Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Roof Situation To Date

Old, worn out shingles on my roofA week ago, I shared my ceiling damage due to my leaking roof. Over the past few days, my roof has taken over my life trying to locate and halt the leak and determine a solution.

Thursday's massive storms that brought tornados to Southern Ontario also hit my region with a torrential downpour and severe thunderstorm. This confirmed the leak was not a one-time fluke, but a major problem to be dealt with as soon as possible. With the storm raging outside, I thought I could do nothing but place a bucket and towel beneath the ceiling and watch it slowly deteriorate. Then, I realized finding the leak would be much easier when it was actually leaking, so I grabbed my step-ladder and ventured up into my attic.





I'm not claustrophobic, but to say I'm comfortable in a tiny attic would be a stretch. Luckily, I didn't have to look long and with my flashlight and head up in the attic, the leaks quickly became visible. Yes, that is right - LEAKS, as in plural, with an "s", multiple.






Clearly, my south roof is done. The water is going right through the shingles, through the plywood and into my house.






So, now I have two options.





I can hire a roofing company to replace it. I called one Friday, and when he came to look at it, he fixed the really bad holes (bonus!) free of charge. He (and I) thought this would buy some time until I could fix it. Turns out it's even worse and with yesterday morning's rain, it leaked yet again. He left me a quote for $4200 (after tax) for the whole roof. I'm going to get another on Monday to compare against.





My other (possible) option is to coax my dad and brothers to help me replace the roof. Okay, I'll be honest, they will probably do most of the work. I promised to help as much as I could, even if it just means feeding them, buying beer and loading up the old shingles for the dump.






Wet Dry Roof Repair product I used to temporarily fix my leaking roof


I gathered some material quotes today while at Home Depot buying stuff to temporarily patch the leaks. So far, my costs are around $2000 for shingles, new plywood, tar paper and eave protector. Home Depot has this handy worksheet to help calculate costs also. It is suggesting a cost of $2800-3400. The only significant cost I haven't considered is disposal of the old shingles. Whether I rent a dumpster, or use the back of a truck and take them myself, there is still going to be a disposal fee.






So the budget for this.. is not really existent! How frustrating it is since I was finally starting to feel like I had some control! I will be spending the next couple of days figuring out the dollars and cents, then will need everything lined up to start at the end of the week! Look for an update next week, hopefully with a new roof!

6 comments:

  1. Well my suggestion is that you need to hire a roofing company to replace your roof. I think its better for you.

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  2. Did you get a new roof yet? And why did you say you need plywood?

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  3. You bet I got a new roof! I posted about it on September 7. We did it what weekend! All in all, it was a pretty easy job with 3 strong men and an air nailer. I must say, I'm pretty good at scraping off shingles myself.

    Sounds like my family is planning to do three more this summer!

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  4. How is your roof now? I hope the leaks are all gone. I understand how you feel. Dealing with roof leaks can be frustrating and a pain. If you still have roof leak problems, I suggest that you go on full roof repair and replacement. It may be a bit costly, but it will save you from sleepless nights and dripping hassles.

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  5. A lot of home owners have their share of this problem. And I tell you, it is not pretty! Ceiling stains, molds and water damage are quite hard to deal with. The best solution to that problem comes in three 3Rs – Repair. Replace. Retain.

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  6. Roof is an integral part of the house, and regular checkup would be wise. The best time to inspect roof would be before the winter and rainy season. And always seek a professional to inspect your roof to know if it can be repaired or replaced. I would suggest you to replace your old roof with new one. It could be more economical than repairing, and maintaining it all the time.

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