home maintenance

[cellio]

The roof is nearing the end of its lifespan. No acute problems, but it's about time to start talking to purveyors of replacements. There are books on the third floor, after all. :-)

If you have comments (pro or con) about roofers in the Pittsburgh area, I'd appreciate hearing them.

If you have favorite resources (particularly if they're on the web) that will help us make whatever decisions are involved (materials, what else?), I'd definitely like to hear about them.

Comments

[loosecanon.livejournal.com]

I do not know roofers in your area, but please get at least three estimates.
When you choose a contractor, call the state and check his licence number. It's so obvious that most people dont bother.

Our area has a Freecycle-related group called a Neighborhood Network, where we can rate or suggest local contractors. You might have something similar.

I prefer Timerline product, which is an asphalt shingle. It has a good hurricane rating, and it has very good rainflow control for our needs. It also lasts a surprisingly long time.

Factor in whether you prefer a dark roof for lower heating costs, or a light roof for easier cooling ( I prefer light, a dark one is often covered in snow when you need it to do it's thing )

If you are able, get up on your roof yourself, and feel the material.
It is a lot like tortillas: It is supposed to be pliable, but becomes "crisp" as it ages. Sometimes one side ages worse than the other. If the grit is coming off easily, that's also another bad sign.

Be certain you have proper ventilation on and in your roof. We invested in extra venting, and are pleased we did. It allows the roofing material to handle changes in weather more easily, extending its life, as well as making the attic safer by allowing excessive heat buildup to escape.

http://www.reroofingshowroom.com/pricing.html

http://www.gaf.com/General/GafMain.asp?Silo=RES1&WS=GAF ( has a good panel on choices, a little hard to get to. Click on Roof Selector, have fun )

http://www.housingzone.com/probuilder/article/CA6367300.html

All those things s/he just said, plus...

[(Anonymous)]

* If you've ever thought of putting in sun-tunnels (http://www.veluxusa.com/products/sunTunnels/ , circular sky-lights that gather light and reflect it into the room, giving much more light from a smaller opening than a sky-light), do it while the roof material is off. Most roofers now can do them, and they are fabulous.

* Ditto solar. Look into the tax incentives, anything your local utility district maybe offering, etc. Solar can help offset the cost recovery of the roof/materials -- not hugely, but some.

* Ditto a whole-house fan if you don't have one.

* Ditto putting in insulation in the attic/roof/walls/wherever you want to do it that having the roof off would make it easier.

[grouchyoldcoot.livejournal.com]

I've had good experiences with Houlihan Roofing and Remodeling.

[murphstein.livejournal.com]

House repairs. *Takes a deep breath* I'm planning to buy my first house in the next couple of months. I'll miss being able to call the landlord for things like clogged toilets, and I certainly don't look forward to major repairs.

Good luck!

Re: All those things s/he just said, plus...

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

I have some friends that installed two "sun tubes", and the difference those have made in the home is impressive.

There are some new exotic-materials shingles out there, which at least one person local to me has recommended strongly. Rubber tiles with 50-100 year warrantees. If you plan to keep the home for a long period of time, it might be worth the investment.

(I cannot fathom how one will make a warrantee claim in, say, 80 years....)

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

This is the dopey input.
Roof shingles come in various colors and shades. If you are thinking of changing the color of your house, through paint or siding, think about what color roof will coordinate. I've seen some pretty lame combinations, where they had matched a green roof to a green house, then repainted the house white....

Re: All those things s/he just said, plus...

[cellio]

I'm assuming that the "sun tubes" have to run in a straight line down from the roof to wherever they're delivering the light?

[cellio]

You have to make your own repairs, but you get to make your own decisions about the space -- no worrying about whether the landlord will disapprove of your built-in bookcases, picture hooks, desire to rip up the ratty carpets to get to the hardwood floors, etc.

Oh, and pets. :-)

Re: All those things s/he just said, plus...

[goldsquare.livejournal.com]

Apparently they do not. That's the cool part.

Re: All those things s/he just said, plus...

[cellio]

Hmm! Ok, that makes a difference. :-) (Our roof is above the attic, which in turn is above the second floor, which is where we would want the light (attic is storage). But the straight-line paths mostly don't come out in useful places.)

[cellio]

Not dopey, and thanks for mentioning it!

[mrpeck.livejournal.com]

My roofer was Paul Houlihan (sp?). He was probably my favorite of all the contractors that did work on my house. If you are interested, I have his phone number around somewhere.

[cellio]

You're the second person who's recommended him (assuming that's the same as Houlihan Roofing and Remodeling, recommended by grouchyoldcoot above), so I'd welcome a referral. Thanks!