home also plays a
part in the cost of
your new roof.
The difficulty of
installing your
roof increases
with steeper
pitch, number
of hips, length of valleys and ridge, quantity of flashing, and number
of dormers and roof penetrations.
Therefore, two homes of equal size may have drastically different
roof bids because of the roof design.
Make sure that your final choice of a contractor is based on the
"sum of all parts"; including professionalism, an understanding of
your vision for the project, and a compatible personality instead of
on a single factor such as price.
