Bad news.....

**happimommi** · 04-24-2008, 07:54 AM

We had a friend who is a contractor come and remove a couple of antennas from our roof yesterday and he had bad news for us. Our roof is in terrible shape! We thought we had at least a couple of years worth of life left in it and had time to save up for a new one. He is coming back today to measure and give us an estimate. This just seems impossible!! I don't know where we are going to come up with the money.

**PrairieRose** · 04-24-2008, 08:13 AM

Don't you have insurance? It should be covered (well if it's weather related damage) less the deductable.

**happimommi** · 04-24-2008, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by PrairieRose

Don't you have insurance? It should be covered (well if it's weather related damage) less the deductable.

Not weather related, the previous owner wasn't big on mantaining the house and he lived here for 10 years. Just an old roof. Luckily it isn't leaking (yet) so we do have a bit of time.

**cissylu** · 04-24-2008, 09:01 AM

I`m sorry you got this new`s. have you thought of haveing a tin roof. I don`t know if that`s cheaper or not. people
here some are going to tin roof`s. we have one.

**cab54** · 04-24-2008, 09:06 AM

I wouldn't do it yet if you can't afford it. He may be a friend, but he may be having you do it sooner for his own income. That's his job to tell you that. Make him wait a couple of years. It's YOUR house. YOU make the decision when it gets re-done.

If the roof isn't leaking, and it just LOOKS a bit old, so what? Start saving and you'll be ready in a couple of years to do it. The roof isn't going anywhere. If it starts leaking or something between now and when you have him scheduled, then at least you will have saved SOME of the money by then, and be better ready to do a new roof.

**Tiajean** · 04-24-2008, 09:29 AM

Get a second opinion from another contractor. Just because you have someone else look at it doesn't mean your friend can't do the work if it really is in that bad of shape. I definately wouldn't wait until you already have leaks. That would make it into a bigger, more expensive problem!

**FrugalMomof3** · 04-24-2008, 01:28 PM

Is there anyway you can patch it up to last a few more years? I know our roof wasnt the greatest but we patched it up and it lasted a few more years until we put on the rubber roof (since it's flat up there).

**C@rol** · 04-24-2008, 06:46 PM

Oh no, so sorry.
Things will work out.

**mombottoo** · 04-26-2008, 10:55 AM

We had the same issue for many years and were able to stretch the life of the roof through patching and lots of tar. If your friend thinks you can get by with what you have until you can save the money it might help. A five gallon bucket of roofing tar goes a long way.

**dianne9106** · 04-26-2008, 12:54 PM

I am sorry - I hope it turns out okay.

**Athena31** · 04-27-2008, 03:40 PM

Make sure you get several estimates before deciding on what to do.

**kaykwilts** · 04-27-2008, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by cab54

I wouldn't do it yet if you can't afford it. He may be a friend, but he may be having you do it sooner for his own income. That's his job to tell you that. Make him wait a couple of years. It's YOUR house. YOU make the decision when it gets re-done.

If the roof isn't leaking, and it just LOOKS a bit old, so what? Start saving and you'll be ready in a couple of years to do it. The roof isn't going anywhere. If it starts leaking or something between now and when you have him scheduled, then at least you will have saved SOME of the money by then, and be better ready to do a new roof.

This is excellent advice and what I would do.

**dolphin** · 04-30-2008, 04:19 PM

We need a new roof too and can't afford it now. Our insurance company told us that if we had a 3rd claim within 10 years that we would be canceled so we can't claim it. We're stuck trying to find people to go up and just repair it enough to keep the water from causing anymore damage.

:

I hope you can figure out what you can do to fix your problem.

**Dad_of_4** · 04-30-2008, 07:45 PM

We are having to get a new roof for the second time in six months. The first time was a nightmare. We had just moved in and wife had DS#2 and the mil was staying with us too help out. Well the roof had four layers, and it was taking alot of time to strip it. On the second day, they finished for the day and tarped over DD#1 room, also where mil was sleeping. Well, that night we got 7" of rain and the tarps did not hold. We had water pouring out of the light fixture and I was putting holes in the ceiling to allow it to drain. Well, the next morning the roofer gave me no problems what so ever and agreed to make it right. They had to strip the room of all drywall. It was then that we found that there had been other small leaks which had caused alot of rot and mold.

A few weeks ago, we had golfball sized hail and the roof got major damage but did not leak. Others in the area were not so lucky. They got leaks and are have to drop ceilings and tear out drywall. You do not want to get a leak. For one, you may not notice it untill major damage has occurred. Second, is once you get leaks contractors will jack up the price. I got one quote already that was 30% higher than what we paid six months ago. I told him No Thanks and his prices were way to high. He said everyone was raising prices. We will just wait untill late summer. The roof is at no risk of leaking so we can afford to wait.

Have you thought about DIY? I have helped several friends but on roofs. As long as the roof angles are not to complex, it is a simple but labor expensive job.

**AmyBoz** · 04-30-2008, 08:04 PM

I feel your pain. As I lay in bed on Monday, I suddenly began hearing "plip...plop...plip...plop..." Yep, my bedroom ceiling was leaking in 3 places. Buh-bye stimulus check and then some!