THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 15, 1995 TAG: 9507130295
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY BRENDA HARRIS, SPECIAL TO REAL ESTATE WEEKLY
LENGTH: Long : 161 lines
When the July temperature soars, most of us take refuge in our air-conditioned homes, offices and malls. Few would envy the plight of the roofer, pounding away atop our houses where the temperature can reach a blistering 120 degrees.
With radios blaring, roofers are a common sight in the summer as they nail shingles from dawn to dusk. If you have lived in a house for 20 years, you will likely have hired a roofing crew at least once (or done it yourself).
The average cost for a new roof is $1,700 for a 2,000-square-foot ranch and $2,200 for a 2,200-square-foot two-story. Since this is a considerable investment, it makes sense to use a quality contractor and quality materials for the job. A roof is expected to last at least 20 years.
There are several things to consider when choosing a new roof. Cost and durability are the most important, but aesthetics and architectural style should not be ignored. Besides keeping out the elements, the right roof can add complementary color, depth and dimension to your home.
The following are different types of roofing materials, according to the National Roofing Contractors Association:
Asphalt shingles cover more than 80 percent of the dwellings in the United States. There are two types: organic and fiberglass.
Organic shingles consist of a wood-fiber base saturated with asphalt and coated with colored mineral granules. They can be treated with algicide to fight fungus growth in warm, wet climates.
Fiberglass shingles are made with a fiberglass mat, top and bottom layers of asphalt and mineral granules. They have a superior fire retardant rating.
Wood shingles and shakes are made from cedar and sometimes redwood, Southern pine and other woods. Shingles are machine-made; shakes are hand-hewn and more rustic looking.
The ``natural'' look is popular in California, the Northwest and parts of the Midwest. These shingles do not have a good fire rating, however, and need to be treated with a preservative every few years.
Tile can be made from clay or concrete. It is durable but expensive roofing material. It is widely available in many colors and finishes. If replacing another type of roof with tile, care needs to be taken to verify that the structure will support the added weight.
``Mission-style'' and ``Spanish'' round-topped tiles are widely used in the Southwest and Florida. Flat styles are also available to create French and English looks.
Slate is made of stone from quarries in Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia. It comes in different colors and grades. Although indestructible, it is more expensive than other roofing materials and requires skilled craftsmen. Many older houses in the Northeast have their original slate roofs.
Metal is mainly a commercial roofing material, but is gaining popularity in the residential market. There are many styles. It is durable and fireproof, but its life expectancy depends upon the type of metal, its coating and its installation.
Look-alike materials include such products as metal tiles and concrete shakes. These are a recent roofing innovation. Sometimes, an imitation can provide the look of the real thing for less money.
Roofing is sold and estimated in squares. Each square of roofing is the amount required to cover 100 square feet of roof area. Roofers estimate the amount of roofing required by first computing the total roof area in square feet, adding 10 percent for cutting and waste, and then dividing by 100. An average shingle bundle is enough for one square of roof.
Choosing the right roofing material is crucial, but so is selecting the right contractor. Terry Earley, president of Bradford Cameron Inc., has been involved in the roofing business since he was 17.
``Look for a representative who shows up on time for your appointment,'' he advises. ``They should show knowledge and attention to their work. The company should be licensed, bonded and insured, and a member of the Better Business Bureau. They should have been in business for more than five years. The customer should be shown products from a varied line of manufacturers.''
According to Earley, a common mistake made by consumers is to call for 10 or so estimates, then to choose the absolute cheapest. For a difference of just a few hundred dollars, the homeowner may be sacrificing considerable quality in materials and installation. For an investment expected to last 20 to 30 years (depending on the grade of shingle), it doesn't make sense to pinch pennies.
Some roofers save the homeowner money by not tearing off the old roof first, but this may not be a wise decision. A double roof traps moisture between the layers and doubles the weight on the roof's supporting structure.
Roof Inspection Services of Virginia investigates roofing problems. Although the company does mostly commercial work, in the past 1 1/2 years it has inspected more residential roofs than in the past. Home buyers and home sellers contract often contact the inspectors before buying or selling a house. So do disgruntled homeowners having problems with a new roof.
Frank Driscoll, a licensed engineer, and Richard Rivin, a licensed architect, have been partners for eight years. Driscoll says most residential roofing problems they encounter are because of sloppy workmanship, cheap materials and bad flashing. ``Roofing seems like such a simple thing,'' he says, ``but it really can be quite complicated because there are so many areas where if things aren't done properly, there will be problems.''
The roofer has a hot, physically grueling and sometimes dangerous job. When the weather is good, a roofer can expect to put in a 12-hour day. Occupational hazards can include falling, sunburns, cuts and eye injuries. Sources of danger are chimneys, roof vents, cables, TV antennas and electrical wires. Heat exhaustion can easily occur, as temperatures on a dark, heat-absorbing roof are considerably higher than on the ground.
Glen Sweitzer, owner of Sweitzer's Roofing, Siding, Gutter and Home Repair, has been a roofer for 22 years, and has had his own company for five years. He describes the steps in a typical one-day roofing job:
``First, I cover the decks and flowerbeds with tarps. We tear off the roof while it's still cool. Next, we check the exposed wood for rotten wood, and replace that. We renail the wood to resecure the wood to the rafters.
``Next, asphalt-fiberglass felt paper goes on as underlayment. The roof gets marked off in lines to keep the shingles straight. Every shingle gets four-nailed (nailed down in four places). Next comes the installation of new pipe collars, ventilation and chimney flashing. The roof is swept and gutters cleaned.
``We clean the flowerbeds, yard and run the magnet to pick up loose nails. The trash from the job is hauled away.''
Weather can be the roofer's nightmare. Roofing can't be done in rainy weather because the materials get wet, lightning can strike and footing is precarious. Roofing generally isn't installed above 120 degrees (on the roof) because the shingles can become scarred from the roofers walking on them. When the thermometer dips below 40, it's too cold.
The roofer lives at the mercy of Mother Nature. As Sweitzer says, ``I follow The Weather Channel (on cable TV) constantly. If there's rain in the forecast, I won't start the job. If it's a good roofing day, I'm on the job as early as possible while it's still cool, and I work until the job is done.'' He completes the average 20- to 30-square roof in one day.
Local roofers belong to two professional organizations. The National Roofing Contractors Association is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., and has 36,000 members. The Virginia Association of Roofing Contractors in Richmond has 200 members.
Far from a glamour job, roofing is a physically taxing occupation. Home buyers today, more educated than in past years, are taking a closer look at the roof before buying a new home. In the past, the home buyer used to look and think, there's the roof and it looks OK.
Now, professional home inspectors look long and hard at the roof. Home buyers are starting to recognize, as Sweitzer says, that ``Roofing's no fun but it's the most important part of the house.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
UP ON THE ROOF
[Color Photo]
D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/Staff
Roofer Gary South rips up old shingles on a house in Virginia
Beach.
Staff photos by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Roofer Joey McNeal takes a water break during a recent job in
Virginia Beach. The temperature can soar to 120 degrees atop a
house.
Contractor Glen Sweitzer cuts out a section of bad wood on a roof.
TO KNOW MORE . . .
Consumers looking for more info may call or write the National
Roofing Contractors Association for a free list of roofing
contractors in their ZIP Code area and a booklet on general roof
care tips.
Call 1-800-USA-ROOF, or send a request along with a
self-addressed, stamped (58 cents) business-sized envelope to: NRCA
- Buying a New Roof, 10255 W. Higgins Road, Suite 600, Rosemont,
Ill. 60018.
by CNB