Roofing prices

[encorehunter]

I am in the middle of roofing my house, and my helper bailed on me this weekend. I called a local contractor to come and give me a quote to finish. There are about 12 squares left on a 9/12 pitch roof. There are four roof vents and 2 jacks that have to bee roofed around. There are also two layers that have to be removed. Fairly simple, right?
The quote using all of MY materials was $2800! That is about $235 a square, just for labor. When I was roofing about 5-8 years ago, we would get around $50 a square including the tear off.
Have the prices gone up that much? Maybe I should get back into roofing. I called my helper and her was able to come yesterday and the two of us got half of it done in one day. I figure at $1400 a day, I will take a day or two off of regular work.

[eneranch]

Prices have gone up without a doubt. We had a new roof put on an Investment Property in June, 26 squares cost $6500 ($250/sq) that included tear-off of the old roofing, new vents,Ice-Water Shield,drip edge, felt, painted pipes & flashing to match roof color, and Class IV Shingles; 2 years ago that roof would have cost $5600.

[PSS]

35$ for laydown + 35$ for first layer tearoff + 25$ for second layer. 95$ a square is a fair price in my mind. Plus a little extra for a 9/12 (15$/sq.). That's what I used to charge back in SE Kansas when I would do roofing to help pay the bills when electrical work was slow. Would never do it for 50$ a square including tear off. Of course we didn't compete with illegal workers there either. With a good crew you could make respectable money. At 250$ a guy could make a killing.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Most laborers I know charge $200-250/sq including 25 year roof, membrane, ice/water shield, ridge etc etc. The roofing company in turn charges customer $300-350/sq.

If you need roofers (laborers), I can give you some phone #s. I just got 3 of them done on our rentals.

[encorehunter]

I already have all the roofing materials, including shingles, felt, nails and tools if they needed them. I was figuring to pay $100 a square (up to $1200) to get it finished. I guess I just hadn't realized that prices have gone up so much since I left the business.
Right now I have 6 squares left of tear off and a total of 8 squares left to roof. My house is the last house I have left to roof. My rentals all have new roofs. I don't know why they all get new before I do. I guess that's the way things work out.

[JohnTRourke]

have you priced workman's comp for roofer's lately?
And liability insurance?

Oh and BTW, if you are paying a laborer on the side and they get hurt on your property, guess who owes? And home insurance doesn't pay, specifically excludes uninsured workers.

Plus you're going to pay extra because you did half of it yourself. Nothing worse as a tradesmen coming in to finish a half done job by anyone, much less a DIY job. (no matter what the quality of the job)

[ChunkyMonkey]

have you priced workman's comp for roofer's lately?
And liability insurance?

Oh and BTW, if you are paying a laborer on the side and they get hurt on your property, guess who owes? And home insurance doesn't pay, specifically excludes uninsured workers.


I cannot speak for OP, but most property managements or property investors have payroll going for maintenance or repair works that require surge in laborers. We get billed at the end of cycle by the worker comp insurer. Typically, I see $100 extra per cycle whenever I have get 4-5 laborers for 2-3 days. Not much at all compare to hiring a roofing company.

[encorehunter]

I can understand them not wanting to finish a job that was started, as sometimes people don't know what they are doing. The parts that were left were the easiest parts. It was just going to be too difficult for one person to do.
As for the paying some one to help, I usually trade work for work. I help with roofing their house, concrete work and so forth, they come and help me. This time they didn't show up left me in a vulnerable position with a partially bare roof.

[encorehunter]

I talked witha buddy today who had wind damage to his roof. He is getting 9 squares replaced for a total cost of $2400, and that inludes the material. It sounds like the roofing complany was trying to hose me. Reminds me why I don't like using contractors.