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I am planning on putting on a new roof this summer, but I have yet to figure out a practical/safe way to reach these couple small areas just above my second floor windows.
Suggestions?
Suggestions?
How can I reach this spot on my roof?
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The 'safe' way to do it....let the roofer do it.
I've done a roof. And to be honest, I didn't save any money. If I figure what my time is worth, I lost money.
I can make more money working overtime than than the difference of me doing it vs a contractor.
Trust me on this.
Unless of course you really want to find out for yourself.
I've done a roof. And to be honest, I didn't save any money. If I figure what my time is worth, I lost money.
I can make more money working overtime than than the difference of me doing it vs a contractor.
Trust me on this.
Unless of course you really want to find out for yourself.
Hi Ernie and welcome to the forum.
Although I do agree with ddawg, we work for pennies when we do our own roofing, I will be doing some this summer myself. But my roof is simple and I own the staging, ladders, and nail guns (plus I'm retired) so it keeps me busy.
As you said, the key is doing it safely. A safety harness would be a first step with proper anchors, but always have someone with you to get you down as you can only hang from those harnesses for a short period. I think 20 minutes and you die from the harness.
Second step would be to see what is needed for the rest of the house. Options are scaffolding, ladder jacks, powered lifts, or your own wood staging (be careful).
Another question to resolve is, how will you get the shingles up there and of course how will you remove the old ones. Just dumping them off of the side can damage the house, windows, and shrubs. Plus it is a lot of wheel barrow work.
How many squares, Ice and water shield, flashing, new boots for vents, and any soft spots in the roof. Do you have a ridge vent and or will you be adding one?
Most important, have you ever done any roofing and do you have help. Mother nature rarely gives you a month to complete a roof.
Bud
Although I do agree with ddawg, we work for pennies when we do our own roofing, I will be doing some this summer myself. But my roof is simple and I own the staging, ladders, and nail guns (plus I'm retired) so it keeps me busy.
As you said, the key is doing it safely. A safety harness would be a first step with proper anchors, but always have someone with you to get you down as you can only hang from those harnesses for a short period. I think 20 minutes and you die from the harness.
Second step would be to see what is needed for the rest of the house. Options are scaffolding, ladder jacks, powered lifts, or your own wood staging (be careful).
Another question to resolve is, how will you get the shingles up there and of course how will you remove the old ones. Just dumping them off of the side can damage the house, windows, and shrubs. Plus it is a lot of wheel barrow work.
How many squares, Ice and water shield, flashing, new boots for vents, and any soft spots in the roof. Do you have a ridge vent and or will you be adding one?
Most important, have you ever done any roofing and do you have help. Mother nature rarely gives you a month to complete a roof.
Bud
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Hi guys,
Thanks for responses. I do have a little roofing experience on some small projects, but nothing of this scale. I live in Seattle, where labor prices are as much as anywhere in the country. I have 3 quotes for $19k-$22k for my 26 square roof. Do the math on that profit margin.
My neighbor just paid $20k+ for a roof and watching the non-english speaking laborers just slop it on as fast as possible while barely even looking where they were nailing wasn't exactly confidence inspiring.
It's going to be a serious job that I'm sure will test my resolve, but I'm capable and stubborn enough to see it through.
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I would place a couple roof jacks on the roof below, put a 2x6 in the roof jacks and set a step ladder on the roof held at the base by the roof jacks. At least thats what we would do for similar situations in the nearly 30 years I did residential roofing.
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The problem with that advice is simply ones time is only worth what someone is willing to pay for that time. And not everybody can just go work overtime when they need to.
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Get more quotes.
Unless you are putting down something exotic, you prices seem on the high side to be honest. Most guys rightfully so do not comment on price without know specifics, but I think you should get another quote or two.
Unless you are putting down something exotic, you prices seem on the high side to be honest. Most guys rightfully so do not comment on price without know specifics, but I think you should get another quote or two.
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Going to have to agree with Ddawg16 on this one.
Want to save money, have them do the upper roofs and you do the lower one.
Saving money is not worth your life and limb.
I'd want to smacking whoever designed those dormers in the back of the head for doing it that way.
If you do end up doing it yourself at least strip the upper roof, paper it and have the shingles roof top delivered.
Never lay the new shingles over the peak of the roof, lay them flat and spread them out, not one big pile.
Want to save money, have them do the upper roofs and you do the lower one.
Saving money is not worth your life and limb.
I'd want to smacking whoever designed those dormers in the back of the head for doing it that way.
If you do end up doing it yourself at least strip the upper roof, paper it and have the shingles roof top delivered.
Never lay the new shingles over the peak of the roof, lay them flat and spread them out, not one big pile.
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Seattle? Where it rains almost every day?
When I did my roof, it took me a month. I took off one week and in that time was was able to repair all the damaged wood and get on side nailed down. It took me 3 more weeks of working about 2-3 hours/evening to get the rest of it done.
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You could rent a cherry picker or a boom for a day. Might not be cheap, but would be safe and easy
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I'm not going to pass judgement on the wisdom of you DIYing your roof since you didn't ask.
But in the case of the roof area you did ask about a couple of roof jacks are about 16 bucks for 2, a 2x6 is about 4 bucks and hopefully you have a step ladder. Do those roof areas before the stuff below so you can just face nail the jacks in to the old roof and not worry about tucking them under new stuff. :vs_cool:
But in the case of the roof area you did ask about a couple of roof jacks are about 16 bucks for 2, a 2x6 is about 4 bucks and hopefully you have a step ladder. Do those roof areas before the stuff below so you can just face nail the jacks in to the old roof and not worry about tucking them under new stuff. :vs_cool:
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I don't know about exotic, but I do want a high quality product installed with care. From my research, it seems like Malarkey has (arguably) the most durable, install friendly shingles. I'm leaning toward that.
When I started asking around my area, all I seemed to hear were horror stories. Leaks from day 1, no shows, leaving the deck open to rain, disappearing midway through the job, massive cost overruns, all the usual stuff. The roofing industry is filled with such shady people since it's so easy to take advantage of the customer.
I found exactly ONE company in the city with near universal praise (Rainier View Construction), and they are of course the most expensive outfit in town. The cost is just crazy to me. They are charging $250/hr for workers who make maybe $25/hr.
Even if I have to spend $2k+ to buy/rent the proper equipment, I'm still coming out way ahead. I can also make sure the install is exactly the manufacturer spec.
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Someone may be able to suggest more places to get quotes if you added your location.
$250.00 an hour would be about 10 time's my local going rate.
In the US I've never even heard of Malarkey shingles and 99.9% of the people here I'm sure have never heard of Rainier Cont.
$250.00 an hour would be about 10 time's my local going rate.
In the US I've never even heard of Malarkey shingles and 99.9% of the people here I'm sure have never heard of Rainier Cont.
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Joe, he already said he's in Seattle. Malarkey is a good product that's sold all over the Mid and Western US.
@ErnieMccracken...get more quotes. I'm not sure how you're coming up with $250 a man hour. BTW, the cost of legally doing business as a roofing contractor is steep.
You're in the wettest climate in the country and there's a lot more to it than just "sloping it on as fast as possible".
I'm not saying that you're not capable of pulling this off but please make absolute sure that you know 'exactly' what you're getting into before you commit.
ddawg16's story is a very realistic one, please don't just gloss over it.
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Figure an average roofer can lay 8 squares in a standard 8 hour work day. I'm looking at my median quote which is for $428/square to install shingles (this is for shingles + shingle install labor only).
That means I would be charged $3,424 per day, per worker. Subtract maybe $800 for materials at most, and they are still netting $2,624 daily revenue or $328/hr for shingling :surprise:.
They seem to make a little less on tearoff and other parts of the install, so I actually rounded down to $250/hr. I know there is a lot of overhead in the roofing biz and business isn't always booming, but they still charge plenty enough to get rich.
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Everything is expensive. Try and find a small independent guy to do your roof. The bigger operations out here are pretty bad. Seems like common practice for a son to take over the family business and run it into the ground.
As I understand Seattle does not receive nearly as much rain as it did in the 70's.
As I understand Seattle does not receive nearly as much rain as it did in the 70's.
I'm in NE NJ and its not cheap around here. But one rental company website says Lift articulated boom and its $225 for one day. Delivery and such is probably additional. If your willing to learn could be safest way. Cheapest would be 2x on the roof and setting a ladder on it, but I'm old enough and don't like heights enough (at least for the 1st day), that I am willing to pay these days.:smile:
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I agree with craig, that's how I would do it, with the addition of filling the roof jacks with 2x's and nailing the first one through the hole provided. And put some tool box non-slip under the ladder feet or surround them somehow not to side-slip- or one board in roof jack with ladder in front as craig mentioned. An 8' extension/ladder jack/plank over to another ladder on "L" on dormer is another option. You are making this too difficult... lol. certainly see the experience showing in the answers- 
.
Gary
.Gary
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