Author Archives: Tony Guarino

About Tony Guarino

Tony Guarino is the owner/operater of Sunshine Roofing of SW FL, Inc.

Roofing Quote – Why It is Not Based On Homes Square Footage?

There are several reasons why you can’t get an accurate roofing quote based on your homes square footage. Also, there is the reluctance on the part of the roofing company to give out this “number” without getting more information. It isn’t because the roofing contractor doesn’t know what they are doing. It is usually because the caller does not know the process or what is all involved in coming up with a roofing quote. It just sounds so simple.

Roofing Quote Footage is Not the Same as Home Square Footage

Depending on where the information is coming from is going to determine the basis on which the estimated roof footage is calculated. The roof square footage is what we (roofing contractor) need to calculate a budget quote to do the job. So when you say my home is 1,500 square feet, how much to do the roof? Well, that is a good question. Does that amount include the garage? Does it include the back covered lanai area that is encompassed in the main portion of the roof? Does it include the addition that was built last year? Does it include the 2 – 4′ overhang or soffit area? Does it include the front entry? All these things could add much square footage to that 1,500 sq. ft. number. It also does not encompass all that is needed to come up with the square footage of the actual roof. This does not automatically mean the roof is 15 squares, as some might lead you to believe.

Types of Roofing Quote Material

From asphalt shingles, flat roofing, metal roofing, and concrete tile roofing, there are a myriad of pricing differences and waste factors that go into each individual price structure of a project for each different product. Not limited to slope of roof, hip footage, ridge footage, valley footage, edge footage, field footage, access, number of stories, and job location all have to do with it. Usually we can get an idea just knowing the roof field footage and the slope, but it is not something that is across the board, at least not for us. There are some companies that have set per square foot pricing, but we have not found this to be efficient. If we paid our guys the same on an easy up and over roof that we did on a cut up and steep one, do you think the workmanship will be the same? I don’t think so, and the latter is the one that needs the excellent workmanship just to survive.

Square Footage Information Changes Depending on the Source

The real estate listing has a home square footage number, but no basis on what this represents. The property appraiser has a square footage number, but they are only looking at your property tax liability. You have a number in your mind from when you bought the home, or a round-a-bout number that you may have used in other projects, but is this number even accurate? The numbers you have may only be air conditioned space, because isn’t that what is most important?

Here are two examples of the square footage from different sources – They don’t match up for the roofing quote

Roofing Quote Example 1

3 bedroom 2 bath home – MLS Listing has a square footage of 1,149. The county appraiser has the Actual square footage at 1,701 and adjusted square footage at 1,450 (they adjust the square footage so you pay a lesser amount of tax for lanai or garage, as you do for living space). Now the roof measures approximately 2,006 with a 5:12 slope for a total of 2,176 square feet plus a waste factor (depending on what type of roof covering) for the roofing quote. So the stats for this one are 1,149 sq.ft. MLS, 1,701 sq.ft. county appraiser, and 2,006 sq. ft. roof measurement. This is way too much of a difference to come to any reasonable conclusion.

Example 1

Roofing Quote Example 2

3 bedroom 2 bath home (2 story) – MLS Listing has a square footage of 1,670. The county appraiser has the Actual square footage at 1,746 and adjusted square footage at 1,484. Now the roof measures 1,519 with a 10:12 slope for a total of 1,978 square feet plus a waste factor (depending on what type of roof covering) for the roofing quote. So the stats for this one are 1,670 sq.ft. MLS, 1,746 sq.ft. county appraiser, and 1,978 sq.ft. roof measurement. A lot closer than example one, but still inconsistent. Also, now we have the 10:12 slope to factor in as it will be more labor for the steeper slope.

Example 2

Get a Budget Roofing Quote That Means Something!

So now when you call your favorite roofing service provider, you can ask them to give you a budget quote based on an internet measurement. When the roofing company starts asking those nosy questions like what is the address? How many stories is this home? What kind of roof are you wanting to put back? Are you the current owner? You will know why they are asking. Some roofing companies use pay services to get satellite takeoffs for their roofing quote, and they are very detailed. For homes that are just looking for a number, this is just not cost efficient for the roofer. They are usually more cost efficient for the very large homes and commercial type properties.

Roof Drains on Flat Roofs

Primary and Overflow Roof Drains

Roof drains on flat roofs should be inspected periodically by anyone capable of getting onto the roof. The inspections should be scheduled so that they coincide with the rainy season of the area. Checking them before rainy season is best, so they will perform as designed. This is important because, if they get clogged up, could cause major damage. Even with a screen or basket on the drain itself, debris can clog up the flow of drainage. Granules can get past the basket and actually clog up the pipe itself. Debris from trees can get around the basket and clog up the flow into the pipe. There are several different kinds of roof drainage that is used in different situations.

The time when the inspections will come into play is when a storm comes and dumps 8 inches of water in several hours. That is when the “performance” of your roof system and roof drainage system shows.

Just making sure there are drain baskets on them is a good idea. Many drain baskets are plastic and deteriorate over time, and just blow away. Now larger items can get down there and block it up.

Primary Roof Drain

The primary roof drain is the drain that takes all or most of the water off of the roof deck all the time. Usually the design is for this drain to be at the lowest point of the roof. As a roof and structure ages, this may not always be the case. Also, when water penetrates the roof system, the saturated insulation can depress and make ponds around the roof drain. This is when the roof leaks start. Currently on new roofing with tapered insulation, we will design a “sump” area, which is a step down from the surrounding roof area. This way the water is channeled into the sump no matter what.

Secondary or Overflow Roof Drain

The secondary or overflow roof drain is a protective measure if the primary drain gets clogged. It is a good idea to check the secondary drains as well during inspection. Since they do not get flushed as much as the primary drains, they get clogged easier with small debris that gets past the drain basket.

Scuppers

Scuppers on a roof can serve as primary drainage or secondary drainage. Typically, if a scupper is used, it will be in conjunction with a downspout. This is not always the case, but is much of the time.

Downspouts

Downspouts are known for draining water out of gutters, but are also used in conjunction with scuppers to drain water. Downspouts are an important part of a drainage system as they direct where all this water is going once it hits the ground, or is directed into another drainage device. You can create a downspout to direct all the roof water to go onto the side yard or the back, instead of right beside the home.

Save Money on Roof Vent Leak (NOT ACTUALLY) by Installing Gutter System in Attic

One way to save money on a roof vent leak repair is to install a gutter system in your attic to channel the leak to the soffit area. This photo shows just that, a real life attic gutter system. Incidentally, this 8′ off ridge vent had to be replaced after the gutter system started leaking. Homeowners can sometimes be very crafty about getting past roof leak problems. It may not actually have been to save money, but a way to get past the problem more quickly.

By the way, Sunshine Roofing of SW FL, Inc. does not actually recommend this technique. We recommend calling us so we can investigate and give you a free estimate for roofing repair. Once we got approval to replace the 8′ roof vent, we did just that.

This is the existing vent before we messed with it. The vent was installed without any skirt flashings even though the tile was installed with fasteners.

: Taking up the vent from the roof and inspecting underneath. Wasn’t too bad, probably leaking in the vent somewhere and had not completely rotted the wood yet.

Removing and replacing 8′ roof vents is something we do quite often. We don’t recommend installing 8′ off ridge vents. We recommend installing 4′ off ridge vents. The 8′ off ridge vents seem to develop a sag in the center and end up holding water which will rot out the vent. The 4 ‘ vents are a little stronger due to less of a span and can be installed with a slight tilt to keep the water off of them. If one is already installed we will work with it as it is more costly to try to retrofit two 4′ off ridge vents in its place. Installing only one 4′ off ridge vent in place of an 8’ off ridge vent just doesn’t seem to cut it.

After we installed the new vent we tied in the new vent with cold process modified bitumen. This is the same product we use on flat roofs.

Now for the lead sheet. This is to keep the water on top of the roof system. This tile roof system is that type of system.

All finished! Looks just like it was installed from the beginning.

R.L. Testimonial – They Are On My Favorites List in my iphone

The ONLY roofer to use. by Richard L. – 11/20/13

They responded promptly to my call, estimated the repair and stopped the leak. This was all done within the time frame they quoted and when the repairs were done, they reduced the final bill because the labor time was less than they had anticipated. I have used this company before and highly recommend them. In fact, they are on my “Favorites” list in my Iphone. Richard L. Naples, Fl.

They are on my Favorites list on my iphone

Dunn Testimonial – Telling Others About Your Roofing Company

Thanks for the good service. Will be telling others about your company.

Will be telling others about your company.

THX,

Wm Dunn

Tiffany Testimonial – Sunshine Roofing a Miracle Worker

Dave,

Please contact (name deleted) in unit 3396 at xxx-xxxx. I don’t know anything about this leak; It was reported to me by the association president. I just tried her number and is’t at home, but wanted to get this on next week’s schedule.

You made me look like a miracle worker after the year’s rainy season kicked in.

Thanks for this and all the great work you’ve done. You made me look like a miracle worker after the year’s rainy season kicked in.

Scott Tiffany

Williams Testimonial – Sunshine Roofing is Great!

I wanted to let you know that I feel your company is GREAT! from the very first day I called your company I was treated with courtesy and respect. I do not know a whole lot about roofing but, I did do my homework before calling you .

Thomas Ecker came to my home to do the proposal on my roof and he was a plasure to work with. He answered every question I had and explained everything in detail.

The work was perfomed in a prompt manner and the entire area was left clean.

The work was perfomed in a prompt manner and the entire area was left clean.

Please let all of them know they did an awesome job.

I wish more companies in Collier county would model themselves after yours because it sure would make it a better place to live. I will surely recomend this comany to everyone in the future.

Thank you all for such a great job!!!!!

Soncerely,

Julie Williams