Interesting~ refi, roof, opinions and honest contractors!

[nodmicks]

I recently had a thread about wanting to refi to cut our mortgage rate 2% and was devating rolling 10K into the loan for the roof versus draining savings. Here is the thread [ame="http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119611"]Debating a mortgage refi with cash out - Frugal Village Forums[/ame]


I learned a VERYvaluable lesson today about consulting more than 1 contractor. It could have been a very expensive mistake and I am glad I asked so many people in town who they recommended and had more than 1 opinion. Here is my update on the thread of what happened today

We had very very interesting news on the roof today. We had the guy out to do an estimate that everyone I asked in town recomended. His step child is also a friend of my childs.

He spent forever on the roof inspecting everything. He said in no way do we need a new roof for several years. He said the part we repaired last year should not have been that huge section but just a bit of flashing. It was bad flashing around the chimney. He could see their tiny repair and said the rest they did was not necessary!. The reason we had a leak a week ago was a piece of flashing that had gotten out of place on the other side of the chimney. He asked if it had been when we had the hard driving rain going that direction before he even got up there. He said it was a very minor issue and would take him just a few minutes but in no way shape or form did we need our roof done. The other guy told us we had no paper under the shingles and the roof was shot. He said we most certainly did have it and the roof was good for at least several more years. He said we have 25 year shingles and they are wearing very well! (12 years old)

He also informed us we had a big crack in the cement cap thing in our chimney and told dh how to fix it easily or whom to call. He said it was a very simple job.

It took him 15 minutes to fix and he said in no way shape or form do we need a new roof even if the competition said we did. Guess what our bill was ..........................

$0!!!!! He said he was glad to help and when we we actually needed the roof or were ready to do the windows or doors that his company did that too just give him a chance to bid the job and we were even.

We had planned to replace the older than dirt doors this summer anyways as they leak air bigtime and slowly start replacing the windows as we could afford it. Guess who I would like???

I can't believe we were so worried about the roof because of the advice we had gotten and it was nothing! I am so glad he was so highly recommended. I see why!!!!

Sure pays to get multiple opinions!!! Yes I will be contacting the first roofer by the way that told me it was shot when it was a few minute repair. Humm that was also the roofer I paid to fix the other problem that this guy said should have been a few $ job not $550!!! I found out the first 2 roofers I had out were actually two brothers that each operate a seperate part of the same roofing business but in different towns with different names if that makes sense. I think the dishonest took one look at me paniced over the leak and saw a big fat pigeon!

[nodmicks]

I didn't explain that too well rereading my post. I meant it took him a few minutes to fix that little bit of flashing that was not in place. Hope it didn't sound like the chimney. Dh will be fixing that