Running for Cover

If you are running out of buckets to protect your carpet from the rain, it might be time to consider a new roof.

And since it’s such a sizable investment, you should do lots of research before signing a contract. Don’t just open the phone book and pick the biggest, smallest or prettiest ad.

Every leak doesn’t necessarily mean a new roof is needed. Some just need caulking around the fireplace or vents. But if you think it’s time for the big purchase, you might start by asking your newly roofed neighbor who he or she used, how he was treated and if he was satisfied.

But don’t stop there. Even if he loves his new roof, he might not know that he got one that is too heavy for the structure of his home.

Or there could be substandard materials hiding under that beautiful tile. He wouldn’t know that for a few years.

If you don’t know anyone with a new roof, try a Realtor, suggested Kelli Travers, a secretary at Fortress Roofing in Camarillo.

“Realtors use roofers a lot, and they should know who does a good job,” Travers said.

Now about the cost.

Ron Martin of Martin Roofing Co. in Ventura said an average tract home in Ventura and Oxnard is sized 1,100 to 1,200 square feet.

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For such a home, a composition roof over the existing roof, with a 25-year warranty, would cost about $2,125, while replacing the roof and plywood would cost about $4,800.

A gravel roof with a 20-year warranty would cost about $5,200, and replacing a shake roof with a concrete tile roof--with a 50-year-warranty--could cost up to $8,000.

Across the county, a composition roof for a 3,000-square-foot house would start at $6,000 to $7,000, said Mark Cahoon, owner of Roof Time in Thousand Oaks. Concrete tile, depending on the style, could cost $9,000 to $14,000, including plywood, he said.

Before calling at least three roofing companies for estimates, get each of their contractor’s license numbers and call the Contractors State License Board and make sure the licenses are current.

The Ventura office number is 654-4515.

Cahoon suggested that you find out what kind of contractor’s license the worker has while you are on the phone with the state board.

A C-39 license means he specializes in roofing.

Once you know he is licensed, it’s good to find out if he has a city permit.

And don’t forget to verify the insurance information, said Roger Milligan, owner of Channel Island Roofing of Oxnard.

If a company hands you a copy of its workers’ compensation and liability insurance. it’s worth taking the time to call the insurance company and make sure the policy is still valid, Cahoon said.

“You could get a low price from someone without insurance, and if something happens, the owner is responsible for everything,” Milligan said.

Milligan, who has been in the roofing industry for 25 years, said it also might be worth considering how long a company has been in business, since it needs to be around to cover its warranty.

“It’s good to find someone with a track record for taking good care of their customers,” Milligan said.

And be wary of someone who asks for money upfront to buy the materials, he warned.

“Most established contractors don’t ask for money upfront,” he said. “Someone reputable will usually get their money at the completion and satisfaction of their customer.”

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Once you have settled on a company, you must decide which kind of roof to put on your house. Every city has a code, some homeowner associations have specific requirements and everyone has their own opinion as to what looks the best.

If a tile roof is put on a house not originally built to hold the weight, the house will have to be engineered or reinforced or, in time, the windows could crack and doors won’t shut, Cahoon said.

Travers suggests calling a roofing supply company to discuss which type of roof to put on.

And it is not just what you see that matters. According to Cahoon, the tar paper that is put under the roof needs to be of good quality, or it could disintegrate.

In that case, taking off the roof, replacing the tar paper and then putting back on the roof could cost almost as much as a new roof.

One more thing: If the contract has a whole bunch of words, you shouldn’t sign until you understand every last one of them.

“A warranty should be easy to understand,” Cahoon said.