From:  mg 
Newsgroups: alt.home.repair alt.building.construction misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Did I Get Screwed By an Incompetent Roofer? Need Advice
Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:05:30 -0700
   posting-account=NjPokg0AAACMXSArM3YgUo09nNd2rHKZ

On Jun 4, 8:44 pm, Lawrence  wrote:
> On Jun 4, 9:02 am, mg  wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jun 4, 6:12 am, John Ross  wrote:
>
> > > mg wrote:
> > > > I just had my house reroofed yesterday. It already had two layers of
> > > > shingles on it. So, it was necessary to remove all of the old asphalt
> > > > shingles before putting the new ones on. I have given the contractor
> > > > about half of the money as a deposit, but I haven't given him the
> > > > other half yet. The two issues I have with the job he did are:
>
> > > > 1. He roofed right over the swamp cooler legs instead of removing the
> > > > legs and then putting the roofing underneath them. Now I have little
> > > > teepee like or vulcano shaped mounds made out of bent shingles going
> > > > up around the legs along with gobs of some sort of roofing sealer
> > > > plastered all around legs. When the day comes that I have to replace
> > > > the swamp cooler, I'm obviously going to have to tear off part of the
> > > > shingles and then do some sort of a repair job. He also did the same
> > > > thing with my satellite dish antenna. So, I'm never going to be able
> > > > to get it off either without tearing off some shingles, etc.
>
> > > > 2. Removing the Shingles made a helluva mess in my yard. I did raise a
> > > > lot of Cain with those guys before they left in order to get most of
> > > > it picked up, but there is still some left and there are also pieces
> > > > of shingles in the rain gutters. The normal method of cleaning up was
> > > > obviously to use a rake and then any pieces that weren't picked up by
> > > > the rake were left for the homeowner. The problem is that this leaves
> > > > one helluva a lot of asphalt shingle pieces in my yard that range in
> > > > size from a dime to a dollar and even larger. In addition, there's no
> > > > way to be sure that all of the nails have been picked up. So, you
> > > > never know for sure if a child, for instance, could wind up with a
> > > > nail in his foot someday.
>
> > > > My two questions are, do I have legitimate complaints about the
> > > > workmanship and even if  the roofer lifts the legs of the swamp cooler
> > > > and takes the antenna off and does it right will the patchwork repair
> > > > job he does on the shingles be acceptable?
>
> > > I found it interesting reading the posts from people saying "he's a
> > > roofer, not a swamp cooler installer." I think this illustrates the
> > > differences in the way things are done in different parts of the
> > > country. I'll bet those posters live in the east where you have your
> > > heating and cooling in your basement.
>
> > > Out in the west, it is very common (until recently) to have the AC and
> > > heater or swamp cooler on the roof. It is also not only common, but
> > > CODE to have the roofer lift the legs of the units and put the
> > > shingles under them and then put some tar around the legs. This is the
> > > normal and legal practice!
>
> > > To the OP: Is a 50 percent deposit even legal in your state? Where I
> > > live a contractor can't take more than 10 percent for a deposit. Was
> > > he even a licensed contractor?
>
> > > Second, did it pass city inspection? He did pull a permit, right?
> > > Don't pay anything until the inspection and ask the inspector about
> > > the cooler. You definitely got a bad job, it's just a matter of if it
> > > was not done to code and he will have to fix it.
>
> > > Whatever happens, given the obvious lack of attention to detail by
> > > this guy, I would get a reputable roofer to come out and do an
> > > inspection to see if he thinks there is anything that is going to
> > > cause big problems. This shouldn't cost more than 100 bucks and is
> > > well worth it after dealing with bozos like you did (I had a similar
> > > situation and had to do the same thing).
>
> > > --
> > > John-
>
> > Wow! Thanks for all the great information John. With all the ideas you
> > suggest, I have a feeling I'm going to win this one. I'll let you
> > know. I did wonder if some of those other posters were from a
> > different part of the country and really didn't understand the
> > situation.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I admit it.  I have never had a house with any equiment like that on
> the roof.   Swamp coolers would not be common in MN except to cool
> livestock barns during our short but intense summers.  I know what
> they are like though.
>
> We had a window unit when I was a kid. We lived down south.  From what
> I know they are essentially cool water misted or dripped over or in
> front of a fan.  They cool the space but would add a lot of moisture
> to what already may be very humid air, depending on your climate.
> They are cheap to run though, esp compared to A/C!  But as soon as we
> had the money, I remember, we got an A/C.
>
> I also admit I am surprised you have a swamp cooler and didn't think
> they were common anymore in residential situations.  In what general
> part of the world are you in?  Are swamp coolers common there?  Do
> other houses in your neighborhood have swamp coolers on the roof?
>
> Never have I seen a swamp cooler in a Minnesota home.  In houses up
> north, mechanicals like air conditioners will have the compressor
> outside, from what I know.   Other type of mechanicals are either in a
> basement or in a room or closet designed for that purpose.  Lots of
> people have window units for the dog days.  I suppose it all means
> that I could have been wrong.  It wouldn't be the first time.
>
> It doesn't change the situation however.  You still need to have the
> roof fixed properly under any scenario esp considering it is brand
> new.  In your case, I think that means hiring someone to come and fix
> it.  Everthing you have described is fixable so don't get too bent out
> of shape.  If yu ever have that house roofed again you will know not
> to hire them guys and to ask about it with whomever you hire.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Swamp coolers (also called desert coolers) are probably popular
wherever water is cheap and the humidity is low. Cities like Denver,
Salt Lake City, Albuquerque and Phoenix are examples. Every once is a
while, in Utah, for instance we have some freak weather where the
humidity does go too high. I would say that happens perhaps once every
5 years or so and lasts maybe a couple of weeks. The rest of the time,
they work really well. The biggest problem with evaporative coolers is
that you have to climb up on the roof and service them twice per year;
once in the spring and then again in the fall. There's a chart at the
following website that provides swamp cooler performance versus
temperature and humidity.
http://www.wonderquest.com/swamp-cooler-humidity.htm

Swamp coolers aren't usually much of a problem for roofers. The legs
come right off with a few screws and it's easy to put the shingles
under them and then put the legs back on. One big problem that roofers
are going to have in future is with Satellite dishes, though. In the
case of DirecTV's new Ka/Ku dish, for example, it's probably
impossible for anyone but an expert with an expensive meter to install
it. That means that roofers are either going to have to become experts
or they're going to have to remove the antenna and be careful not to
damage it and then call a technician to re-install it after the job is
done. DirecTV only charges $49 to do that so it's not really a money
problem, it's just a matter of the roofers learning what needs to be
done and coordinating things with the technician so that the
customer's TV isn't off for too long.