Home Improvement Thread

[JTA]

What's up you guys.

My roof was trashed by a hail storm and I need a new one.

I filed a claim with the insurance company.

Anybody have any experience dealing with this stuff? Got any tips to pass along for when I seek out someone to replace my roof?

[Vrede too]

No clue at all other than suggestions from friends, the Better Business Bureau and, with a grain of salt, online crowd ratings like Yelp.

Then, once you go Mexican, you never go Anglo again.

[Mr.B]

** post removed due to inappropriate content

[O Really]

Being a long-time Florida resident, I've had several instances of getting house repair. If your insurance company is any good, they'll take cover the repair without any problem and will be helpful in finding sources. If they aren't any good, there are some good lawyers in SC.

To select a home contractor:
Set up meetings to look at and assess the damage. If they don't show up or show up majorly late, drop them.
Get a written estimate of what they expect to do, including materials and labor. Don't accept a flat rate price unless it's approved in total by your insurance adjuster.
Get a schedule from them as to when they will be able to do the work. Shouldn't take long. A good crew can re-roof a whole house in a day or maybe two, unless it's really big.
Check their contractor license and insurance coverage.
Ask for references - the good ones are happy to tell you who they've worked for.
Try to be at home while they work.
Roofers often enjoy a beer at the end of the day.

Good luck

[Vrede too]

... Roofers often enjoy a beer at the end of the day....

Non-booze refreshments during the job build up good will.

[JTA]

Being a long-time Florida resident, I've had several instances of getting house repair. If your insurance company is any good, they'll take cover the repair without any problem and will be helpful in finding sources. If they aren't any good, there are some good lawyers in SC.

To select a home contractor:
Set up meetings to look at and assess the damage. If they don't show up or show up majorly late, drop them.
Get a written estimate of what they expect to do, including materials and labor. Don't accept a flat rate price unless it's approved in total by your insurance adjuster.
Get a schedule from them as to when they will be able to do the work. Shouldn't take long. A good crew can re-roof a whole house in a day or maybe two, unless it's really big.
Check their contractor license and insurance coverage.
Ask for references - the good ones are happy to tell you who they've worked for.
Try to be at home while they work.
Roofers often enjoy a beer at the end of the day.

Good luck

I've got three tab shingles currently. I want to upgrade to architectural shingles which have a longer life and are a bit better. Insurance reimbursement seems to only cover my current shingles which is understandable​. Id be willing to pay the extra cost to upgrade. Is this reasonable?

[O Really]

That's reasonable. But remember the cost of materials isn't necessarily the same everywhere, nor is the cost of labor. If you're going to upgrade, shop around.

[JTA]

That's reasonable. But remember the cost of materials isn't necessarily the same everywhere, nor is the cost of labor. If you're going to upgrade, shop around.

Very true

[bannination]

Being a long-time Florida resident, I've had several instances of getting house repair. If your insurance company is any good, they'll take cover the repair without any problem and will be helpful in finding sources. If they aren't any good, there are some good lawyers in SC.

To select a home contractor:
Set up meetings to look at and assess the damage. If they don't show up or show up majorly late, drop them.
Get a written estimate of what they expect to do, including materials and labor. Don't accept a flat rate price unless it's approved in total by your insurance adjuster.
Get a schedule from them as to when they will be able to do the work. Shouldn't take long. A good crew can re-roof a whole house in a day or maybe two, unless it's really big.
Check their contractor license and insurance coverage.
Ask for references - the good ones are happy to tell you who they've worked for.
Try to be at home while they work.
Roofers often enjoy a beer at the end of the day.

Good luck

I've got three tab shingles currently. I want to upgrade to architectural shingles which have a longer life and are a bit better. Insurance reimbursement seems to only cover my current shingles which is understandable​. Id be willing to pay the extra cost to upgrade. Is this reasonable?

We did that very thing just due to the high winds we experience sometimes. (We lost shingles due to high winds.) Seriously considered metal roofing.

[JTA]

Being a long-time Florida resident, I've had several instances of getting house repair. If your insurance company is any good, they'll take cover the repair without any problem and will be helpful in finding sources. If they aren't any good, there are some good lawyers in SC.

To select a home contractor:
Set up meetings to look at and assess the damage. If they don't show up or show up majorly late, drop them.
Get a written estimate of what they expect to do, including materials and labor. Don't accept a flat rate price unless it's approved in total by your insurance adjuster.
Get a schedule from them as to when they will be able to do the work. Shouldn't take long. A good crew can re-roof a whole house in a day or maybe two, unless it's really big.
Check their contractor license and insurance coverage.
Ask for references - the good ones are happy to tell you who they've worked for.
Try to be at home while they work.
Roofers often enjoy a beer at the end of the day.

Good luck

I've got three tab shingles currently. I want to upgrade to architectural shingles which have a longer life and are a bit better. Insurance reimbursement seems to only cover my current shingles which is understandable​. Id be willing to pay the extra cost to upgrade. Is this reasonable?

We did that very thing just due to the high winds we experience sometimes. (We lost shingles due to high winds.) Seriously considered metal roofing.

Did it cost a bunch extra to go from three tab to architectural after insurance reimbursement for the three tab?

[billy.pilgrim]

That's reasonable. But remember the cost of materials isn't necessarily the same everywhere, nor is the cost of labor. If you're going to upgrade, shop around.

Very true

What insurance company?

Make sure they offer you their Xactimate estimate before you say anything about contractor estimates. Generally best to let them pay you the estimate amount and you hire the roofers. You may end up with that upgrade for free. Pay attention, they should be using 4 nails per shingle.

Hip roof will have 15% waste, gable 10% on a reasonable insurance company estimate. Contractors will try to be higher

Look at anything else that may have been damaged, might as well get that new mailbox

Look for paint damage

Florida law requires full roof replacement to all continuous slopes. Hip roof gets full replacement if only one shingle is damaged. Gable gets the affected slope and ridge.

Check gutters, window screens, sheds, etc.

If you can get 3 or more trades involved in the repair they have to add overhead and profit. It is usually standard for area. Florida is 10 and 10 percent, but I have seen it as high as 15 and 30 percent (Philly)

[billy.pilgrim]

Being a long-time Florida resident, I've had several instances of getting house repair. If your insurance company is any good, they'll take cover the repair without any problem and will be helpful in finding sources. If they aren't any good, there are some good lawyers in SC.

To select a home contractor:
Set up meetings to look at and assess the damage. If they don't show up or show up majorly late, drop them.
Get a written estimate of what they expect to do, including materials and labor. Don't accept a flat rate price unless it's approved in total by your insurance adjuster.
Get a schedule from them as to when they will be able to do the work. Shouldn't take long. A good crew can re-roof a whole house in a day or maybe two, unless it's really big.
Check their contractor license and insurance coverage.
Ask for references - the good ones are happy to tell you who they've worked for.
Try to be at home while they work.
Roofers often enjoy a beer at the end of the day.

Good luck

I've got three tab shingles currently. I want to upgrade to architectural shingles which have a longer life and are a bit better. Insurance reimbursement seems to only cover my current shingles which is understandable​. Id be willing to pay the extra cost to upgrade. Is this reasonable?

We did that very thing just due to the high winds we experience sometimes. (We lost shingles due to high winds.) Seriously considered metal roofing.

Did it cost a bunch extra to go from three tab to architectural after insurance reimbursement for the three tab?

Should be able to do for free. Get the Xactimate estimate.


If you have al l state then your adjuster works for Pilot Catastrophe. They all work for commission based on the damage they can find, but hate to waste time.

[billy.pilgrim]

A real good upgrade is peel and stick underlayment.

[JTA]

Being a long-time Florida resident, I've had several instances of getting house repair. If your insurance company is any good, they'll take cover the repair without any problem and will be helpful in finding sources. If they aren't any good, there are some good lawyers in SC.

To select a home contractor:
Set up meetings to look at and assess the damage. If they don't show up or show up majorly late, drop them.
Get a written estimate of what they expect to do, including materials and labor. Don't accept a flat rate price unless it's approved in total by your insurance adjuster.
Get a schedule from them as to when they will be able to do the work. Shouldn't take long. A good crew can re-roof a whole house in a day or maybe two, unless it's really big.
Check their contractor license and insurance coverage.
Ask for references - the good ones are happy to tell you who they've worked for.
Try to be at home while they work.
Roofers often enjoy a beer at the end of the day.

Good luck

I've got three tab shingles currently. I want to upgrade to architectural shingles which have a longer life and are a bit better. Insurance reimbursement seems to only cover my current shingles which is understandable​. Id be willing to pay the extra cost to upgrade. Is this reasonable?

We did that very thing just due to the high winds we experience sometimes. (We lost shingles due to high winds.) Seriously considered metal roofing.

Did it cost a bunch extra to go from three tab to architectural after insurance reimbursement for the three tab?

My complete WAG -- this was several years ago was that it added somewhere under a grand to the cost. Longer warranty and better wind protection justified it in my mind. They do look better, not that I care about appearances.

WHOA I'VE BEEN HACKED!!11!

haha I didnt write that

[bannination]

Also; if I remember right the entire grand was not out of pocket, that was just the difference in material cost. The insurance adjuster gave a bit more money than it would have cost to have three tabs, but not enough to cover the entire cost.

[JTA]

I've got an estimate from the insurance company. Good idea to withold that until after I get an estimate from the roofer, yeah?

[bannination]

WHOA I'VE BEEN HACKED!!11!

haha I didnt write that

HAHAHA, damn edit button looked like the quote button to me.

By bannination: (for real)
My complete WAG -- this was several years ago was that it added somewhere under a grand to the cost. Longer warranty and better wind protection justified it in my mind. They do look better, not that I care about appearances.

[JTA]

WHOA I'VE BEEN HACKED!!11!

haha I didnt write that

HAHAHA, damn edit button looked like the quote button to me.

By bannination: (for real)
My complete WAG -- this was several years ago was that it added somewhere under a grand to the cost. Longer warranty and better wind protection justified it in my mind. They do look better, not that I care about appearances.

Haha I figured something to that effect had happened, no worries.

Yeah agreed. Its worth the extra $$$. Plus I'll probably be outta this bitch by the time it needs a new roof

[billy.pilgrim]

I've got an estimate from the insurance company. Good idea to withold that until after I get an estimate from the roofer, yeah?

I have no idea why I can't send you a private message

[Mr.B]

* post removed due to inappropriate content