On 5/16/2011 9:54 PM, RicodJour wrote:
On May 16, 8:49 pm, wrote:
On May 16, 11:08 am, wrote:

Several things:
- how come the roofer didn't know? You can see an additional layer
from the edge of the roof, and a roofer can spot that from the
ground. - what does the contract say?

Chuckle. When I had this place reroofed, I insisted on a full tearoff,
and ran off the companies that wanted me to overlay with those locking
barn shingles. Anyway, when the company I hired stripped the roof, they
found a partial 2nd layer on the front side- previous roofing crew had
stripped in five feet from the edges, and decided that was close enough.
No visible 2nd layer at edges.

Did the second roofer's contract specify the number of layers that
were to be removed and did you end up paying extra? Most likely such
a dodge would still be visible from the street as there would be a
noticeable line running up through the tabs of what I assume were
three tab shingles. And it would certainly be noticeable if someone
got up on the roof. You didn't notice it because you weren't looking
for it, and it wouldn't be your dime. A roofer would be looking for
it, should be getting up on the roof to check flashing and all sorts
of other things before an estimate is made, and unless his contract
covered his ass, and exposed yours, it would be his dime if he didn't
pick up on it.

This is why people should discuss an estimate before signing a
contract. In this particular situation if the roofer's contract
specified the number of layers of shingles to be removed, I'd ask how
he knew how many layers were on the roof, and tell him I'm not buying
a number, I'm buying a completed job, that I don't like surprises, and
that I want the roof stripped and that the price I'm signing is the
complete price including stripping to the sheathing, new edging,
flashing and roofing.

The time to protect your interests is before you sign the contract.

R

He didn't charge me extra for the partial second layer, or for the few
odd spots of mushy decking. It was a flat-fee job, strip and reinstall
30 year fancy 2-layer shingles. He did cut a few corners I should have
raised a fuss about, like the chimney flashing and the wrong caps for
the fart fans, but mostly did a good job. This was a owner-run place,
just down the road, and they were the only ones that didn't send a damn
salesman to do the estimate.

--
aem sends...