Author Topic: Need help pushing me over the edge...  (Read 3835 times)

acroy

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Need help pushing me over the edge...
« on: July 07, 2014, 08:05:50 AM »
... to commit to roofing my own roof.

Having said that, maybe I don't want to be 'pushed over the edge' ;)

The Scoop:
-The asphalt-shingle roof was severely damaged by hail a couple months back.
-I have a Mustachian high-deductible home insurance policy, with a $12k deductible. So I am more or less on my own, financially.
-Local companies will re-roof with standard asphalt shingles for about $8k
-MMM's recent articles on metal roofs, and the most recent "Necessity is the Mother of Badassity", have got me fired up.
-House is single story, mild pitch. About as easy as it comes.

The Dilemma
-I have money
-I can take a week off from work
-I am reasonably handy
-Only thing stopping me from re-roofing myself (asphalt or metal) is doubting my own Badassity & fear of creating a bigger problem, then the awful embarrassment of having to call in the pros.

HELP!

former player

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Re: Need help pushing me over the edge...
« Reply #1 on: July 07, 2014, 08:33:20 AM »
You need  -

1) a plan.  (A very, very detailed, costed plan with materials, methods, tools and timetable.  Project manage yourself.  Don't start the project until you've educated yourself on the process, gone through all the permutations and satisfied yourself on the risks.)

2) a good mate to do it with.  (OK, perhaps you could do it without.  But it would be safer and more enjoyable to have someone to do it with, and to talk through all the inevitable problems with.)

Dyk

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Re: Need help pushing me over the edge...
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2014, 01:52:13 PM »
Acroy:

You can do it!  I was asking the same questions, and just recently replaced my whole roof (shingles).  2 things were key for me (former player already mentions them)
1.  A good group of friends.  We had a 2 layer tear off, and without them I was sunk.
2.  One person with some roofing experience to walk me through the valleys (literally), flashing the chimney etc.

If you research it, don't rush, and you are fairly handy, you can save a lot of money, and learn a lot about your roof!  An added benefit I found was the confidence in understanding all the details of my roof hidden under the shingles. 

Good luck!

commodore perry

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Re: Need help pushing me over the edge...
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2014, 06:17:43 AM »
You can do it! I wouldn't worry about the potential of maybe having to call in the pros for help. If you decide not to do it yourself you'll have to call the pros anyway! I used to have the same hang-up about fixing my own vehicles but I decided: it's already broken/not working...worst case I get into it and can't fix it and have it towed. So far my success rate is 100%. Once you get into it you won't quit and decide to hand over to the pros, trust me, you'll work through the inevitable problems as they come up.

acroy

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Re: Need help pushing me over the edge...
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2014, 09:59:49 AM »
Thanks ya'll for the inspiration - I must rather abashedly admit I let the pros do it. The insurance guy turned purple and started sputtering when I informed them I'd handle it myself! Basically they would not accept I could do it to code, to their satisfaction. Since it was a homeowner's claim they required pros to 'recover the damage' and prevent further claims - i.e. if it's done incorrectly, water may leak & cause greater damage.

Impact when all was said & done was aprox $4k out of pocket. I figure I could have done it myself for about $2k; so not an enormous impact. I gotta say, the pros did it fast & nice.

A silver lining: I took care of the skylights, wind turbines, pool deck, and other damaged items myself, saving about $4k. Learned some Paintless Dent Repair as well for the smashed-up car.

TheHouseStache

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Re: Need help pushing me over the edge...
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2014, 11:40:14 AM »
Thanks ya'll for the inspiration - I must rather abashedly admit I let the pros do it. The insurance guy turned purple and started sputtering when I informed them I'd handle it myself! Basically they would not accept I could do it to code, to their satisfaction. Since it was a homeowner's claim they required pros to 'recover the damage' and prevent further claims - i.e. if it's done incorrectly, water may leak & cause greater damage.

Impact when all was said & done was aprox $4k out of pocket. I figure I could have done it myself for about $2k; so not an enormous impact. I gotta say, the pros did it fast & nice.

A silver lining: I took care of the skylights, wind turbines, pool deck, and other damaged items myself, saving about $4k. Learned some Paintless Dent Repair as well for the smashed-up car.

Looks like they did a damn fine job, especially considering the price!  For what it's worth, I have heard/ seen people have claims denied even when they *are* a licensed contractor simply because it's their own property. 

Hedge_87

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Re: Need help pushing me over the edge...
« Reply #6 on: July 13, 2014, 02:43:02 PM »
Thanks ya'll for the inspiration - I must rather abashedly admit I let the pros do it. The insurance guy turned purple and started sputtering when I informed them I'd handle it myself! Basically they would not accept I could do it to code, to their satisfaction. Since it was a homeowner's claim they required pros to 'recover the damage' and prevent further claims - i.e. if it's done incorrectly, water may leak & cause greater damage.

Impact when all was said & done was aprox $4k out of pocket. I figure I could have done it myself for about $2k; so not an enormous impact. I gotta say, the pros did it fast & nice.

A silver lining: I took care of the skylights, wind turbines, pool deck, and other damaged items myself, saving about $4k. Learned some Paintless Dent Repair as well for the smashed-up car.

Looks like they did a damn fine job, especially considering the price!  For what it's worth, I have heard/ seen people have claims denied even when they *are* a licensed contractor simply because it's their own property.

Never heard of this but it sounds like some bullshit insurance companies would try and pull.

TheHouseStache

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Re: Need help pushing me over the edge...
« Reply #7 on: July 14, 2014, 08:05:33 PM »
Thanks ya'll for the inspiration - I must rather abashedly admit I let the pros do it. The insurance guy turned purple and started sputtering when I informed them I'd handle it myself! Basically they would not accept I could do it to code, to their satisfaction. Since it was a homeowner's claim they required pros to 'recover the damage' and prevent further claims - i.e. if it's done incorrectly, water may leak & cause greater damage.

Impact when all was said & done was aprox $4k out of pocket. I figure I could have done it myself for about $2k; so not an enormous impact. I gotta say, the pros did it fast & nice.

A silver lining: I took care of the skylights, wind turbines, pool deck, and other damaged items myself, saving about $4k. Learned some Paintless Dent Repair as well for the smashed-up car.

Looks like they did a damn fine job, especially considering the price!  For what it's worth, I have heard/ seen people have claims denied even when they *are* a licensed contractor simply because it's their own property.

Never heard of this but it sounds like some bullshit insurance companies would try and pull.

I agree, but with some hack jobs I've seen come up in home inspections, I don't entirely blame them. Then again, just because it's a contractor doesn't guarantee it will be done right. Ymmv.