I would suspect that if the damage is that large that there is more damage you can't see and it's problem that the roof is weak in spots. Crawling around on a roof that has no damage is a risky business to start with and when you toss in possible water damage it could turn deadly and very fast.
It's not just about fixing the hole but about inspecting for other damage that possibly could be worse. But, as has already been said, this sort of thing won't go away on it's own. Here's what I recommend. Contact 5 or 6 roofing contractors in your area. Tell them that your taking bids on roof repairs and briefly describe the problem. Don't assume. People invite contractors to stick it to them by describing things they assume to be true. If you tell the contractor you are afraid you might need a new roof, guess what he'll tell you. Yes mam, we examined your roof and your quite correct. Your roof is shot and needs to be replaced. That's at least a 10,000 dollar job. Instead, only describe what you know as fact. Tell them up front that your only taking bids at this time. If they say something like we don't give bids, you can reply, then you don't get the job. If their honest, they'll come out and give you a free bid. If they want to charge you for it, run real fast. I'm the president of our home owners association and am responsible for over 55 homes. It's not a large association as such things go but we get home owners seeking information on what they can do to avoid being taken. Out of 5 or 6 bids, you should wind up with 4. There is always 1 or 2 who offer more excuses why they can't come out when they said they would. Their probably doing you a favor anyway. Out of the 4 or so you get,you'll be amazed at the range of prices. As an example, on a 10 thousand roofing job the prices could be as low as 6 and as high as 20 thousand. Write everything down and never assume you will be able to remember it because you won't. Get the bid in writing or you don't have anything. If it's in writing, you've got the paper to prove the bidder said what ever. Never pay in full up front. You have no bargaining chips left. If you are still holding the money, you've got say-so. It is proper to put some money down up front but only a small amount usually far less then half; like maybe a fourth. /And finally, run like hell when they start promising you the sun and the moon. Unless it's in writing, you don't have it. All the best of luck to you with it. Oh and be sure to inquire about warrantees on their work and how long etc. Alan Please click on: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~alanandsuzanne/ There, you'll find files of my arrangements and performances played on the Yamaha Tyros keyboard. I often add files so check back regularly! The albums in Technics format formerly on my website are still available upon request. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cy Selfridge" <cyselfri...@comcast.net> To: <blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, August 05, 2010 8:19 AM Subject: RE: [BlindHandyMan] roof damage > Jennifer, > > I concur with Al in that unless you are pretty adept with roofing issues > *DON'T* do it. > > Crawling around in the attic should also be left to those who have > experience. > > Having a pro come and fix the problem is a whole lot less than hospital > bills and resultant recovery from falling off the roof or through the > ceiling. > > Cy, The Anasazi > > From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com [mailto:blindhandy...@yahoogroups.com] > On Behalf Of Jennifer Jackson > Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 9:04 PM > To: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [BlindHandyMan] roof damage > > > > > > Good Morning, > > I need some input on the condition of my roof and what my next step should > be. There is a hole in the ceiling of an upstairs bedroom that is from a > water leak. I have been up on a short ladder and checked this part out for > myself. It is about the size of a salad plate. I know I have to stop the > water from coming in, but I am afraid to get up on the second story roof > to > investigate. Both afraid of falling, and of doing more damage to the roof > as I know nothing about roofing. > > My mother looks up into this hole and goes on about being able to "see the > sky." Her answer to the problem is that I must get some man to fix it, so > she is not very helpful as a source for more sighted details. > > My husband has a theory about this leak that I am not certain about. I may > have mentioned that home repair is not his forte? Anyway, he insists that > the light my mother is seeing is coming through the vent. He is referring > to the round vent things that have a fan in them for ventilation. He > claims > that the water is coming in through the vent and is normal. He tells me > that the other fan has a plastic pan under it to catch the water and that > this is why it does not have a similar leek. The water that leeks through > seems like a lot of water to be expected to just evaporate out of a > collection pan. My husband is suggesting that we just need to put in some > more insulation and repair the sheet rock. > > I am willing to get up in the attic and try to access this area to get > more > information. I am just not certain that any repairs from that side will > really do any good, or of any safety precautions I need to take. > > Such as perhaps turning off the electricity at the breaker box to avoid > any > possible live wires? Your input will be greatly appreciated. It will cause > a fight with my husband if I go ahead and call in a roofer after he has > said > we do not need one. I am willing to fight with him, but I prefer not to > whenever possible. I would love for him to be right about this. > > Jennifer\ > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Send any questions regarding list management to: > blindhandyman-ow...@yahoogroups.com > To listen to the show archives go to link > http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=33&MMN_position=47:29 > Or > ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ > > The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. > http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday > > Visit the archives page at the following address > http://www.mail-archive.com/blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com/ > > For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man > list just send a blank message to: > blindhandyman-h...@yahoogroups.comyahoo! Groups Links > > > >
