On 7/20/2012 5:12 PM, TomR wrote:
Rebel1 wrote:
I've received three estimates to remove two old layers and add a new
layer to my 3400 sq ft roof on a ranch house in central New Jersey.

Company A: $11,940.00, GAF Timberline Lifetime shingles. Gave estimate
on the spot. Said job would take less than one day. Estimate includes
$700 dumpster charge, and up to three sheets of plywood. (I estimate
that the one soft spot is only 1 foot x 3 feet.) Cricket not
discussed.)
Company B: $9,280, IKO Cambridge AR. Gave estimate on the spot. Said
job would take less than one day. No dumpster; uses company-owned dump
trucks. Up to three sheets of plywood free. If I want GAF shingles,
they would charge an extra $980, bringing the total to $10,260. Price
of building a cricket next to the chimney included.

Company C: $8,575, GAF Timberline Lifetime singles. Came to my house
on Monday, promised an estimate via email in one or two days; it
arrived today, four days later. Each sheet of plywood, $50. Will
probably use a dumpster. Cricket included.

Peripheral stuff like ridge vents, drip edges and replacing plumbing
pipe penetrations with non-rusting aluminum ones are the same with all
three companies. The warranty on the IKO shingles seems better than on
the GAF, but once you read them you see that all contain too many
loopholes and limitations, and just about all shingle manufacturers
are involved in class action lawsuits regarding not honoring their
warranties.
In Company C's favor, aside from the price: He was the only one to
walk on the roof, inspect it and tell me I really didn't need a new
one; there are just portions of one or two shingles missing. Also, his
email proposal was the most professional, with each item specified in
great detail and everything neatly typed in a Word document.

Against Company C: He didn't meet his own deadline for the estimate,
which raises doubt about his trustworthiness; the job would take more
than the one day the other two companies promised, and the dumpster.
(I probably shouldn't be concerned about the dumpster, as it will be
on plywood "feet" to protect my blacktop driveway.)

As I am writing this, Company B called. I asked how C could be so much
lower than B even with the GAF shingles he wants an extra $980 for. B
called back at few minutes later, after checking his figures, and came
back with $9,700 as his best price.

(For the record, HD charges about $100 per square (3 bundles) for the
GAF Timberline Lifetime shingles, and my roof needs 34 bundles. IKO
runs about $84 per bundle if picked up, $88.65 if delivered, and $90
if boomed up. IKO prices are from an Indiana company,
ReeseWholesaler.com. So HD, a retailer, would charge $510 more for
the GAFs.)
With C being $1,125 cheaper, seems like a no-brainer to chose them.
But I thank you for your comments on something I may have overlooked, and
whether to bring in a company D and E.

It sounds like you are doing what you need to do in terms of comparing
companies, prices, what they will do, etc.

Someone mentioned permits. I assume you have already figured that part out,
but if it were me, I would have them get the permit as part of the contract
since they will be the licensed contractor that will be doing the work.

All companies pull the permits, but I separately pay for them.

And, of course, make sure they are insured.

Company C has this statement in their proposal: "Employees are insured
with Workers Comp and General Liability Insurance." I have to make sure
they send only employees and none of the abundant nearby Mexican day
workers.

For a one-day (or two-day) job, make sure that you do not give them a
deposit up front. Let them do the job and then pay them in full as soon as
it is done to your satisfaction. If they are lining up jobs and taking
deposits, those who paid a deposit may be the last to see their job
completed. Once a deposit is paid, there is little incentive for the
contract to actually do the work since he already has his "profit" in hand.

Company C's proposal says: "A deposit is required, additional payment
due at start of job & remaining balance due day of completion." Amount
of deposit is not stated.

Company B says: "Cost of Materials to be paid upon delivery. The
difference to be deducted from the total price of job." No deposit is
required. It doesn't specifically say that balance is due upon completion.

R1