Your questions —
answered
We understand that roofing and exterior projects can be
daunting, leaving customers with more questions than answers.
Our comprehensive FAQ guide provides expert guidance and addresses your most common concerns.
And if your question isn’t answered, reach out and we will get back to you ASAP.
It’s complicated. There are quite a few variables such as size, pitch (steepness), complexity, material type, workmanship, and more. Many roofers don’t replace pipe jacks, flashing, and drip edge. Even worse, some put new shingles over the old stuff (so many problems with this method!). Then there’s the quality of the components and the roofers themselves.
Roofs are priced by the “square,” which is a 100 square foot area. A one-man show type of roofer with very basic shingles and bare-bones installation, prices generally start around $350 – $375 per square, often without insurance, and they won’t answer your call a month or two down the road. A company with a proper insurance, administration staff and solid procedures, with experienced roofing professionals and installing high quality shingles per manufacturers’ guidelines will range from $425 to over $1000 per square.
It might be. A standing seam metal roof will typically cost 2-3 times what an asphalt shingle roof costs. But consider a properly maintained metal roof will last you 40-70 years, while an asphalt roof will last 15-30 years. Then when you consider that roofing costs have doubled over the 5 years alone, the lifetime cost of ownership of a metal roof is actually less than an asphalt roof.
Negative, Ghostrider. The quality of shingles vary widely, as does the underlayment, pipe jacks, sealants, etc. The roof is one of the most important systems on your home and #1 protector against the elements. Some shingles and underlayments are engineered to repel the sun’s infrared rays, the vast majority aren’t. Some shingles can handle high winds and hail, many can’t. Some shingles are more resistant to algae growth (the stuff that makes your roof look old and dingy). Then we get into properly installing the components, service, communication, returning your phone calls promptly, etc.
#1, it’s called insurance fraud. That’s a big deal that involves big fines and possible jail time. #2, in order to eat your deductible, roofing companies will have to cut corners on installation to not lose money… but you probably won’t know where they are shirking you. #3, if a company is willing to break the law to “save you money,” what else are they willing to do?
A shingle warranty is provided by the manufacturer while a workmanship warranty is provided by the roofing company. Shingle warranties can range from 10-50 years, and many are pro-rated. It’s important to hire a roofer who closely follows the manufacturer guidelines, otherwise the warranty is voided.
It’s referring to the width of the gutter. The choice between 5-inch and 6-inch gutters depends on factors such as the size and design of your roof, your budget, and local climate factors. If you have a larger & steeper roof, if it’s metal, tile or slate, opting for 6-inch gutters may be a wise choice to ensure effective water management and prevent potential issues like overflow or damage to your home’s foundation. However, for most homes in Greater Houston, 5-inch gutters are often sufficient and more cost-effective.
The benefit of plywood is that it’s relatively cheap. You can buy it anywhere, unless there’s a big storm in the Gulf and it’s sold out. The problems with plywood are numerous. It’s heavy which makes it tough to deploy, especially for second story windows. It’s limited in the size of the opening it can protect. It takes up a lot of space in your garage, which leads to another downfall: the years it stays in a hot, humid environment degrades its performance.
Hurricane Fabric, while being several times the cost of plywood, offers some unique advantages. It’s super tough, outperforming metal panels & plywood, and approved by the Texas Department of Insurance and Miami-Dade County. It’s easy to deploy; can cover very large openings; easy to store (in its provided bag to keep in a closet or attic), will last for many years and storms, and many more advantages.