[TrailerParadise]

i think this roofing contractor is trying to screw me over. he come out and walked around the trailer then wrote "metal roof - $3500". i asked what he planned to do and he said he would build a grid of 1x4s on top of the rusted roof (no sealer or anything) and lay the new metal on top and screw it down. no extending the vents or finishing the edges. he didnt even get up on the roof to see if it could hold the extra weight. bear in mind its a mobile home. am i being paranoid or is this guy trying to do a half assed job for that much money?
the roof is 14' x 48'

 

[joecaption]

Your lucky to even get one to show up when you said mobile home.
Most would pass on the job.
May seam harsh but there's very little on a mobile home to even screw into to attach metal roofing to.
Why would they do anything to coat the roof if they were just going to go over it with another roof?

 

[oh'mike]

Time to call some others out for a quote----He may have already done this job enough times that he has the job figured out---or he might be a schlep----

You felt uncomfortable about his skills--that should be enough to pass on him..

 

[OldNBroken]

Do some homework and find someone you are comfortable with to give you options and quotes.

In your other post you mentioned $10K. So why are you so shocked at 1/3 that price? BTW, now that you told us the size, $3500 is not unreasonable so long as they are giving you a proper roof. Talk to contractors who specialize in metal roofing.

 

[TrailerParadise]

the contractor who said 10k intended to remove the old roof and inspect the roof beams and then lay new osb and put on the new roof, finish edges and extend my vent. its not his price that i have an issue with, its the half assed job he wants to do

 

[AndyWRS]

It would take some serious balls to put a roof on over vents and leave the edge open and then to expect to get paid any remaining balance.

Ask him to put his bid in writing with specifics like product type, manufacturer, color, warranty, installation details ect ( if your getting a Manufacturers warranty, and you should be, then he should be saying installed to manufacturers specs or something along those lines that requires installations details set forth by the manufacturer). The bids they give you need to be detailed so you can compared your bids to one another. Metal roof $3500 as you say they put it is vague. If the next guy says Metal roof $6500 your assuming the 2nd guys ripping you off...but he could be bidding a completely different roof system. You need to require a detailed written bid from each contractor so you know what your getting and also to allow you to compare bids properly.

Something like that i would be around 5k to 7,5k+ for Standing Seam. I think the $3500 is pretty low but i have no idea what product they proposed or the going rate in your city.

 

[TrailerParadise]

i think im going to get some more bids from metal roof specialists in my area. i agree about detailed bids, that is what i expected but when i got it, all of the options were marked out and he had written in pencil at the bottom 'metal roof - $3500". I requested to know how much of that was labor and i got "oh, well, uh, i guess, well, probably about $2500. Or $1000." Then i requested to know how many metal roofs he had done and he said his specialty is shingles but he can do a metal, which tells me he doesnt have much experience. so im going to go get some other opinions. I searched out this guy on angie's list, on the BBB, and on pissedconsumer.com and he came highly recommended. i dont get it. i am not paying this guy 3500 bucks for shady work. If he cant even seperate his labor from his materials, it throws up a red flag to me.

 

[ParagonEx]

If he cant even seperate his labor from his materials, it throws up a red flag to me.

Not to change the topic entirely but I don't know of any companies who separate materials from the labor. In the end, it doesn't matter. If you agree to $3500 what difference is it if it's $500 materials and $3000 labor or vice versa?

 

[oh'mike]

Very few contractors separate materials from labor----I don't know any at all that do that---



So don't expect to see that on a contract---a scope of work--and a price---that's usually it--

 

[12penny]

I dont want to change the direction of this thread either, but I find the title offensive. Maybe something like "is this work scope worth what I'm being charged". :whistling2:

 

[jagans]

I think Joe and I already told you what to use on this trailer, and now you are approaching it from another direction? Get rid of the metal you have, make sure you have an acceptable substrate. Add some insulation, and install a .060 fully adhered EPDM roof on it. The only issue is screw length. They do this all the time in FLA. Put your digital camera on a monopod, put it on time delay and stick it up there to take some pictures so we can see it. The only thing that concerns me is whether the original roof is part of the structure, as a diaphragm. This is not unusual in low cost construction, and could necessitate some wind bracing. Considering the fact that your ceiling follows your roof line, you have a moment connection at the ridge. We need to know exactly what that is. Were I you, I would start with a PSE.

 

[drtbk4ever]

I recall the OP mentioning he called someone about the EPDM roof and they wouldn't do it because it isn't a flat roof?

I can't find that post anywhere so I could be mistaken.

 

[TrailerParadise]

i know you guys told me what to do in the last thread but i tried to tell you, i cannot do it. I cannot get on the roof to do anything, thats why im getting quotes from roofing contractors and getting quotes on putting a cover over it. And i would like to know how much is labor and how much is parts because of the fact that if he is going to charge me $2500 for parts and i can get it elsewhere for only $1500, then i would have it put in the contract that i will provide parts and materials. IM the homeowner, and he is my vendor, im paying him money and i should get what i want. I want the rust sealed and a new roof put on. I would actually like to have the old roof removed altogether and the new one put in its place but i dont know how safe that would be, given the age of the home. The contractor works for me, i dont work for him. this guy only wants to do it the way he wants to do it and i dont agree with his methods. Thats why i am getting other quotes. My dad told me that he was going to charge $4k until my dad told him i had done research and knew how much metal cost, he dropped the price. i dont like that at all.

 

[oh'mike]

Good luck to you on that---

I always provide the materials .as do most contractors worth dealing with---
I know what's needed--I buy most in quantity and do jobs using my stock--

Another 'contractor' to compare---a restaurant---you want a meal--they tell you how much--
That price covers--overhead---profit--materials and labor----

Exact same thing----you would never ask them for a 'break down of costs'--or tell them you wished to provide the materials---seriously---would you do that?

How is this different?----

 

[TrailerParadise]

i understand where you're coming from, Mike. But regardless of where the price comes from or who buys what, the contractor should do what i want him to do, or pass on the job, right? If i want something done a certain way, the man i pay to do it should do it that way. At the very least he should seal the edges and extend my vent stack so that it comes above the new roof level. As it is right now, the cap on top of the vent stack only sit about an inch above roof level. If he doesnt extend it and puts an inch thick board on the roof then covers that with metal panels, it will cover the vent. Im sorry but that is unacceptable to me. My dad says its not a big deal and we can extend it ourselves but if im paying this guy to do the job, i shouldnt have to do any of it myself. He should do what i want him to do, and what i am paying him to do.

 

[12penny]

How about patch the holes with sheet metal and screws, then
a couple coats of elastomeric roof coating. Quick, cheap and it'll
get you through for now. No need to extend anything.

 

[TrailerParadise]

Holes? There arent any holes. Its just rusty. and even doing that much would still require a contractor.

 

[12penny]

No contractor required. Pour it on and spread with a 3/4" nap roller.
If you can't DIY then you should be able to find a handyman
type to do it for you.

 

[oh'mike]

A contractor should do what you request---or tell you why a different method is better--

That is called the 'scope of work' ---

If you have the 'scope of work' laid out on paper---then different bids will be for the same work.

Work up your 'scope of work' and then call in other contractors----for a bid.

When comparing bids look at the scope of work in their contract----if it's not there--don't expect anything more.

With that said--I frequently do elaborate jobs on nothing more than a hand shake---
Trust and familiarity with a craftsmans skills is worth as much as a well written contract.

Even in these tough times--I turn down more work than I take---Someone that asks for a 'breakdown' of costs would never hear from me again----don't scare off the good contractors with silly requests---

you would be kicked out of that restaurant if you asked to provide your own bacon and eggs----

Or how much is the labor part of your breakfast.

 

[joecaption]

I had that exact thing happen to me. The customers book keeper said I was taking advantage of him and charging to much and had to many people on the job.
He went behind my back and went to my supplyer and asked to see my invoices for materials.
The sad part is he was what I thought was a friend and was giving him the materials for cost because he was trying to start up a resturant and I was trying to help him out.
I only had two people on the job. Come to find out the lady that was complaining son inlaw had lost the job and she was trying to get it back. And it worked. I quit and he took over. He marked his materials up 25%, had 6 men on the job, and on top of his bill charged 10% more for a contractors fee.