Please note: this page contains reviews and opinions sent in by Berkeley Parents Net subscribers. Your own experience may be different. Please always check references before hiring!

2011 - 2012 Recommendations

Need a licensed independent roofer

I would like a recommendation of a roofer. I especially would love to hear about an independent roofer (not in a large company). He/she must be licensed and insured. I live up 36 stairs and have a 2 story house so there is some distance from the street to the roof to take down and up material. I have 3 layers of leaky roof material that need to be removed and replaced with a solid roof. Hoping to find someone that won't cost me a fortune. Anon

I haven't had terrible experiences with roofers in the past, but the company that did my house 10 years ago subcontracted the gutters to someone who did a shoddy job and didn't return phone calls when the flashing around the chimney failed after a few years. So I was impressed that Precision Roofing offers a 15 year warranty for labor and workmanship, and they'll extend it for another 15 years if you have them return and do routine maintenance. Michael takes pride in his business, he's employed the same people for years and provides them with benefits and vacation pay. I think that's impressive as well. Their phone number is 436-7575 Berkeley Home Owner

More details - Our house is a 107-year old, 2-story A-frame shape, a style that is commonly seen in Berkeley and Oakland. Because our house is narrower than most, the pitch of the A-frame roof is about as steep as it gets, a definite challenge for roof work. We had a complete tear-off (3 layers), down to the skip sheeting. The new roof is GAF brand asphalt shingles (40-year as I recall) plus roofing felt, over foil laminated OSB plywood sheeting.

You didn't ask for this, but, hopefully useful: to familiarize ourselves with roofing materials, roofing techniques, and more so that we could make good decisions and know what to ask, we ended up watching a lot of educational Youtube videos that were posted by the shingle manufacturers and a variety of roofing companies throughout the country. I highly recommend doing this to help with decisions on materials and to guide you in terminology and conversations with your roofer when you start talking about roof vents, valleys, gutters, any trouble spots where water could collect, and other details.

Another thing: Roofing, especially tear-off, is messy work, no matter who is doing the work. I was happy with the cleanliness of Adrian's crew, with how they contained and cleaned up the mess, and with the manner in which they protected the sides of our house and our neighbors (there is not much space between us and our neighbors). Even so, there were old roofing nails found in the dirt and groundcover around our house. We had a couple of very strong magnets (one rare earth magnet and one 18' long bar that was a kitchen knife holder before we had kids). We encased the magnets in plastic bags, attached string, and dragged them around the yard to find the nails. I found a bunch myself, and paid my son 5 cents per nail after the easy ones were all found (it was a well-spent $20). Be sure to wear sturdy-soled, close-toed shoes (like hiking boots) while this is going on. Linda

In need of roofer recommendation

Does anyone have a recommendation for someone to replace a roof? Even better if they are specialized in using environmentally friendly techniques and materials. THANK YOU! Orinda resident

Experience with Armstrong Roofing of Emeryville?

I need a new low slope composition shingle roof (tear-down) on my small, but many-roofed, leaking 2-story Berkeley house. I need to add exterior rigid insulation to an uninsulated 'vintage' plank roof. I received a cold call from Armstrong Roofing of Emeryville. Has anyone used them? Any comments? Any good recent experiences with reasonably priced roofers that you can recommend? Lyrinda in Berkeley

Roofer who will do repairs

I had some roofing done a few years ago by a roofer who was recommended on BPN, Ira Fabricant. He re-roofed our duplex in Berkeley and my cottage in Oakland. Just after he was done, the cottage leaked around the Sky Light and he wanted to charge me to repair it (so I got someone else to fix it). Now, a few years later, the duplex is leaking because Ira replaced some of the flashing when he re-roofed, but not all of it. He didn't replace the flashing around the vent housing on the North side of the property. So, I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good roofer who repairs the work of other roofers and also a roofer who will (ideally) come back and fix their own work free of charge if the roof leaks? Thanks for your help! Claire

Roofer recommendations needed

We're looking for a great roofer to replace a 25 y.o. roof in Rockridge. Any recommendations (or people to avoid)? Thanks!

Need Roofer recommendation and advice

I am in the process of getting bids for a new roof and would appreciate any recommendations for roofing contractors who work in the east bay -- I live in Walnut Creek. Also, this is my first time dealing with a new roof so if there are tips you have for me on what to do and not do that would be great. Thanks! MJ

Recommendations for roofers for new roof

We just discovered we need a new roof. Can anyone recommend a roofer who can also help us change the line of our roof? --thank you in advance--

Roof leaking - Contractor? Roofer?

Hi all, Our roof has sprung a leak (!!), and we're looking for a recommendation. Is this something a Contractor would do? Or a Roofer? In either case, your recommendations (also, who to avoid) gratefully accepted. (Interestingly, this is on the remodeled (e.g., newer - 6 years old!) side of the house, not the 1916 side...Yuck!) Thanks so much, Tired of filling containers...

Roofer

Looking for a reasonable and good roofer. dianna

2009 - 2010 Recommendations

Reasonable, licensed Roofer needed

Need reasonably priced, licensed and honest roofer who does good work for a Kensington home. The roof is old and has a couple of layers of old roofs underneath. Please advise! anon

Nicholas Roofing for small roof job?

Has anyone had a roof done by Nicholas Roofing of Berkeley? Have a small roofing job and looking for comments (good or not so good) from former customers, recent or years past. Thank you. -Anonymous

Roofer for rooftop garden/deck

Need the name of a reliable roofer in preparation for rooftop garden/deck. This is a small job but need someone who does good work with attention to detail. Thanks in advance. -Anon

Repairs for shake roof

We are looking for recommendations for a good, honest roofer (licensed contractor) to do some repair work on our shake roof. We think it needs the ridge caps replaced and possibly some additional repairs. We want someone who will explain what they are doing and who will guarantee their work. It may be a small job to some, but it is big to us and we want someone who will treat it that way. We want to maintain our roof so it lasts as long as possible. thanks Judy

I am in need of an excellent roofer. We have a leak in our roof, and are looking for someone to find and fix the problem. Any suggestions??? Thanks! All Wet in Orinda

He was great to work with, does his own work, and I would highly recommend him. I went up on the roof with him and he explained all the problems he saw, and I learned a lot. I can tell he takes pride in what he does. Dry in Orinda

I'm wondering if anyone has had Dan Lynch waterproof their home, work on their deck, or done any services recently. We have a serious roof leak under a balcony and want to hire someone reliable. Thank you for any comments on Dan Lynch or suggestions about who we can call.

anyone has a recommendation for a good roofer to fix the flat section of a sloped roof. Its a small area, but its time for maintenance. thx thx homeowner

Does anyone know of a reliable and affordable roofer? Beth

My mother needs some roofing work done on her house in Oakland and is considering Central Bay Roofing Company because of a personal connection. Have you had roof work done by them? Do you have a different roofer that you'd recommend? anon

2007 - 2008 Recommendations

Looking for a recommendation for a contractor to track down and fix a(composite shingle) roof (or gutter, not completely clear where it's coming from) leak on the exterior (2nd story) of my house. The roof has several years yet to go, so this is a small job. Thanks! Ragnar

They sent me a letter documenting the roof's condition for my insurance company at no charge. Totally above board.

 Collins Roofing Inc.
 Phone/Fax 510-482-2227
 Email: collinsroofinginc@yahoo.com
 Website: www.collinsroofing.com

Can anyone recommend a good roofer? Berkeley resident

Small roofing job in North Berkeley -- seek reputable and responsive roofer. jr

Hi, can anyone recommend a roofer who can actually repair leaks and will stand by their work? Thanks so much cr

Anyone have any recommendations for a roofer? Erik

We're looking for a great roofer in the north berkeley area. Any recommendations? pamela

we are in need of a contractor/roofer/handyman who can fix a roof leak in the corner of our home. The water has started coming through the walls so there is more than likely the chance that the existing inside plaster or drywall will also need to be replaced/repaired OUR BUDGET IS LIMITED SO THIS PERSON WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REASONABLY PRICED
Dawn

Has anyone had experience with this company? I'd love to get some feedback about them. Their bid for a new roof was the lowest ever! Thanks! anon in Berkeley

We had our roof done last summer by Planchon Roofing, (510) 235-4056. They were fast, professional, and reasonably priced. I liked the owner and the workers very much. We also love our roof! He was able to handle our city requirements and put in some great skylights.

In general, I highly recommend getting more than one bid, because the price differences were really big. A good roofer should tell you exactly where the shingles are coming from, and in fact you can go on the web and look at all the different products, prices, and even try them out virtually on different colored houses. I found the 40 year shingles to be just right. This roofer was willing to wait so that we could special order the color we really wanted and it was well worth it. Another thing--you should not have to get the permit yourself, the roofer should take care of all that stuff. You can also look up licensed contractors on the BBB (Better Business Bureau) website and see if there are cases or complaints. happy with roof

Looking for roofer recommendations in Walnut Creek. The majority of recommendations in the archives are for the Berkeley/Oakland area.

We just had our roof done by Jay Roofing (510-532-1975). His quote was very reasonable, he had great ideas and solutions for the particular problems the job posed, and he charged reasonably for the extra unforeseen work that cropped up. His crew was exceptionally careful of our yard and the neighbors' yards, their cleanup was absolutely spotless. In addition, he was able to handle a hostile neighbor with great skill and charm. And the work was done quickly. Absolute highest recommendation. marcella

2005 - 2006 Recommendations

I'm trying to help my Mom find a good and reliable roofing company. The reviews are a bit old so I wanted to get some up to date recommendation to give her. Thanks, Laura

Before we moved into our current house the previous owners had our whole roof replaced, but we discovered to our chagrin that the roofers had done a lousy job on a particularly tricky part of the roof where a pitched section of the roof overhung a flat section, resulting in a large leak. I followed up with the previous roofers to try to get them to fix it (there was a warranty, which the previous roofers claimed was not transferable, but they came out to try to patch the leak anyway). They came, they worked, they left--it leaked again.

I called a number of roofers to look at repairing this, and nobody wanted to touch the previous roofer's work. RK Roofing not only was willing to take the job, but they quoted me a very reasonable price for what they had to do, and they did a fantastic job. It has not leaked since. Richard and I went up on the roof together, and he explained to me exactly what he needed to do to fix it, and it was clear that it was going to be a big job. Ultimately, what they had to do is reroof the flat section of the roof, but it has been well worth it.

If I ever have to replace or repair any of the rest of the roof, they will be the ones I call. Basically, we made up for the money that the previous owners did not want to spend. Erich in Oakland

We are in need of a new roof for our home and have recently received estimates from Hot Roofing and from Advanced Roofing. Has anyone had any recent experiences (good or bad) with either of these companies? Thanks, Bernie

I'd like to post a recommendation for Ira Fabricant (510-653-1680) for roofing services. The prior owner-a do it yourselfer--put on a roof with new materials but used 1940's techniques so there were some problems and leaking. WE got a number of bids and most companies wouldn't do anything unless they did a whole tear-off. Ira came, looked for leaks and problems all over and sealed a number of spots to help the roof last for another few years for a very fair price. NO rain yet but we were happy with his approach, reasonableness and realistic manner. Melissa

We have had a roof installed by Ira Fabricant and I highly recommend him. He is very experienced, and has been working in the area for many years (over 20 I think). He can do repairs as well as installations, deals with skylights, a wide variety of materials, and is very efficient without cutting corners--it's truly amazing how much he will get done in a day. He's very knowledgable and can give really good advice. Incredibly clean, responsible and sensitive to asthetics--a real craftsperson. (510) 232-9028 cell (510) 653-1680 home office
smc

2005 Reviews of roofers

Re: Roofing - small repairs
I recommend Fabricant Roofing for your small repair in Walnut Creek. Contact Ira Fabricant at (510) 232-9028 or (510) 653-1680. He works all over the East Bay and does excellent work. Shana

Great Roofer!
We used Adrian Gomez Roofing, 510-895-9474, after reading about him on Berkley Parent's Network. He did an exceptional job on our roof. He removed 3 layers off of tar and gravel and converted our roof to composition shingles. He installed a new gutter system to go with the new roof, using seamless gutters which he paints the color you desire. He accomodated all of our requests, including finding a more unusual shingle that we had selected. We were concerned about finishing the roof before we left on vacation, and he fulfilled his commitment to finish the job exactly when he said he would. His bid was the most professional (of 3) that we received. All of the details were typed up and faxed over. I found it very easy to contact Adrian to discuss details; he works in conjunction with his wife who is always available to answer the phone and gets back to you immediately. Adrian and his workers always left our house cleaned up, and was extremely pleasant to deal with. He is a genuinely nice guy! I cannot recommend Adrian Gomez more wholeheartedly. His pricing is very fair (cheap, even)and he does excellent work. Grace

Ira roofed a small building for us and was so skilled, well organized, clean, helpful at deciding about material, etc, I would never use anyone else. He has a very strong sense of craft and is nonetheless amazingly fast--you will not believe how much he can get done in a day, and how good it looks! Yet he is quite cost-conscious and can repair rather than replace if appropriate.

Here's his contact info:
(510) 232-9028 cell
(510) 653-1680 home

He's been working in this area for years and can provide additional local references, but please feel free to email me if you want more details about his work for us.
smc

Source of good roofing advice

I'm putting a roof on my backyard shed - it's small enough to do it myself, although I've never done any roofing. As a starter, I visited State Shingle in the Fruitvale district of Oakland.

Wow - this is the mother lode for roofing advice. The guys behind the counter answered all my questions and practically gave me a tutorial on how to install a flat roof.

Apparently most east bay roofing contractors get supplies at State Shingle - shingles, clay tiles, flat rolled roofing. Result is the counter staff know who's who. They are a great resource for finding a competent roofer.

They showed me the difference between cheap shingles and long-lasting ones, as well as pointing out what makes a good installation versus a bad roofing job.

Also, I saw they had skylights and attic vents. When I asked the guy at the counter about these, he went into details about the good and bad points of each. Impressed me with his competence and experience.

So even if you don't intend to do your own roofing, I suggest a visit to learn about what to ask prospective contractors. (I have no connection with them, other than as a customer who bought $300 of roofing supplies yesterday)

State Shingle - 900 37th Ave, Oakland, near the Fruitvale exit of 880. Phone 510 535 1311 (I think you'll get more information by visiting rather than calling)

Cliff

Looking for a Great Roofer?
Jay Roofing is one roofing contractor I would highly recommend. He and his team are extremely professional and reliable. The quality of his work is excellent q he even does gutter replacement and advised me on leaks in my roof. He is very thorough (explains issues and problems). His estimate for replacing my roof was substantially less than other bay area roofers. His crew was prompt and left the premises immaculate after working each day. Jay is the owner of the company and I would HIGHLY recommend anyone to contact him for this type of work. Jay's number is: (510) 532-1975. Terry

We were very happy with Pacific Coast Roofing. Their bid was lower than we expected and they did great work fast. (510) 912-5454 Betsy

2003 - 2004 Recommendations

We need to replace our roof. We have received many referrals for roofers from various sources and wanted to know if anyone had any relatively recent experience with the below roofers, good or bad. Has your roof been through any storms yet would be additional valuable information. Also, information on reasonableness of cost would be appreciated.

* Caldwell Roland
* Nicolas Roof
* Elliot and Elliot
* Hot Roof
* Gilberto Perez

We were pleased with Jay's Roofing, a recommendation we found on this site. A friend was equally satisfied with his work. Sherry

Jay Roofing is fantastic. He was half the price of another recommended roofer, and did more work. The quality was excellent, Jay was very prompt, and the work was very clean. Jay's english is not fantastic, but that's a minor issue. I recommend him VERY highly (and I'm a tough critic). Jay's number is: (510) 532-1975. Jamie

Pacific Roofing in SF did a wonderful job. Quick, clean, warranteed. 415-822-7000. good luck

Our roof has recently leaked, and we are in need of a good roofing contractor to give us an honest evaluation of what the problem might be and how to fix it. I suspect the problem has to do with gutters in two discrete locations. In the past I have called roofing contractors who want to charge me $400+ to come and do a comprehensive evaluation. I do not think we need that, and therefore obviously do not want to pay for it. I am happy to pay someone for their time, but I want someone who will come and evaluate the actual problem, not try to sell me a whole new roof that we do not need. Any recommendations?

I would like to recommend a roofer/roofing company: Adrian Gomez Roofing 510-895-9474. He was my choice after meeting 3 roofers and obtaining 3 bids. His price was very reasonable. Adrian was so knowledgeable, pleasant, sincere and thorough. Overall, a painless experience. He helped us select a good color roof for our house. He removed 2 layers of asphalt shingles in one day- a messy job, but he left the premises very clean. He also went into the garage to thoroughly clean any debris that might have fallen. The workmanship on the roof was excellent. He replaced an area with wood rot and also painted all the aluminum vents so that it matched the roof. He also installed seamless gutters. We were delighted with the results and our neighbors noticed. One even hired him on the spot to work on her house. Adrian has since returned to make sure we were happy with the results. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Adrian. Teri

My home had a great roof, put on about 25-30 yrs. ago, long before I moved in. It has a couple of troubled spots and the chimney needs some work - and it's summer! - so I think this is the time to replace it. I live in Oakland. The roof has a tar and gravel but a lot of the gravel has come off. Any suggestions on a reliable company that does good work, that finishes a roof to last for a decent length of time? Does such a company exist? (I've heard horror stories). lydia

Hello, I am looking for a good roofing company for my house in Moraga. I just moved to the area and would appreciate any reference that anyone can give. I am looking for a company that does honest, reliable work for a fair price with employees that are courteous and clean. At the same time, if you know of any roofing company that I should stay away from, please provide me their name(s) as well. Thank you in advance. Thuy

We are looking for recommendations for roofers that service the Berkeley area. Unfortunately, the UC recommendation list has several roofers that do not service the East Bay and/or are no longer in service. Any information appreciated! melro

We're getting bids from Collins roofers and Acker & Guerrero to put a new roof on our house. Does anyone have any input on these companies, good or bad? Is there anyone else you would recommend or warn against? Thanks. soggy dwellers

We are trying to find a very good roofer to give us a quote for 1) a new roof, and 2) just redoing the gutters. Thanks! Susan P.

FAX 510 532 -1033
phone 510 693-1683
Address: 927 E. 23rd St
Oakland, CA 94606

I am looking for a roofer to put on a new roof and repair some rotting facia board. Can anyone recommend a roofer who will do a good job at a reasonable price? In need of roof repair!

2002 & Earlier

I'm looking for a recommendation for someone who can replace gutters and evaluate our roof before El Nino gets going. We live in No. Berkeley and appreciate this list so much- thanks Lisa

I've checked the archives and there's no mention of Acker & Guerrero Roof Company. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has had work done by them, as their estimate is significantly lower than the other I received, and it's very tempting to hire them. Naturally, I'm wondering why it's so much lower, too. Thanks! Lorraine

Tile Roofer

I've looked at all the past recommendations for roofers on the website but I wanted to know if anyone had any recommendations specifically for a tile roofer. I have a spanish style tile roof and I have heard that some roofers who are great with a regular shingle roof sometimes aren't so great with the tile. thanks for your help. - Patricia

RE: the inquiry about Frederick's Roofing: I have known Frederick's Roofing (Greg and Nancy) for a good 12 years. They are good trustworthy and good people. Moreover Greg replaced my roof 5 years ago at a very reasonable cost. The work was done fast and there were no surprises. In the future I will first go to Frederick's for Roofing and Roof inspections. -Julene

I can heartily recommend Christoph Lars of Berkeley Roof Services. 524-2352. Very professional, tidy, efficient. He came highly recommended to me by our realtor and our home inspector. Not the cheapest, but among the best.

Kristina 7/99

We recently used Berkeley Roof Services to replace our three-ply tar and gravel roof. We solicited bids from several of the local companies (Elliot & Elliot, among others). BRS did not submit the lowest bid, but they were definitely competitive, and relative to other bidders, they were extremely responsive, professional and did an excellent job.

I would recommend Faith Roofing, who did a small job for us last fall after another company had advised us to replace our entire roof when a leak developed over our kitchen. They did the work well and reasonably ($500!) and we have not had any problems since.

Faith Roofing 800-774-0322 The owner's name is She (pron. "Shay") Lewis

This co. did very good work: no problems with my roof so far. It's been 5 years since installed. IDEAL ROOFING 510-536-1111. JAMES MERLONE LIC #501411. 3140 CHAPMAN, OAKLAND 94601. Good Luck! Dorothea Dorenz Nicole 7/99

We had a good experience with Pacific Coast Roofing. They came in way under other bids, and did a reasonable job as scheduled. Brian Palkowski is the main guy and he's very pleasant. They do other stuff too, carpentry, fences, etc. Call Brian at 510-912-5454.

We had good luck with Planchon roofing. They gave us a competitive bid (many roofers we called didn't even turn in a bid or return phone calls, even though they said they were interested). Planchon also completed the job quickly at the price we expected, and we feel they did a good job. Dominic 9/99

Robert Wright is a wonderful roofer. He re-roofed our house last winter and went above and beyond the call of duty in doing it. There were some leaks while it was underway, because it rained halfway through, and he came out one evening at 9:00pm to fix them. He was honest, affordable, and a pleasure to deal with. Because of that he's usually booked long in advance, but if you can get him I highly recommend him. His phone number is (510) 538-8074

From: Nancy (9/98)

Regarding the inquiry about inexpensive roof repairs: When I had an extremely minor roof repair job, I waited until one of my neighbors was having their roof redone. Then at lunch time, I went over to the job site and asked if anyone wanted to do a side job for me at the end of the day. One of the workers agreed and I paid him $25/hour plus materials to do a very minor repair job. He did it during his lunch hour over 2 days. I don't know if it applies to the situation described, but it worked for me.

I wanted to recommend a roofer, Pat Rossen. My first encounter with him was when he did the inspection of the roof on my home when I was contemplating buying the home. Although the existing roof was old, he said it did not yet need replacing. Each year, for the next couple of years, he came by to inspect my roof at no charge. Only once did he suggest a minor repair around the chimney, for about $50. Finally, after I'd been in the house for five years, he said I should replace the roof. I sought bids from several roofers. Pat's was in the mid-range, and I had a great deal of confidence in him from the years I'd had him inspect the roof. His well-organized team of 7 men replaced my roof in only one day. Two retired neighbors had watched their work as it progressed. Both independently commented to me that Pat's men had done an excellent job. I'm pleased with the results, both structurally and visually. No problems during last year's exceptionally wet winter. Pat can be reached at (510) 525-1242.

Using an unlicensed roofer

Please let me know the ''cons'' of using a roofer without a license. (There are related questions in the archives, but I don't see exactly this). I got bids from two licensed contractors--very efficient, professional, expensive. Polite but not a lot of discussion of options, very busy--basically they want to do everything 1000%. A gutter guy came and contradicted a lot of what they'd said. So now a great fellow came--experienced, professional, willing to work with materials up there that can be salvaged,said the same as what the other ones said but with more specifics, etc. etc.--the only thing is that he isn't licensed. I had an unlicensed fellow do landscaping for me that worked out fine. But a roof is a big job. Are there consequences in terms of...I don't know what...insurance, self-employed taxes, selling the house, etc. that I should stay away from? He needs the work, I don't have a lot of money, and he's recommended by a gardener who has worked for me for some years. Of course I want to say yes to him, but...should I? Needing Cons to Balance My Pros

The most obvious drawback is that you have no recourse if things turn sour - he doesn't do the job well, he quits, he doesn't stand by his work, etc. You are just out of luck and probably out of money. I've had friends use unlicensed workers for big jobs (foundation) and it was a disaster, and they just had to eat the money they had already paid him, and then pay a new guy on top of it. Of course, there are many stories where it all worked out fine. It's a lottery.

The less obvious thing, which may not matter to you, is that you are knowingly hiring someone who is deliberately breaking the law. If he has helpers, they will not be covered by worker's comp insurance, since you need a license to get a policy. If they get injured on the job, then what?

If he has no license, he has no liability insurance. This is not against the law, but it may matter to you. If he screws up the job and damages something, or injures someone, there will be no insurance to pay for those things. It will fall to you the homeowner, unless he chooses to make good from his own pocket.

If he has no license, he will not pull a permit for the job. Technically, of course, a new roof is supposed to have a permit. Many people don't pull them because then they raise your taxes. This didn't used to be a problem, but when real estate is tighter, it may degrade the value of your improvements a little if you have done them withoout permits. I know this can be a big deal for something like an addition, since there is always the possibility that the city will ask you to remove the unpermitted work. I don't know if this has ever happened for just a reroof.

Maybe you could find out from him why he doesn't have a license. If he's good, and has a lot of experience, and knows his business, he could get a license. Why hasn't he?

And maybe you should get more than two quotes from licensed contractors. Of course their quotes are more than the unlicensed guy's - they are probably paying for worker's comp insurance and liability insurance and all the things that protect you and the workers that the unlicensed guy does not want to pay for.

Foam Roofs

Has anyone had a foam roof installed on a flat roof? Did it help insulate against heat loss from the house? How did the cost compare to a regular reroofing? Who does these roofs? Any recommendations for whom to call? Thanks. Linda Foust linda

Does anyone have experience with foam roofing? We live in a house with NO insulation in the ceiling, and no possibility of installing any, due to the way the ceiling is built: it's just tongue-in-groove wood with flat roofing materials directly on top. I'm wondering if foam roofing would provide some insulation. Also, how long does a foam roof last? Is it more expensive than regular (flat-roof) roofing? Do you know of a good roofer who installs it? Any problems with it? Thanks. Linda

I had a foam roof in my last house. I had a flat roof with tar and gravel, and during the summer heat, it was like living under a hot tarmac. With a foam roof, the contractor put in sheets of foam first, then sealed it, then some sheeting, then tar and gravel. This allowed the roof to also be molded to some degree to allow water to drain properly.

Sadly, this was in Sacramento, and I don't know of anyone here. I was able to get an R-26 rating from the foam, so it made a huge difference, and my air conditioning bills showed it. So did my heating bills in the winter. Foam works. Just need to seal it well.

One thing, it's hard to detect leaks in foam... you never know where the water is entering and coming out. So.. make sure your contractor's references are checked and double checked. _R

Our house has a flat uninsulated roof which gets the afternoon sun. The result is that it is frequently very hot inside, 80's and 90's, and stays that way long into the evening (the downstairs is cool, as there is no roof directly overhead.)

I have seen advertisements and read about sprayed foam roofs, which supposedly insulate very well in these types of situations. Two local roofers who utilize these roofs are Armstrong (they advertise constantly on the radio), and Durafoam.

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of sprayed foam roofs, and can comment on the pros and cons? Any experience with either of the two roofers mentioned above? Any other suggestions? Sweltering in Berkeley

Here's what we think about foam -- it's ugly, it's expensive, and it's hard to work with (any time you make a penetration in the roof you need a specialist with a tank truck to seal it). But the insulative properties are awesome -- we live in Orinda, and the house stays nice and cool in the summer. anon

Three different companies have worked on my house's foam roof, and I think we've finally found a winner with the third one, Abril Roofing. They're located in Concord, but they travel all over (my house is in Orinda -- Abril came out to fix some of the very shoddy work done by another company.) (925) 674-9128 www.abrilroofing.com anon

Flat Roofs

Roofer - General Roofing Co. - Flat Roofs - IB Sys

Has anyone used General Roofing Co.? Did you have a good experience? Did you install the IB system? Thanks, Kim

Flat Roof - what kind to get?

Time for a new roof on our flat topped house. If you have researched the options, I'd like to know what you know about the various kinds of roofing available. Thanks very much. Leaking again.

Need to replace our flat gravel roof with poor drainage

We have a flat gravel roof with poor drainage. We will be needing a new roof soon and would love advice about any different kind of roof we can get. Our neighbor has a foam roof that was put on their flat roof and they love it but I've also heard negative reviews on foam roofs also. Suggestions and advice are appreciated. anon

Previously when it rained, my old roof would drain very slowly, taking many hours to drain after the rain stopped. I thought that enlarging the scupper would help, and it did, but along with that and from talking to my roofing contractor, I found that my foam roof was soaking up water. So in essence, I had a bathtub up on my roof.

On the positive side, I think that foam roofs provide insulation value, like attic insulation.

I've been happy with my roofing contractor, Hernandez Roofing Service, located in San Leandro. I was referred to them by my general contractor, who has been using them exclusively for the past 10 years or so. The owner, Cris, is very friendly and helpful.

Good luck and I hope this helps! Ken

Our flat roof has sprung leaks in several places. I suspect that it will need replacing soon. What options are there to the tar and gravel? I'm hoping to find something that insulates well and can be combined with solar installation. Or do I keep patching it?

1. Foam roof has an insulation value of R-7 per inch and is covered with an acrylic top coat that makes is a cool roof.

2. The foam roof is sprayed on and is an absolutely seamless system. Because there are no laps and seams, there are no weak points which means, NO LEAKS.

3. If you are considering a full roof replacement, usually you need to tear off the old roof prior to re-roofing. A foam roof can be installed over the old roof once the gravel has been removed. This of course, will save on labor costs & the environmental impact of disposing of the old roofing material.

4. Foam roofs last much longer than standard roofing materials.

My flat roof needs to be re-done, and I'm wondering whether I should do a ''cool roof''. I don't have air conditioning, so it would necessarily save me much money, but it seems like the upstairs of the house would be cooler in the summer at least. Does anyone have any recommendations? My primary concern would be durability. Also, any recommendations for roofers would be welcome! Ready for a new roof

One suggestion that we did on our flat roof that made a huge difference for both heat and cold is to install rigid insulation under roofing. This is a 2'' thick rigid foam that gets nailed down onto the roof and then the built-up roofing is installed over it. We saw a big difference in our summer comfort, and in winter the house did not cool down overnight the way it had previously. Adds some cost but very worth it.

Anyone able to recommend a roofer for a flat roofed bungalow? We have a dip where water pools, but otherwise I think the roof is in good shape. We are in the Oakland/San Leandro area. Thanks! anon

I have a flat roof over an old sunroom. I think it's basically flat sections of roofing with tarred seams. At the moment it is leaking rather spectacularly. The first guy who came to see it said his company didn't do piddly little jobs like this, and not to bother him unless I want to do the whole building. (I will, eventually, but not with Elliott&Elliott.) The second guy is unwilling to try tarring it, and was to get back to me about re-roofing only that area (but hasn't yet). Meanwhile it is still not water tight. I don't have much money for this project at this time, so the re-roofing just has to wait. Is there anyone who would just come and put some goop over the seams for now? I think it's all it really needs.

In response to a question here this week: we learned about Berkeley Roof Services from UC Parents 4 or 5 years ago, and have been extremely pleased with the work done by them (Christoph Lars is the owners), (510) 524-2352. We have a large flat roof, that had some challenging problems, and while other roofers recommended a complete new roof, Christoph solved the problems in creative ways, and all has been well for five years. He does annual inspections and 'touch ups' at very modest cost. John

Does anyone have a somewhat recent recommendation for a roofer that repairs and/or replaces flat roofs (tar and gravel). In calling around I have found that few people do this type of roof anymore. The one estimate I got was very expensive ($8,000 to replace), ($300 to look for leak). amy t

Tile Roof

We bought our first home in October 2008, knowing we'd need to get the roof replaced soon-ish. Well, all the rain has moved that to the top priority on our list so we're looking for info.

We own a 1920s stucco/wood frame bungalow in Oakland. We currently have a shingle roof that's got four layers on it according to the home inspection report. The inspector we spoke to said to have them all removed and completely replace the roof. Is that necessary? Will it cost way more? Will we have major problems if we forgo his recommendation and stack another layer on?

Lastly, we think our house would look lovely with spanish tile roofing but we don't know anything about them. Any pros or cons to getting spanish tile versus 40 year shingles or something else? Any thoughts on how much either would cost. Our house is single-level and about 1200 square feet with moderate pitched roofs (not like a tudor, but not flat either) on a flat lot. Any advice or recommendations of great roofers would be appreciate as well. Thanks BPNers! Newbie to homeownership

If you have 4 layers of old roofing on your roof it is heavy and is just creating spaces for water to accumulate. You really do need to strip them off. At the very least it makes for a bumpy surface and the new roof won't last as long because of it. If your roof doesn't have plywood on it then now is the time to do that as well. If you get a lot of sun I'd put in a radiant barrier as well. And it's most likely that you will also want to redo your gutters at this point... Paul

I'm a homeowner and also a structural engineer. I understand your concern about replacing the shingle roof entirely since it would probably be less expensive to just add another layer of shingle roof. However, adding another layer, on top of the 4 layers that are already there, would means that more weight is added to the roof framing. Your roof framing may not be strong enough to carry the added weight. I've seen situation where roof caved in and framing member just basically snapped only to find out there were multiple layers of roofing. In this case, I agree with your home inspector to replace the roofing.

In your situation, I suggest that you talk to a reliable roof contractor. He would be able to advise you which roof materials to use and what needs to be done if you opt for the spanish tile roof, and also any permit requirement. You might also want to call your local building department and see what you need to do if you were to replace the roof to a heavier roof materials. Not try to scare you, but they might ask for a structural evaluation of the existing roof for the new heavier load. I hope this helps. Goodluck!

Adding dormers to a roof

I'm interested in adding dormers with windows to my roof at the same time as replacing the roof. I have a large attic which I'd like to expand by adding the dormers. I've called a couple of roofers, but have been told they don't do that kind of thing. Can anyone tell me how I should go about this? Do I need a separate contractor to build the dormers? -don't know where to start

Attic Venting

There is an attic space right off of my bedroom that we use for storage. It is unfinished. During warm/hot weather, the attic heats up and makes the upstairs unbearable. There is currently one small exhaust fan installed but it isn't doing much. Can you recommend a service or company to vent and properly remedy the problem? Thank you. Amy