1 month ago
Located in Southern California. Today I called a company to come do a free assessment, and they said the underlayment in two valleys needs to be replaced, quoted $2,500—way too expensive. I wanted to ask if anyone has any pitfalls to avoid? Or if anyone knows a company with better value for money, please recommend one to me. Thanks
When your company did the assessment, did they actually get up on the roof to take photos or do a water test? Or did they just take a quick look from the attic? I've been looking for a roofer myself lately, and I've noticed that some free assessments are just a salesperson showing up, not even getting on the roof, and the whole quote is just talk. Can you confirm where exactly those two valleys they mentioned are located and roughly how many square feet they cover?
If it's only the underlayment, can the shingles still be reused? The labor to remove and reinstall shingles is often more expensive than the materials.
You don't necessarily have to replace the underlayment—sometimes a localized patch can hold you over for a few years.
You mentioned a free assessment—did they give you a written quote, and did it clearly state whether it only covers replacing the underlayment in the valley or also includes the surrounding tiles and flashings? Also, in California, rain is concentrated in winter. If you're not in a hurry to fix it now, waiting until September to get a few more quotes might give you more breathing room, but if rain is in the forecast, you'll need to do temporary waterproofing first.
Approval requirements vary quite a bit from city to city. Some HOAs even regulate roof color, so it's best to check before you start any work.
Try a different approach—maybe the problem isn't the valley itself, but a blocked branch or drainage ditch nearby.
Hold on, $2,500 to replace two valleys' worth of underlayment in Southern California isn't outrageous, but it depends on the square footage and the pitch.