Roofers
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!
Berkeley Parents Network >
Reviews >
House & Garden >
Roofers
| Recommendations
|
More Reviews & Advice
|
Related Pages
|
March 2009
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.
I cannot recommend Michael of Precision Roofing highly enough.
We had roof leaks and window leaks about 4 years ago. He came
out and figured out where the water was getting in. He not only
fixed the roof leaks, but also the window leaks which had been
plaguing us for years despite many other repair attempts. On top
of that he guaranteed the repairs something I had not been able
to get anyone else to do. 4 years later everything is still
water tight. His number is 436-7575.
jolie
March 2009
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
We had a roof installed by Ira Fabricant and can recommend him very highly.
He has
worked in this area for many years and is experienced with many different
types of
roofs and roofing issues. He can do repairs as well as installations, deals
with skylights,
works with 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
aesthetics--a
real craftsperson. (510) 653-1680
happy and dry
March 2009
Does anyone know of a reliable and affordable roofer?
Beth
Adrian Gomez is highly recommended. Honest, fast (very
important I found out), follows through on what he says he'll
do and when, fair price (lower than bigger roofing company),
good work, and easy to work with. He took off 5 layers of old
roofs on steep slope; new roof is beautiful. Also had him back
to reroof a flat garage roof. Again, did a beautiful job.
Adrian Gomez Roofing 510/895-9474
Karen
Assential Roofing re-roofed my house (flat roof) last summer and
did a terrific job. His pricing is very fair.
Phone (510) 652-3533 contact owner - Eric Gascoyne.
Sandy M
I know a great roofer and I recommend him hands down.His name is
Sorin Feraru, he is a general contractor, and he replaced our
entire roof. We are so very happy with his work. Never had
problems ever since he has done the work for us.He and his crew
are very professional and nice.I will never hire anyone else
again but Sorin Feraru.You can give him a call at 510-228-7366,
or you can visit his website www.feraru.us.
Miranda
I highly recommend Nicholas Roofing at 848-4433; also
http://nicholasroofing.com/ They recently did an excellent job
on my roof. I subsequently had them remove my old attic fan and
replace it with a solar fan and they did this so seamlessly
that I couldn't even see where the old fan had been on the inside
of the attic. I researched BPN files and other sources extensively prior to
selecting roofers. In addition to positive mentions on BPN,
Nicholas was also recommended on Bay Area Consumerms Checkbook,
Yelp, a list supplied by a Berkeley solar company, and by a
personal contact in the remodeling trade - Nicholas had
enthusiastic recommendations from the widest collection of
different sources of any roofing company I interviewed.
Estimates are done by Jimmy Cosenza; he and their entire staff
are easy to work with and attentive to customer service. Their
cost was very reasonable and they went out of their way to
address some of my specific concerns that other roofers brushed
aside q such as protecting the stuff stored in the attic with
plastic so that demolition debris did not get on it. Our roofing
job was done in conjunction with installation of solar panels,
and the solar crew, who see a lot of roofs and roofers, remarked
on the quality of the workmanship and the workers.
optimoms
Jan 2009
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
I had my home roofed a couple of years ago by Central Bay and
would NOT recommend them. The workers were very loud, finishing
work messy and lots of material scattered throughout the plants,
etc.
Anon
Oct 2008
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
Nicholas Roofing repaired our shake roof a couple of times. We
were pleased with the results, even though they didn't last more
than a year or two. (It was just to get us through the rainy
season while we figured out what we wanted to replace the roof
with.) Their number is 848-4433.
Francesca
I just had a roof inspection done by Seamus Collins of Collins
roofing. I'd highly recommend them to you: they looked at my roof
and rather than upselling me, gave me some great information
about my roof and offered to fix a few minor things.
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
Sincerely,
Judiah
I would highly recommend Seamus Collins of Collins Roofing. He and
his crew replaced the entire roof of our Oakland home in three days
this past September. Our roof looks terrific and is absolutely solid
and sound. Seamus can be reached at 510- 482-2227 or
www.collinsroofing.com
Kymry
Ascential Roofing - replaced my roof. The did a terrific job.
Showed up on time, finished on time, and cleanded up and hauled
away the trash. Contact Eric at (510) 652-3533. His email is
Eric@AscentialRoofing.com. Sandy M.
I recommend Ira Fabricant of Fabricant Roofing. He has done a couple
jobs for us and
has been great to work with in addition to doing good work. Ended up
saving us a
bundle on a repair to get a few more years out of our roof.
Fabricant Roofing
(510) 653-1680
Berkeley Resident
June 2008
Can anyone recommend a good roofer?
Berkeley resident
Adrian Gomez and his crew were wonderful. He is detail
oriented, trustworthy, and less expensive than other quote we
got. Has done follow up work for us. Let me (Karen) know if you
have any questions. Adrian Gomez Roofing 510/895-9474
kej
Gabriel Benagas (650-515-8754) just did our roof and it is
beautiful. He spent a lot of time with us picking out the right
materials and trying to chase down what we needed. My husband
was on the job the whole time and said he's never seen anyone
work so hard. Very professional and very reasonably priced.
Lynne
I can highly recommend Ira Fabricant of Fabricant Roofing. Ira
installed a roof and skylight on a structure at my son's school,
and did repair work on the roof at my home. Throughout the
projects, he was timely and reliable. For my home project, he
patiently explained in advance the work that needed to be done,
why it was necessary and the estimated costs. I was very happy
with the cost (which came in at estimate) and the quality of the
work. He even went the extra mile and cleaned gunk out of my
gutters while he was up there. All of the projects have
withstood the test of time. Ira has 20 years experience in
roofing -- he knows what he's doing. Also, he's a really nice
guy. The number I have for him is 510-653-1680.
-- a good roof over my head
We had a roof installed by Ira Fabricant and can recommend him very
highly. He has
worked in this area for many years and is experienced with many different
types of
roofs and roofing issues. He can do repairs as well as installations,
deals with skylights,
works with 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
aesthetics--a
real craftsperson. (510) 653-1680
Very happily sheltered
Feb 2008
Small roofing job in North Berkeley -- seek reputable and responsive roofer.
jr
I had good experience with Ace Roofing a few years ago. I have
a small A-frame home. There haven't been any problems with my
roof since, and their prices were good.
Rahel
We moved into a new house and had a small roofing repair job
that needed to get done. We checked the recommendations and
went with Planchon Roofing over here in San Pablo. 510-235-
1158 Their bid was 1/3 of the bid from another contractor yet
they did the job on time and with excellent quality. I will
use them again if I need more work done.
G. B.
Jan 2008
Hi, can anyone recommend a roofer who can actually repair leaks
and will stand by their work? Thanks so much
cr
I recommend Nicholas Roofing, 848-4433, which was recommended to
us by a contractor friend. They have shimmed our shake roof to
stop leaks in two places. I don't think they (or anyone else)
would give a written guarantee (if that's what you mean by ''stand
by their work'') but we got the results we were promised. The
results didn't last but they got us through the rainy season and
bought us a few more years on our roof.
Francesca
Nov 2007
Anyone have any recommendations for a roofer?
Erik
We HIGHLY recommend Jay of Jay's Roofing. He did our roof this
past week in only three days, and the quality of the workmanship
is extraordinary. In fact, we were lamenting the fact that we
live in a place where only a few people will ever see the top of
our roof! We think it should be a display piece. He had a crew of
about 7 men who worked so efficiently and smartly, that our
neighbor (whose office window overlooks our roof) called the
moment they were finished to rave about how well they worked. He
said he'd never seen such quality work by any workmen in the
neighborhood. They cleaned up the yard and patio each day, even
cleaning up all the leaves that we hadn't had a chance to get to.
My husband (who has built roofs himself before) went up on the
roof with him and they talked everything over together, and even
this morning he (my husband, that is) went up on the roof just to
enjoy it! Jay came when he said they'd come, charged us the exact
amount he had quoted us, and finished in only 3 days. We had two
other roofers give us estimates; Jay's was the lowest, and we
liked him the best. Jay is a very kind, friendly, hard-working
craftsman, and his crew worked unbelievably hard and efficiently.
(510) 532-1975
roof happy!
Try Collins Roofing. You can contact them for an estimate.
They were very easy to work with, and worked well with our solar
installer. They are at http://www.collinsroofing.com/about.html
Anon
I've used Nicholas Roofing (in Berkeley I think) on my home in Kensington and my
mother's in Berkeley. He does good work and is easy to deal with. Good Luck!
Tansy
Oct 2007
We're looking for a great roofer in the north berkeley area. Any
recommendations?
pamela
We were really pleased with Jay Roofing - his crew replaced the
roof on our Albany home. Jay gave us the lowest estimate (by
far), was prompt, polite, and professional. The job was done in
2.5 days and they cleaned up thoroughly as they went along. His
number is (510) 532-1975.
Katrina
For a roofer in the East Bay, call Alco Roofing, 510-633-9744.
It's a small family owned business, and the owner himself will
put the roof on. May not be the lowball quote (nor the highball
either), but the job will be done right and everything left tidy
afterwards.
Oct 2007
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
I'm happy to recommend Sorin Feraru again for roof work. He's
just finishing work on our roof now and it looks great.
Everything was done in time and for the right price. You can
reach him at 510-228-7366
cindy
July 2007
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
Acker and Guerrero put a new roof on our house in 2005 for half the price others
quoted us. We plan to remodel (really, we do, someday soon), so didn't need/want
a
roof that would last 50 years, we just needed something to stop our multiple leaks
for
the next few years until we get our act together. So far, so good, it's been nice
not to
have to do ''pot patrol'' whenever it rains. The crew showed up when they said
they
would, worked hard and got the job done when they said they would, then cleaned up
after themselves. I'd hire them again to do the 50 year roof once we actually
remodel...
Kathy
July 2007
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
March 2007
Looking for roofer recommendations in Walnut Creek. The
majority of recommendations in the archives are for the
Berkeley/Oakland area.
Colonial Roofing
Alan Liebig
925.676.5418
Alan did a great job replacing the roof on our house here in
Berkeley in 2005. Very honest, efficient and reasonable. I
believe he is based in Lafayette or Concord. I hope you contact
him for a bid.
gemma
Feb 2007
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
Nov 2006
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
I just had extensive repairs done on the roof of my house and an
adjacent cottage and was very pleased by the work. The roofer I
hired (Victor Zarate, who I connected with via Craigslist) gave a
reasonable bid (I got bids from two other people) and did an
extremely thorough job. He (actually his wife, Hilda, who handles
all the scheduling/bidding) was also prompt in responding to
phone calls and questions. During the 3 days it took to complete
the job, everything was cleaned up daily; Victor even cleaned all
our gutters at no additional charge. Apparently Victor has 17
years of experience working for others and has just gone into
business for himself. He is eager to build his client base and
is a genuinely nice guy so is well worth considering for large or
small jobs.Hilda and Victor can be reached at: 388-8519 or
hilda[at]sbcglobal.net
Vanessa
I would highly recommend R.K. Roofing and Construction in
Oakland (phone number 510-536-7663)
I am a UC Berkeley graduate, Civil Engineer, and have worked in
the building construction and permit profession for over 30
years.
When I needed to replace the roof at my house, I meticulously
interviewed and got estimates from numerous contractors. I also
checked references from previous customers.
R.K. Roofing got the best references (even for the homes of
other building contractors) and their price was among the
lowest for the quality and scope of work. They were also Value
Star Rated. They used high quality building materials, met or
exceed building code standards, completed the work in two days,
protected the areas around my house, and thoroughly cleaned the
area when they finished. I have since recommended them to
friends, relatives, and business acquaintances. All of them
have been pleased with their work and their price.
Calvin
I would like to second the positive review of R.K. Roofing.
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
October 2006
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
We had our 40 year-old roof replaced this past September of
2006. We read many positives reviews in BPN of Jay's Roofing
Company and turned out to be the best decision we made. Jay
lives in the neighborhood. We made an appt with him. He came by
and provided a thorough inspection and provided thorough
explanation of problems and solutions, still, though being
conscientious of our budget and providing suggestions in ways we
can save money. He is punctual, knowledgeable, experienced, and
trustworthy. He and his employees arrived at time and date
indicated. They were meticulous in making it a point to keep
our landscape clear of any debris. Because of the size of our
big roof, it took two complete days to get the job done. Jay
kept us abreast of everything he was doing and we were just
truly blown away by the beauty of our finished product as even
our neighbors asked for his business card. His contact number
is 510-532-1975
leticia
I've had nothing but the best experiences with the roofer I use,
Armando Salguera (510-669-0875 or 510-812-9097). I've been a
general contractor for 28 years, and he's the best roofer I've
ever used. By the way, I'm taking on new projects for anyone
looking for a bid on additions, remodels, new construction.
Larry
Sept 2006
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
Dec 2005
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
Sept 2005
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
August 2005
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
I have a great roofer to recommend, who I noticed posted his contact info to the newsletter recently--Ira Fabricant. I want to enthusiastically recommend him (I tried to post a rec. earlier this year, and it somehow never came through).
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
Re: rafter repair
Enrique Barraza of All Weather Roofing, Oakland, Phone# 510-483-6153 or 510-638-0735 recently completed similar work on my house--two segments of roof were removed due to dry rot, new plywood and shingles, new gutters, some downspouts--and I would definitely use him again. He knew exactly what to do, did excellent work for a slightly less than expected price, and is a very amiable person. One note is that he did show up at slightly different times than we'd agreed upon, so if this is of concern it would be good to be especially clear with him about timing, however he did complete the job EXCELLENTLY and within the time frame we'd agreed upon. All in all, I would recommend him highly!
Nina
June 2005
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
I would highly recommend Interstate Roofing. They were very professional and did a great job with our roof. Their number is: (510) 639-0833
Suzanne
I highly recommend Collins Roofing based in Oakland: www.collinsroofing.com; 510/482-2227. They did a great,very rapid reroofing job for our house and studio in Berkeley last month at a reasonable price. One of the Collins brothers exercised close quality control over the progress of the job, and they were quite neat in the final clean-up.
Suzanne
April 2005
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
Feb 2005
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
Nov 2004
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
Recommendations for other roofers and other comments would
also be greatly appreciated!! Thanks!
Juliet
I used Bill Wong of Interstate Roofing Specialists in Oakland. I couldn't
have been more pleased. Timely, efficient, and did a great job steering
me away from hideous green roofing shingles. My roof has been through
6 winters with nary a drop getting through (there had been a hole in it,
and El Nino came through, ugh!). Highly recommended, except that
you'll expect further contractors to be on time and get the work
completely done on time. :)
Jennie
We just had our red tile roof redone by Acker & Guerrero
(not to add yet another name to your list) but I felt
compelled to write as they were truly outstanding. Professional crew, efficient, cleaned up every mess they
made, and most importantly did a fantastic job. We feel
like we got MORE than we bargained for. It also only took
1 week. I had gotten an estimate from Elliot and Elliot
and they were almost double the cost and said it would
take 3 weeks. Our roof has been through the storms we
have had so far and we are dry and cozy and happy inside. I had read about Acker & Guerrero in the Good Services
guide -- supposedly there are rather high criteria to get in
to the guide and easy to get booted out. (need
recommendations and no complaints, etc.) We had originally
gotten 3 estimates from 3 different companies. A&G was
the middle bid.
high and dry
Hello,
Someone asked in this last letter about roofers, and I
thought I would put in an updated plug for Berkeley Roofing
(call Christoph). I actually got the recommendation for
them from this list and selected them to put a new roof on
my 3 story house built on the side of a hill. The crew did
a fantastic job, very timely, and professional, cleaning up
after themselves and taking great care to ensure no rain
got into the house during the installation process. I had
three quotes, they were actually the lowest, and did an
excellent job. I was so pleased I recommended them to my
neighbors who were looking for someone to put a wood
shingle roof on, and they did an equally excellent job for
them. It was really a pleasure doing business with a
roofing team that did exactly as promised. I weathered the
rainy season last year with no problems, so I feel I can
recommend them without reservation.
Janice
I would also like to say that we were very pleased with
Berkeley Roofing Systems. They did a great job - showed up
on time, cleaned up after themselves very well. Also, we
had a bit of a more complicated roofing job because we put
up a solar system at the same time. They worked well with
our solar contractor. At the time we did our roof, we also
quoted Elliott and Elliott ( and someone else who I cannot
recall at this time). They were far cheaper than Elliott
and Elliott.
Leslie
Sept 2004
We were pleased with Jay's Roofing, a recommendation we
found on this site. A friend was equally satisfied with his work.
Sherry
July 2004
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
April 2004
Pacific Roofing in SF did a wonderful job. Quick, clean,
warranteed. 415-822-7000.
good luck
March 2004
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 recommend Jay Roofing and Construction. His phone number
is 510 532-1975. He was recommended to me by someone who
claimed he did her roof for about half the price estimated
by other roofers, and did an excellent job. I saw her roof
and it was very complex, multiple dormers, valleys, and
chimneys. When I replaced my roof last year I solicited a
bid from him and sure enough, he came in about half of the
other bids. He also did a good job, completed it on time,
communicated ongoingly about issues such as dry rot, and
found low cost solutions.
wwl
I have been very happy with Ace Roofing. They're
incredibly responsive, and have worked hard at solving my
flat-roof problems. Bob's the owner - 521-0988.
Nancy
October 2003
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
I highly recommend Jay Roofing and Construction, (510)
532-1975. He did a thorough job for a little over half the
other bidders ($14,000 as compared to $24,000 including new
seamless aluminum gutters and some dry rot repair) He is
experienced, communicative and honest. A real gem.
High and Dry in Berkeley
Bill Wong has been mentioned before but I just used him for
my Office/Playroom. Very straight forward complete
estimate; right in the middle of other estimates;
knowledgeable and good suggestions; new roof looks great and
no problems.
Robert
July 2003
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
Hilderbrand Roofing does a great job. We had ours replaced,
they had three layers of roofing to remove and they had to
replaced most of the wood. They also put in new
gutters, etc. They did an excellent job fast. His name
is John Hilderbrand, phone 510-886-9300. If you have any
specific questions, feel free to email me.
Vyoos
We took a recommendation from this newsletter for EG
roofing and were very pleased. We HIGHLY recommend EG
Roofing 925.634.5276 (Licensed, insured and bonded!) They
were SPEEDY - 2 days to do the job, TIDY(they swept up all
the dust and debris, and went around and picked up all the
stray nails), FRIENDLY, THOROUGH, and PROFESSIONAL. Their
foreman was beyond good! They had a mishap that resulted
in some work needing to be done on the sheetrock inside,
and he made it look better than new. They were super kind
about it, and made sure we understood that they would take
care of -- and they did, above and beyond what was needed.
Plus, in talking to the guys, they like working for the
owner, they say he is fair, pays well, and is a good
person to work for - they get benefits, and he has helped
at least one of them to buy a house. He came out when we
were at work, sent us the estimate the next day, and work
started 2.5 weeks later. He also included a list of
houses in the area that he has done so I could see the
various types and colors of shingles, as well as a list of
people to contact for reference. He didn't require payment
until after the job was complete - he sent us an invoice.
And his bid came in under what 2 other roofers estimated.
He also does repairs and can do housing inspections.
Satisfied with my roof
June 2003
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
Hi --
We are undergoing a big house remodel which
includes our roof. Last ear, before we were ready to do
the project, we had a leak and my contractor had me
call E&G Roofing. I think they are in Pleasant Hill or
Concord. I called them, explaining that we were going
to remodel next year, but that we had a leak -- we were
interested in using them as they work with my
contractor, etc ... The owner, Eric, told me that they
would patch the roof for free if it were under $200;
otherwise would give me an estimate. They patched it
for about $100 (this was last year). They just finished
roofing our house last week and they did the ENTIRE
house in 2 days! There were 9 guys up on the roof
working away all day and they got it done in a jiffy. Also,
they were very friendly and courteous -- never heard a
bad word or inappropriate music, etc ... Hope this
helps! If you can't find the #, feel free to e-mail me and I
will get it for you. Good luck!
Trish
April 2003
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 really liked our roofer, Brian Wade of Wade Roofing,
(510) 526-1117. They're located in Richmond, but do work in
Berkeley, including our house and the house across the
street. Very responsive to some unusual issues (removal of
old asbestos roof, solar panels, etc.)
Karen
I used Pacific Roofing company is SF (415-822-7000) and
they were very good. Did a wonderful job in a very short
time. Cleaned up perfectly, very accomodating and well
within our budget. We had our roof done two years ago and
recommend them highly.
Liz
March 2003
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
I can recommend roofers Acker & Guerrero. They pulled off
three old layers of wood shingles, put down plywood, and
installed a very nice for us roof 2 years ago. The roof is
perfect, they kept the job site clean, they did the work
quickly, and were a good price. They later did two more
roofs in our neighborhood and our neighbors were also happy
with them. I'd highly recommend them. On another note, if
you're looking for gutters too, I suggest you shop around
for gutter installers, their price seemed high and they were
going to sub-contract it anyway.
Hilary
Last fall, Acker & Guerrero replaced the rear roof of my
house and the entire roof of the garage. I had the work
done because it seemed time to do so and I wanted to take
advantage of favorable home equity loan rates, so I wasn't
dealing with actual leaks. As far as I can tell, they did
a very good job. The only thing I wish I had asked (or had
them warn me) about was the debris that was likely to fall
in my attic as they banged away on the roof. Had I known,
I would have covered much of what I store up there --
though nothing was ruined, only very dirty afterward.
Lorraine
We had Collins Roofing replace a roof last year, and I
would recommend them without hesitation. They did a
fast, clean job for the best price of the several
companies from which I got estimates. They installed
both a roof and new gutters, neatly and properly done.
They also left very little debris behind, and no particular
garden damage. And to boot they were friendly and
easy to deal with. Highly recommended.
Kate
Feb. 2003
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.
I can recommend VA TONG ROOFING CO.
FAX 510 532 -1033
phone 510 693-1683
Address: 927 E. 23rd St
Oakland, CA 94606
We had a new roof installed -- the crew worked very
quickly and cleaned up well. It was five years ago, so
I'm not sure if they are in the same location.
It was a family owned business.
Cornelia
Jan. 2003
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!
Do yourself a favor: if you're looking for a roofer, call Mark Lencl.
The scary thing about many roofers is that they'll count on your
ignorance to tell you you need more work at a higher cost than is
necessary. Mark Lencl is not only WAY too reasonably priced, but
he is one of those kinds of people who is more than a roofer, he's a
*craftsperson.* What I mean by that is that he takes immense pride
in his work and has a ''thing'' about being honorable. He doesn't
use any of the shoddy, cheap shortcuts that you will get with just
about every contractor, he'll fix your roof the RIGHT way. He did
my
mom's roof, and she was THRILLED. We'll never use any one else
(most of his customers are repeat customers).
His number is: 510.763.7438
Best of luck!
~Alesia
Sept. 2002
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
We used Nicholas Roofing (on San Pablo near University) for
our El Cerrito house about a year ago. They were the lowest
bid, took less than two days to complete the job *and* gave
us a sturdy, waterproof attractive asphalt roof. They
subcontracted the gutters which were a part of the total
estimate. This company, too, was prompt and efficient.
Dorothy
Aug. 2002
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
We used Acker and Guerrero for our tar-and-gravel roof
replacement about 6 or 7 years ago. They did the job in one
day and left our yard, driveway, etc clean. The roof has
not leaked at all since then. I would recommend them; their
price was very reasonable compared to the other bid we got
(that was a one-man outfit, highly recommended and a very
nice guy, but we just couldn't afford him.)
Lisa
June 2002
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
I can reasonably recommend David Robles of Robles Roofing
(925) 679-9131. We had our tile roof replaced earlier this
year and had a tough time finding recommendations for good
tile roofing companies. Robles and Flagler were the two
companies that were recommended to us. We got references
for both and there were pros and cons for both. We finally
decided to get back in touch with the guy who inspected our
house before purchase 8 years ago, who had David Robles do
the original roof inspection at that time, and we
ultimately decided to go with David and were happy with the
results.
- Shoshana
2001
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
We used Pacific Roofing Co. (415-822-7000) last year and they did an
amazingly beautiful and quick job. We had asphalt shingle but their add
says they do all kinds of roofing jobs. To boot, i found them in an SF
consumer booklet afterwards and it rated them very highly.
-Liz
We used Colonial Roofing when our roof leaked and they were great! They
came when they said they would, were quick and clean and the job cost less
than their quote. Their address is 4345 Cowell road, Concord, CA 94518 &
phone (925) 676-5418.
Katherine
2000
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.
We hired a roofing company called Eliot and Eliot (or Elliot and Elliot). We were very
pleased with the company.
Here is an excellent roofer, recommended to me by other UCB parents, who gives good
advice, is very
knowledgeable and reliable and has reasonable prices as well. We used him 5 months
ago. His name is Bill
Wong, Interstate Roofing Specialist Corp., 510-601-6369 or 510-639-0833.
Ginger (5/00)
Our 80-year-old house still had the original roof under 6 or 8 layers
of shingles.
In 4 days, Collins pulled it all off, put down plywood, felt, flashing,
and a new roof, and did a really beautiful quality job. They also
arranged for new gutters and had them installed within a couple weeks.
Collins' bid was very competitive with the other bids we got - they were
recommended to us by the wonderful Irish Sweep who patched up our chimney. The
Collins are three brothers from Ireland, state licensed, with a professional team
of workers. James Collins, whom we worked with, was friendly, soft spoken,
and very efficient. I highly recommend them. Collins Roofing 482-2227
Jonah (Jan 00)
We bought a house last spring, which needed a roof. Both our housing
inspector and realtor independently recommended the same roofer, Bill Wong,
Interstate Roofers, 908-5178 or 261-0833. Wong was described to us as an
"up and coming roofer, who does great work." Wong told us up-front that he
was not the cheapest roofer, but that he would make sure that we did not
have to worry about any aspect of our roof for the next 40 years. Wong
pointed to the roofs of neighbors, showing where contractors had cut
corners. We hired Wong, and he did an excellent job, taking a number of
initiatives that we had not even requested (painting our utility box,
reanchoring a wobbly chimney, covering low-lying areas that were not part
of the roof) and for which we were not charged. Despite having a somewhat
complicated roof, the job took only three days, the workers were lovely
(mostly Hong Kong immigrants), and there was no mess. We would recommend
Bill Wong to anyone.
1999
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.
Sarah 9/99
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
Dorothea (7/99)
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.
Laurie 9/99
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
1998
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.
From: Judith (11/98)
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.
Nov 2008
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
Sometimes an unlicensed worker is fine. But, there are more
unknowns and more risks. Sometimes they are complete charlatans
and crooks.
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.
April 2007
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
HI 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
We had a foam roof installed two years ago by DuraFoam out of San Mateo. Our
tar
and gravel flat roof had multiple leaks and years of poor repairs. Durafoam
sprayed
and inch or two of foam over it, then applied a UV protector on top of it.
We've had no
leaks, our heating/cooling costs are down, and it's much quieter. One drawback
is
that we can't hear the rain on the roof. They offer a 10 year warranty that is
extended
to 15 when they recoat after ten years. And they are diamond certified. We are
happy.
http://www.dura-foam.com/
Stephanie
October 2006
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
My house had an ancient foam roof that had been installed by Armstrong when we
moved in, so it's hard for me to say whether they did a good job. Yes, it was leaking
all over the place, but it had long exceeded its lifespan. We hired Able Roofing to
fix it, and they were critical of Armstrong's work, but then they're competitors!
Able
did an okay job once, a terrible job a year or so later, and then claimed to have gone
out of business. I wouldn't trust them. So then we ended up with Abril Roofing.
They were okay -- not terrific communicators, but the work is acceptable. (I listed
their # in the archives a few years ago.) There are too few good choices for foam,
since it's so specialized.
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
July 2004
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
Feb 2008
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
If the roof is fine except that it pools, you may not
need any work done. It's kind of the nature of flat roofs to pool
some water even when they've been done right.
Flat roofing is inherently a a fairly poor design (a big area
traps water and then it supposed to drain out of one or two
2-inch holes), and when the roof is working right there is some
dependence on just evaporating water from the roof. If it's not
leaking, it may be fine.
I used Jay's Roofing to replace my flat roof a couple of years
ago. He was quick, professional, and very tidy. He was also the
least expensive. He's located in Oakland. Phone number is (510)
532-1975. There are other rave reviews about him on BPN as
well.
LT
Excellent roofer (we went through 3 other ''reputable'' roofing
companies in the East Bay before finding this guy) Bill Ricci-
(415) 822-0600. He lives north of here but does roofing as far
south as Palo Alto. He is TOPS. He goes up on your roof and
takes digital images of the problem, then shows you the images
on his computer to let you know what the problem is. He
guarantees his work so if it did not stick (not our problem
fortunately!) he will return.
happy customer
March 2006
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 the request for repair not replacement I recommend Michael Green who owns
Precision Roofing 510-436-7575. I also had leaks in poorly constructed nearly flat roof
and was frustratred to the point of wanting to replace parts of it. He came out and
recommended repair only. He came on time, finished on time, cleaned up everything and
left us toasty and dry. Not only that he warrantied the repair for five years!
Next time I need roofing help or replacement he will be my first choice.
jmz
I want to echo recommendations of Adrian Gomez Roofing, 510-895-9474. Others on the list
have recommended him for large jobs, but I want to say that he's also great for smaller
stuff. We had a leak that had grown worse through all the rains this winter. Collins
Roofing didn't call back; Jay Roofing came out and nicely told us the roof needed to be
patched, but that he wasn't interested. Adrian got right on it and patched the roof
quickly -- and now that we're in the middle of our 2nd rainstorm since the roof was fixed,
I can be sure that it's not gonna leak again!
happy to be leak-free
We needed a quick patch to our flat roof. Eric Gascoyne from Ascential roofing came
out and did a bid the day after calling him and fixed it the next day. He was
friendly, professional, and bid us an excellent price. Ascential Roofing 510-652-3533.
Stefanie
Nov 2005
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
Feb 2005
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
Beck Roofing in Hayward does tar & gravel roofs, and I would recommend them. We paid about $8K for a fairly large roof, so they are not cheap, but tar & gravel lasts longer than composite shingle roofs.
DR
March 2009
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
Spanish tiles can be pretty but they are really heavy and
shouldn't be put on a house that was not designed for them. If
you are building a house from scratch and you want a tile roof,
then the tile roof has to be installed before the windows are
installed because the weight of the tile roof compresses the
building's framing. There are new synthetic roofs that are not as
heavy but be ready for sticker shock.
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
You may need to beef up your roof structure (and foundation) for a tile roof.
Tile is
much heavier than shingle - I would consult a structural engineer before
embarking on this project. As you probably already know, it is also costlier
although does last
longer. Good luck!
Architect
Spanish tiles roof looks great, however they can be quite
heavy. Again, you have to consider whether your roof framing
can take the weight. After all, you don't want to end up with
sagging roof.
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!
June 2007
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
Hi - how odd that I chose to read this BPN! My husband is a
Framing Contractor and specializes in what is called roof
cutting/stacking which is essentially the framing of the roof -
in particular complex structures that involve compound angles
converging (as in the addition of a dormer onto an exisintg
roof - which is actually typically pretty simple). Anyhow - he
is a true specialist and has been featured in articles and
books on the subject and is amazingly kind and honest and a
great person! (Nick - NM Ridge
Construction) and our office is 510-558-0184.
Thanks
Sarah
A general contractor can take care of your project to add
dormers and a new roof.
You will need a design/build company if you want to avoid paying
high architect fees. Ideally, you would hire a General Contractor
experienced in structural changes.
August 2008
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
Rule of thumb is about one square foot of venting for every
hundred square feet of attic. More if your shingles are black.
Contact any good roofer for attic vents. I suggest Shamus Collins.
Cliff
Home |
Reviews |
Advice |
Members |
Post a Message
Join BPN |
Help |
What's New |
Search |
Contact Us
Last updated: Jul 5, 2009
Copyright © 1996-2009 Berkeley Parents Network
The opinions and statements expressed on this website
are those of parents who subscribe to the
Berkeley Parents Network.
Please see
Disclaimer & Usage for
information about using content on this website.