New York City Roofers - Roofing Contractors in New York City, NY

Helpful Tips on Roofing in New York City, NY

Do roofers in New York City charge for estimates?

Most New York City roofing contractors offer free written estimates on roof replacements. Roof repair estimates are often free of charge as well, but roof repair contractors in some parts of the country do charge a small service fee for roof repair estimates.

How many New York City roofing contractors should I get an estimate from?

Since roofing estimates are usually free, it's not a bad idea to get more than one, especially if it's a complete roof replacement that will cost several thousand dollars. But if you're confident in the first roofing contractor that gave you an estimate... schedule that new roof installation!

A word of caution. If you get more than one quote, you may be tempted to automatically choose the roofing company offering the lowest bid. There's nothing wrong with getting a great price, but beware of "too good to be true" estimates that may be provided by unprofessional and unethical roofers. Thousands of homeowners every year are dissatisfied with their roofing project, and in most cases, it's because they selected a roofer that was cheap... but not good.

Choose a New York City roofing contractor that offers you the best overall value. Value includes a fair price and professional credentials -- license, insurance, a good workmanship warranty, and a proven track record of satisfied customers.

What is a "ballpark" average for the cost of re-roofing?

Roof size, location, number of layers to remove, disposal fees, roofing material, slope of the roof, and complexity of the roof are different for every roof and make it extremely difficult to give an accurate "ballpark" roof estimate.

Roofing prices for a full roof tear off and replacement may range from $250 per square up to $1200 per square. A "square" in roofing means 100 square feet of roof. "Per square" is often the way roofing prices are quoted.

Here's a ballpark example which will give you a reference point, but please do not apply this example to your roof, which may be very different:

A 20 square roof (2000 square feet of roof) with one layer of shingles to tear off, low to moderate slope and complexity, and a medium quality shingle selected may be installed for around $350 per square, or $7000 in total (20 square X $350 per square).

What roofing warranties are provided by roofing companies in New York City?

Roofing materials warranties are actually provided by the manufacturer of the shingles, tile roofing, or metal roofing material. Manufacturers usually offer different warranties depending on the grade of material you select. Less expensive shingles, tile, or metal roofing, usually carry a shorter warranty, as you might expect. The duration of these warranties may be anywhere from 5 years up to "lifetime."

An additional warranty may be offered directly from the New York City roof contractor. A "Workmanship Warranty" or "Workmanship Guarantee" is a warranty offered by roofing contractors that essentially guarantees that the roof installation was done properly. Depending on the language in the warranty, any roof leaks or other problems related to improper installation may be covered by the roofing company. These warranties, if offered, are typically anywhere from one to ten years.

Will New York City roofers install a new roof over an existing roof?

Yes, but the best method for re-roofing is complete tear-off and removal of the old roof. Removing the old roof allows for inspection of the substrate, which is important to help determine if there are any existing roofing materials that are in poor condition.

What happens to the roof shingles and other debris from the old roof?

Typically, a roll off dumpster will be placed on the property during the re-roofing project. Good New York City roofing contractors will leave the property cleaned up at the conclusion to each work day. Shingles and other debris from the old roof are thrown into the dumpster. In many areas, shingles and other roofing materials are now recycled to be used again on other roofs. If roof shingle recycling is not available in your area, then the debris from the roof will be disposed of properly in a landfill.

There are a lot of different roof systems and materials available. Shingle roof systems, metal roofing, tile roofing, slate roofs all have advantages. What type of roofing system should I use?

If you aren't sure what type of roofing material you want for your roof, educate yourself by on the relative advantages and disadvantages of each roofing material. Then contact a New York City roofing company to inspect your home and help you determine the best materials and methods for your particular structure.