Is there a better time than another to get a roof done? My roof is old but not leaking so I have time.?

Question

Often businesses have a busy season and a slow season, is this true of roofers? I was just wondering if there is a time of year when roofers might give someone a better deal than others.

Answer 1

One of the other answers was right- business is slow for roofers right now. You can often get a better deal right now, but you do have to watch out for the weather. In the spring time contractors are scrambling to put out bids to fill up their schedule for the rest of the year. Most of the work is done in the summer because you can't actually roof in the rain. If you do decide to get it done in the summer, expect a long wait. If you want to find a reputable roofing contractor, go to the National Roofing Contractors Association website at www.nrca.net and click on consumer, then find a roofing contractor- you can search their list of roofing contractors by your zip code and type of roofing you are looking for.

Answer 2

yes, winter time is a roofers slow time, because of the weather. and yes, you can save money by having your roof done then. and it will be a good roof job, if you use a good quality shingle. shingles are made to stick in cold weather from the heat of the house, and the good ones are stiff enough to lay flat until they seal down in the spring. get a 30 year shingle, at least, and you won't have any trouble. and any roofer that isn't a yahoo (idiot) wouldn't rip the whole roof off unless you live in the desert!! i live and work in CT, and do roofing and siding all year long. if you want to find a good roofer, ask friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers who they have used. call a roofing supply house in your area and ask them, too. no one is going to recommend a bad one, unless it's a family member, ha ha! and don't just look for the biggest ad in the yellow pages either, that's money you'll be paying for. or a company that has a sales force, more people who's salary you pay, but don't do any work for you. once you have some names, get estimates from a few, ask questions, and decide what sounds like the best solution for your roof. check your local better business bureau, and ask to see proof of insurance. don't be afraid of small roofing companies or of putting a portion of the money down, like 1/4-1/3 to cover the cost of materials. make sure you set a payment schedual in the contract and that it specifies what materials will be used and how the roof will be done. there are multiple ways of doing the same roof, none of which are nessecarily right or wrong, just homeowner or contractor prefference. for example; open or woven or cut valleys. and materials; three tab, or architectual shingles, tar paper, or ice and water shield, etc. good luck, and hope this helps.

Answer 3

yeah, right now the business is slow to non-existent in most areas of the country. Warmer climates may be doing a bit better. there are drawbacks to having it done this time of year though, depending on where you live. if you can expect snow or rain, without at least four or five days in a row of decent weather, forget it. Of course, this all depends on exactly what you are having done and what type of roof it is.

hot tarring a roof this time of year is not so bad, the roofers like not having all the heat to deal with. if it is an ordinary shingle roof, with the usual tear off, think twice or three times before you begin. they will want to tear it all off at once, not a good idea this time of year in most climates. Better idea is to tear off only what they can reshingle in a days time. getting them to do it this way might be a hassle, but any roofer that cannot see the wisdom of this, you do not want anyway. the help is paid by the amount they do, not usually by the hour. so they want to be able to just go at a fast pace.

if it is just ordinary shingles, you might consider hiring a few guys, and overseeing the job yourself.

if you can find somebody that knows what they are doing, so much the better. some roofs can be tricky to shingle. certain areas will call for weaving shingles together to form a change of direction, maybe. I don't know how complicated you roof is.

if you live in an area that gets any ice and snow at all, be sure they use the self sealing material near the eves that prevents damage from ice dams. if you can afford it, this material over the whole roof prior to shingling makes good insurance. it seals around the nails and remains pliable. it must however be protected from the sun by shingles. done right, you may never have to reroof again, if you use this method.

Answer 4

It will vary with your climate, and what type of roof you have, and what type of roof you want to have.. That is, are you going to have it redone in the same way, or a different type of roof. Call a local roofer and ask some questions

Answer 5

Get three estimates right now if you live in a climate thats cold...make sure all three estimates are equal in job being done...then pick one right away and have roofer give you a time frame to start and finish...In writting...don't pay a penny until job is complete..a good company is one that does job then you pay...

Answer 6

Any time but winter.