Seeking a Roofer

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Looking for a knowledgeable roofer that does vents

Jan 2013

I have a pitched roof and was told that I need to have vents. Does anyone knows a roofer that has experience with different vents installation and that is knowing the pros and cons of the different types. Anon

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Any roofer who puts on new roofs should be able to do vents. -homeowner

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Several quality and professional roofers you might contact are: Haight Roofing at: 510-532-1504, Precision Roofing at:510-436-7575 and Nicholas Roofing at: 510-848-4433. All have been in business for a long time and perform very good work. I have used them all and have always been very pleased with their work. Roger

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As a licensed general contractor for 15 years, I recommend Westco Roofing Inc from Oakland. Westco is a reputable, knowledgeable company that can almost certainly solve your vent issue. Call them at (510) 533-5270. Jonathan

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Need a licensed independent roofer

Aug 2012

I would like a recommendation of a roofer. I especially would love to hear about an independent roofer (not in a large company). He/she must be licensed and insured. I live up 36 stairs and have a 2 story house so there is some distance from the street to the roof to take down and up material. I have 3 layers of leaky roof material that need to be removed and replaced with a solid roof. Hoping to find someone that won't cost me a fortune. Anon

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Jay Roofing is the roofer for you. We got his name from BPN recommendations about 5 years ago when our very pitched and old roof started leaking. We got estimates from 5 roofers. Jay's estimate was approximately 60% of the next lowest estimate for the same work. We were slightly concerned at that difference in price, but we decided to go for it. Jay did a repair to tide us over until the rain stopped. Then he and his crew came out, installed a great-looking roof, and cleaned up after themselves. Five years have passed, and we have had no leaks or problems since then. Jay is very personable and does a great job. Highly recommended. Meryl

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Good quality roofers are: Collins, Haight, Nicholas, Precision,and Westco. Roger

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I recently used Planchon Roofing 235-1158 and found their price reasonable (less than 4 other bids I got) and their work professional and fast. Julie

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I relied on BPN archives to find a roofer for my mom's house in Oakland. I got bids from several companies and went with Precision Roofing, a family run business, because I was impressed by the experience and professionalism of its owner, Michael Green. As opposed to the others, Michael got on the roof and found several holes made by squirrels, which he patched before it rained. In addition to doing a good job on the roof and gutters, there wasn't a scrap of debris to be found on the grounds. I subsequently had them do some work on my Berkeley Roof and all went well.

I haven't had terrible experiences with roofers in the past, but the company that did my house 10 years ago subcontracted the gutters to someone who did a shoddy job and didn't return phone calls when the flashing around the chimney failed after a few years. So I was impressed that Precision Roofing offers a 15 year warranty for labor and workmanship, and they'll extend it for another 15 years if you have them return and do routine maintenance. Michael takes pride in his business, he's employed the same people for years and provides them with benefits and vacation pay. I think that's impressive as well. Their phone number is 436-7575 Berkeley Home Owner

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We had our roof replaced one year ago by Adrian Gomez Roofing, and I highly recommend him. Quality work and reasonably priced (comparing 3 competing quotes for the job). From what you describe, it sounds like he may be a great fit for you. You can contact him at adriangomezroofing [at] sbcglobal.net Adrian Gomez Roofing (510) 780-6432

More details - Our house is a 107-year old, 2-story A-frame shape, a style that is commonly seen in Berkeley and Oakland. Because our house is narrower than most, the pitch of the A-frame roof is about as steep as it gets, a definite challenge for roof work. We had a complete tear-off (3 layers), down to the skip sheeting. The new roof is GAF brand asphalt shingles (40-year as I recall) plus roofing felt, over foil laminated OSB plywood sheeting.

You didn't ask for this, but, hopefully useful: to familiarize ourselves with roofing materials, roofing techniques, and more so that we could make good decisions and know what to ask, we ended up watching a lot of educational Youtube videos that were posted by the shingle manufacturers and a variety of roofing companies throughout the country. I highly recommend doing this to help with decisions on materials and to guide you in terminology and conversations with your roofer when you start talking about roof vents, valleys, gutters, any trouble spots where water could collect, and other details.

Another thing: Roofing, especially tear-off, is messy work, no matter who is doing the work. I was happy with the cleanliness of Adrian's crew, with how they contained and cleaned up the mess, and with the manner in which they protected the sides of our house and our neighbors (there is not much space between us and our neighbors). Even so, there were old roofing nails found in the dirt and groundcover around our house. We had a couple of very strong magnets (one rare earth magnet and one 18' long bar that was a kitchen knife holder before we had kids). We encased the magnets in plastic bags, attached string, and dragged them around the yard to find the nails. I found a bunch myself, and paid my son 5 cents per nail after the easy ones were all found (it was a well-spent $20). Be sure to wear sturdy-soled, close-toed shoes (like hiking boots) while this is going on. Linda

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In need of roofer recommendation

April 2012

Does anyone have a recommendation for someone to replace a roof? Even better if they are specialized in using environmentally friendly techniques and materials. THANK YOU! Orinda resident

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Precision Roofing Company 510-436-7575 We were very happy with their price and their work. SO happy to not have water leaking when it rained this winter. Phew. no leak

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We had our roof replaced by Alco Roofing out of San Leandro and were very satisfied with the quality, price, and professionalism. Al did what he said he would and didn't try to push us into expensive extras or add on anything beyond the bid price. We didn't ask for any kind of special environmental roofing products, so I can't speak to that, but we've had no problems with the roof, it looks great, and they cleaned up really well after the job.

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Experience with Armstrong Roofing of Emeryville?

April 2012

I need a new low slope composition shingle roof (tear-down) on my small, but many-roofed, leaking 2-story Berkeley house. I need to add exterior rigid insulation to an uninsulated 'vintage' plank roof. I received a cold call from Armstrong Roofing of Emeryville. Has anyone used them? Any comments? Any good recent experiences with reasonably priced roofers that you can recommend? Lyrinda in Berkeley

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We recently had to have our roof replaced as it had been leaking when it rained hard the last few years. We did get a quote and have a presentation by Armstrong roofing. The quality of the products seem about the same and the price was very high. We ended up using Precision Roofing Company 510-436-7575 and I am very happy with the results and had no leaks even with the recent downpour. They were clean, quick and the price was resonable. Mike

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Roofer who will do repairs

March 2012

I had some roofing done a few years ago by a roofer who was recommended on BPN, Ira Fabricant. He re-roofed our duplex in Berkeley and my cottage in Oakland. Just after he was done, the cottage leaked around the Sky Light and he wanted to charge me to repair it (so I got someone else to fix it). Now, a few years later, the duplex is leaking because Ira replaced some of the flashing when he re-roofed, but not all of it. He didn't replace the flashing around the vent housing on the North side of the property. So, I'm wondering if anyone knows of a good roofer who repairs the work of other roofers and also a roofer who will (ideally) come back and fix their own work free of charge if the roof leaks? Thanks for your help! Claire

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Rob the roofer (510-655-9811) came out and gave us an estimate on some roof repairs recently. He was recommended by another roofer who was too busy to help us (ah, rainy season). He was friendly and knowledgeable. Homeowner

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Two very good roofing companies are Precision Roofing at 436-7575 and Nicholas Roofing at 848-4433. We have personally used both companies and have been very satisfied with their work. They are professional and responsive. Roger

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Carl Rowe at Rowe Roofing is the man! It simply doesn't get any better than Carl. He does free estimates and guarantees his work and he means it! He came out in a horrible storm one night at 10 p.m. and did a temporary patch on the roof of a rental house when part of the bedroom ceiling fell in with my pregnant wife and I under it. He advertises by word of mouth through past customers. Twice now somebody told me they knew the 'best roofer' and I said 'I doubt it' and they said 'his name is Carl'--they already knew my world's greatest roofer! He just did work for a friend in Lafayette who was delighted. Reasonable prices as well. Carl knows asphalt shingle roofs and has been in business a long time. 510-657-9278 He is also a nice guy to deal with!! under a perfect roof by Carl 15 years later

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Seeking shingler

Dec 2011

Can someone recommend a good shingler working in Berkeley/Oakland? The current recommendations on the site are from a decade ago. Thanks! New homeowner with old house

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Collins Roofing {collinsroofing.com} does siding as well as roofs. Think about it. It's the same process; just 90 degrees different. Great people. Good prices. Excellent work. Norm

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A Better Roofing Company replaced my roof recently and not only did they do a great job but they were very reasonably priced. The owner Jon, tries real hard and really cares about his business. (925)370-1158 http://www.abetterroofingcompany.com/ LL

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The reason I got in contact with Hometelligent Inc. was because I needed to replace a roof on a rental property. Silvio Dobrovat came out and did an estimate for me without me needing to be at the property. I can't say how much I appreciated this because it saved so much time on my end. Some of you might hesitate about not being there but I explained what I wanted done and Silvio understood completely. The communication was so easy.

After signing the contract and putting a deposit down for the materials, work began immediately. Within two days the crew had removed and replaced the entire roof. During this time Silvio was giving me updates about what was going on via txt and email. Once the project was complete Silvio sent me a txt along with a picture of the completed work. Everything looked great but I needed to see the results with my own eyes. When I arrived at the property the work done looked just as good as it did in the picture. The crew had done an amazing job and most importantly they had taken their time to clean the area around the house.

Overall my experience with Silvio Dobrovat and Hometelligent was excellent. The work done was phenomenal but most importantly the communication was just as good. Silvio was on top of things responding to my emails and txt. I would highly recommend him and his crew. His number is 925-383-8163 anon

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I saw the positive review for Silvio Dobrovat and Hometelligent and wanted to share my experience, which was not positive. Everything was great until I signed the contract. The workers he sent to do work in my house were not prompt, sometimes not showing up at all, and very messy tracking dirt throughout my house and not cleaning up after themselves. There were also unexpected additional costs for things that I did not appreciate on principle even though they were not that much. The experience left a sour taste in my mouth. I think your experience will depend on who Silvio sends to do the work b/c he does not do it himself. He is very prompt and easy to work with before you actually sign a contract. --2nd opinion

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Roofer recommendations needed

Sept 2011

We're looking for a great roofer to replace a 25 y.o. roof in Rockridge. Any recommendations (or people to avoid)? Thanks!

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I highly recommend Adrian Gomez Roofing. He replaced our original 1915 Rockridge roof which involved 5 layers of roofing on a relatively steep slope. Did great work, crew were professional and pleasant (we did keep them supplied with drinks), and we were very happy with the process. Adrian's cost was slightly lower than a big firm's estimate but I would have paid more in hindsight because he was honest and didn't nickel and dime me on what could have been considered extra work. We hired him back a few years later to redo the flat garage roof and had same pleasant experience. Adrian Gomez Roofing  (510) 780-6432

Karen

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We just had Collins Roofing do ours (they & Nicholas Roofing both have many great past reviews on BPN). and they did a fantastic job. Very quick. Cleaned up every day. Looks wonderful. Tell Seamus that Norm sent you. Collins Roofing. www.collinsroofing.com 510-655-2223 Norm

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Need Roofer recommendation and advice

Aug 2011

I am in the process of getting bids for a new roof and would appreciate any recommendations for roofing contractors who work in the east bay -- I live in Walnut Creek. Also, this is my first time dealing with a new roof so if there are tips you have for me on what to do and not do that would be great. Thanks! MJ

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Carl Rowe Roofing at 510-657-9278 is the best guy for asphalt shingles. He has the best price and does the finest work. He doesn't advertise so all his work is by referral from satisfied customers and everybody he ever worked for is one of those I think. Carl hand nails each shingle personally-no nail guns or laborers. Carl has done several for me and has assisted with emergency roof leaks in the pouring rain in the middle of the night on short notice. He is honest and hard working. Carl also schooled me about roofing techniques and made numerous suggestions for how to add better protection for little cost. One example was his idea to use a rubber membrane rather than tar paper on low slope areas. Another was to use 30 lb. tarpaper rather than the 'standard' 15lb everybody else uses. Carl recommended over lapping 18-24' instead of the standard 12'. Just little things with minimal extra cost but huge suggestions for getting the best quality roofing job done right. Do yourself a favor and call Carl first. You'll be glad you did. jt

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I just had my roof completely re-roofed by A Better Roofing Company, Jon Morrison (925) 370-1158. I was very happy with the finished results. They did a top quality job at a very reasonable price. He will come out, evaluate everything and answer all your questions. He's located out in your area too. Larry L

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Call Sorin Feraru at 510-228-7366. Sorin has been taking care of various projects for us including replacing our old roof. He'll guide you through the entire process. I remember he gave us options as for what material to choose for the new roof considering our budget and how long we wanted to be the life of our new roof. It's tricky, because some contractors give you the lowest bid based on lifetime of the new roof, but you may end up spending more on the long run. So, contact Sorin and you'd be more than happy that you did.

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Recommendations for roofers for new roof

June 2011

We just discovered we need a new roof. Can anyone recommend a roofer who can also help us change the line of our roof? --thank you in advance--

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I highly recommend Sierra Roofing. We have used them many times over the years and are very happy with all of their work. 925-803-1601 jeannie

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I recommend Carl Rowe of Rowe Roofing at 510-657-9278 for asphalt shingles. Carl hand nails all shingles, is very reasonably priced, has many years experience, and is very detail oriented, polite, and respectful. We rebuilt after the fire and the first contractor we used had found Carl. The contractor was awful and I fired him so the job was in limbo for quite a long time--except for Carl. Even though the guy that hired him was gone Carl stood by the work he had started and kept the roof leak proof and secure until we got a new general on board. He also came out to my rental home in a storm one night and helped me get a temporary cover in place at midnight after the bedroom ceiling came down. We had a baby due in a week and didn't need a leaky roof. It just doesn't get any better than Carl. Free estimates as well. Ralph Austin would be a good choice for a general to change the roof line. He is at 925-930-0323. happy homeowner

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Sorin Feraru took care of our roof and we are very happy with the job he has done: the right price and on time. Also, since we went through a rainy season with the roof and had no problems, I can add great quality of the work. We highly recommend Sorin. You can reach him by phone at 510-228-7366 or by email at office [at] feraru.us

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Roof leaking - Contractor? Roofer?

March 2011

Hi all, Our roof has sprung a leak (!!), and we're looking for a recommendation. Is this something a Contractor would do? Or a Roofer? In either case, your recommendations (also, who to avoid) gratefully accepted. (Interestingly, this is on the remodeled (e.g., newer - 6 years old!) side of the house, not the 1916 side...Yuck!) Thanks so much, Tired of filling containers...

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I had Michael from Precision Roofing come out to my house today to give me an estimate on some changes to my downspouts. He was prompt and very knowledgable, but what I really liked about him is how he counselled me NOT to do the work. He pointed out some of the challenges with changing my downspouts in the manner that I was thinking and instead suggested better ways to address some of the 'water' challenges here (that didn't involve me hiring his company). The fact that he didn't try to just steer me in a direction where he'd 'get the sale' I thought was very professional. I'd certainly consider Precision Roofing when I need a new roof down the line. Tom

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Roofer

Feb 2011

Looking for a reasonable and good roofer. dianna

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We got some names off BPN and ended up choosing Alco Roofing. Al, the owner, was awesome- professional, straightforward, honest. He told us we could get a couple more years out of our roof before replacing, which we did. It gave us more time to save money for it so that helped. Then he redid the roof and was great -good price, good work (he did the work so was always on the job ), and cleaned everything up. No-one wants to have to replace a roof, but if you must, Alco is excellent. 510- 633-9744. Happy New Roof Owner

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2009 - 2010 Recommendations

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Reasonable, licensed Roofer needed

Oct 2010

Need reasonably priced, licensed and honest roofer who does good work for a Kensington home. The roof is old and has a couple of layers of old roofs underneath. Please advise! anon

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Michael from Precision Roofing. Hands down the best roofer around. I use him whenever a client needs to take care of this the most important part of their home. he's at: 510-436-7575

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Just got our roof and gutters replaced in July. Called Nicholas Roofing, Collins, and RK Roofing. RK was the lowest bid while the other two were about the same. I called reference with all 3 and they all got great reviews. Went with Collins because they were the most willing to talk to us when they came by to give a quote. They did the work quick and cleaned up after themselves just like other reviewers said. anon

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We used Alan Wilson, Alco Roofing. He was great. We had an old roof (actually about four layers of roof). Alan's bid was reasonable (not like about half the bids we got). I think it is because Alan works on his own - there isn't a fancy receptionist, or a big fancy truck. He just comes and fixes your roof - really well. He did our whole roof in under a week. (Maybe if he had a big crew, it would have been done in 3 days instead of 5, but it was well worth the savings). Alan did our roof in 2008 - absolutely no problems. In fact, a contractor screwed up a portion of our beautiful new roof, and Alan came out on the weekend and fixed it for $50. Can't say enough good things about him. He was licensed, insured, and we checked his references. alcoroofingca [at] gmail.com. FYI phone is 510-366-1333. joni

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Nicholas Roofing for small roof job?

April 2010

Has anyone had a roof done by Nicholas Roofing of Berkeley? Have a small roofing job and looking for comments (good or not so good) from former customers, recent or years past. Thank you. -Anonymous

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We had Nicholas Roofing do a couple of shake patch jobs (see my rec in the previous digest) and also had our house reroofed by them a year ago (not small job, but not large either). I would recommend them for ANY size roofing job. Jimmy (the owner?) is very honest and worked hard to give us a good experience. Francesca

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Both Nicholas Roofing and Collins Brothers Roofing get 5-star ratings on Yelp with the same number of reviews. I used Collins Brothers. I contacted Nicholas Roofing for an estimate for a small job. They gave me a reasonable price but I was uncomfortable with the statement on the estimate that the work was not guaranteed. So I looked again, found the Collinses and used them. They were fantastic and I'll use them again. PO Box 20818 Oakland, CA 94620 663-6674 www.collinsroofing.com
Jessica

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We just used Nicholas Roofing for a 250 sf addition on our house. They were fantastic--fast, flexible in timing, and competitively priced. They researched the existing shingles' manufacturer, and found a very close match after learning the original supplier went out of business. We're very happy with the results. Highly recommended! Patti

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I am an architect and have used Nicholas Roofing on both my own house and garage and also on roofs for several clients over the last 20 years. They are honest, reliable, and reasonably priced. A friend to whom I recommended them raved after they quoted her $600 to fix a small leak when other roofers had quoted thousands insisting she need a hole new roof. L.

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We used Nicholas Roofing for a medium-sized roofing job. The owner, Jimmy, seemed competent and was easily accessible by phone. The work was done on time, as scheduled, and for the price quoted. Everything was cleaned up and hauled away. The guys who did the job spoke little (if any) English, so I couldn't really communicate with them. Jimmy quoted the job, but he was not present after that; he left it all up to his crew. Good luck!

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Nicholas Roofing has done a number of jobs for me in the past year, from small to medium-large. These included removal and subsequent replacement of an attic fan, installation of additional roof vents, installation of a bathroom exhaust, and a tear-off and re-roof of half my house. Their work is excellent, costs are reasonable and their staff ? both workers and office ? are a pleasure to deal with. In 30 plus years of home ownership, including two large models and a couple of roofing jobs, I?ve worked with a lot of tradesmen. I?d rank Nicholas at the top of my list of the best, for both workmanship and customer service. optimoms

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Roofer for rooftop garden/deck

March 2010

Need the name of a reliable roofer in preparation for rooftop garden/deck. This is a small job but need someone who does good work with attention to detail. Thanks in advance. -Anon

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This isn't a recommendation for a roofer, but I'd like to recommend that you be sure that the structure you are building on to can support the weight of a garden. If you're just doing a few pots it's no big deal, but if you are doing large planters the weight of the soil needs to be taken into consideration. In that case you should have a civil engineer check whether the structure can effectively support the added weight. Cece

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We used Ascential Roofing when we remodeled our house, and absolutely loved them. Eric didn't give us the cheapest of the 4 quotes, but he was friendly and professional, the site was cleaned every afternoon and he finished early. We'd definitely choose him again, except we won't need a roof for 30 years! molly

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We love Planchon roofing. Good price, responsible, on time, wonderful job. Able to deal with the city. roof done and gorgeous

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Dec 2009

I am in need of an excellent roofer. We have a leak in our roof, and are looking for someone to find and fix the problem. Any suggestions??? Thanks! All Wet in Orinda

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I had several leaks in my kitchen, leaking skylights and leaks and just inside my kitchen door. I interviewed several roofers, most didn't know what to do, or wanted to replace the whole roof. Ron Williams, the Roof Doctor, did a great job for a reasonable price. We have been leak-free so far this season. His number is 1-800-409-4910. He also has a website, where he shows the leaky roofs he has worked on, and how he fixed them. The website is www.roofdoctor1.com.

He was great to work with, does his own work, and I would highly recommend him. I went up on the roof with him and he explained all the problems he saw, and I learned a lot. I can tell he takes pride in what he does. Dry in Orinda

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Try Calling Doug at CH Roofing in Concord at (925) 798-1089 8206;. We had them re-roof our house 20 years ago, and just had them do another roof this summer. They also put a new roof on our neighbor's house and they were pleased. Reasonable price, nice to work with and he comes back if there's a problem. Also, they didn't leave a huge mess. jb

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March 2009

I'm wondering if anyone has had Dan Lynch waterproof their home, work on their deck, or done any services recently. We have a serious roof leak under a balcony and want to hire someone reliable. Thank you for any comments on Dan Lynch or suggestions about who we can call.

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I cannot recommend Michael of Precision Roofing highly enough. We had roof leaks and window leaks about 4 years ago. He came out and figured out where the water was getting in. He not only fixed the roof leaks, but also the window leaks which had been plaguing us for years despite many other repair attempts. On top of that he guaranteed the repairs something I had not been able to get anyone else to do. 4 years later everything is still water tight. His number is 436-7575. jolie

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March 2009

anyone has a recommendation for a good roofer to fix the flat section of a sloped roof. Its a small area, but its time for maintenance. thx thx homeowner

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We had a roof installed by Ira Fabricant and can recommend him very highly. He has worked in this area for many years and is experienced with many different types of roofs and roofing issues. He can do repairs as well as installations, deals with skylights, works with a wide variety of materials, and is very efficient without cutting corners-- it's truly amazing how much he will get done in a day. He's very knowledgable and can give really good advice. Incredibly clean, responsible and sensitive to aesthetics--a real craftsperson. (510) 653-1680 happy and dry

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March 2009

Does anyone know of a reliable and affordable roofer? Beth

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Adrian Gomez is highly recommended. Honest, fast (very important I found out), follows through on what he says he'll do and when, fair price (lower than bigger roofing company), good work, and easy to work with. He took off 5 layers of old roofs on steep slope; new roof is beautiful. Also had him back to reroof a flat garage roof. Again, did a beautiful job. Adrian Gomez Roofing
Karen

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Assential Roofing re-roofed my house (flat roof) last summer and did a terrific job. His pricing is very fair. Phone (510) 652-3533 contact owner - Eric Gascoyne. Sandy M

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I know a great roofer and I recommend him hands down.His name is Sorin Feraru, he is a general contractor, and he replaced our entire roof. We are so very happy with his work. Never had problems ever since he has done the work for us.He and his crew are very professional and nice.I will never hire anyone else again but Sorin Feraru.You can give him a call at 510-228-7366, or you can visit his website www.feraru.us. Miranda

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I highly recommend Nicholas Roofing at 848-4433; also http://nicholasroofing.com/ They recently did an excellent job on my roof. I subsequently had them remove my old attic fan and replace it with a solar fan and they did this so seamlessly that I couldn't even see where the old fan had been on the inside of the attic. I researched BPN files and other sources extensively prior to selecting roofers. In addition to positive mentions on BPN, Nicholas was also recommended on Bay Area Consumerms Checkbook, Yelp, a list supplied by a Berkeley solar company, and by a personal contact in the remodeling trade - Nicholas had enthusiastic recommendations from the widest collection of different sources of any roofing company I interviewed. Estimates are done by Jimmy Cosenza; he and their entire staff are easy to work with and attentive to customer service. Their cost was very reasonable and they went out of their way to address some of my specific concerns that other roofers brushed aside q such as protecting the stuff stored in the attic with plastic so that demolition debris did not get on it. Our roofing job was done in conjunction with installation of solar panels, and the solar crew, who see a lot of roofs and roofers, remarked on the quality of the workmanship and the workers. optimoms

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Jan 2009

My mother needs some roofing work done on her house in Oakland and is considering Central Bay Roofing Company because of a personal connection. Have you had roof work done by them? Do you have a different roofer that you'd recommend? anon

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I had my home roofed a couple of years ago by Central Bay and would NOT recommend them. The workers were very loud, finishing work messy and lots of material scattered throughout the plants, etc. Anon

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2007 - 2008 Recommendations

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Oct 2008

Looking for a recommendation for a contractor to track down and fix a(composite shingle) roof (or gutter, not completely clear where it's coming from) leak on the exterior (2nd story) of my house. The roof has several years yet to go, so this is a small job. Thanks! Ragnar

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Nicholas Roofing repaired our shake roof a couple of times. We were pleased with the results, even though they didn't last more than a year or two. (It was just to get us through the rainy season while we figured out what we wanted to replace the roof with.) Their number is 848-4433. Francesca

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I just had a roof inspection done by Seamus Collins of Collins roofing. I'd highly recommend them to you: they looked at my roof and rather than upselling me, gave me some great information about my roof and offered to fix a few minor things.

They sent me a letter documenting the roof's condition for my insurance company at no charge. Totally above board.
Collins Roofing Inc. Phone/Fax 510-482-2227 Email: collinsroofinginc [at] yahoo.com Website: www.collinsroofing.com
Sincerely, Judiah

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I would highly recommend Seamus Collins of Collins Roofing. He and his crew replaced the entire roof of our Oakland home in three days this past September. Our roof looks terrific and is absolutely solid and sound. Seamus can be reached at 510- 482-2227 or www.collinsroofing.com Kymry

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Ascential Roofing - replaced my roof. The did a terrific job. Showed up on time, finished on time, and cleanded up and hauled away the trash. Contact Eric at (510) 652-3533. His email is Eric [at] AscentialRoofing.com. Sandy M.

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I recommend Ira Fabricant of Fabricant Roofing. He has done a couple jobs for us and has been great to work with in addition to doing good work. Ended up saving us a bundle on a repair to get a few more years out of our roof. Fabricant Roofing (510) 653-1680
Berkeley Resident

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June 2008

Can anyone recommend a good roofer? Berkeley resident

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Adrian Gomez and his crew were wonderful. He is detail oriented, trustworthy, and less expensive than other quote we got. Has done follow up work for us. Let me (Karen) know if you have any questions. Adrian Gomez Roofing (510) 780-6432

kej

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Gabriel Benagas (650-515-8754) just did our roof and it is beautiful. He spent a lot of time with us picking out the right materials and trying to chase down what we needed. My husband was on the job the whole time and said he's never seen anyone work so hard. Very professional and very reasonably priced. Lynne

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I can highly recommend Ira Fabricant of Fabricant Roofing. Ira installed a roof and skylight on a structure at my son's school, and did repair work on the roof at my home. Throughout the projects, he was timely and reliable. For my home project, he patiently explained in advance the work that needed to be done, why it was necessary and the estimated costs. I was very happy with the cost (which came in at estimate) and the quality of the work. He even went the extra mile and cleaned gunk out of my gutters while he was up there. All of the projects have withstood the test of time. Ira has 20 years experience in roofing -- he knows what he's doing. Also, he's a really nice guy. The number I have for him is 510-653-1680. -- a good roof over my head

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We had a roof installed by Ira Fabricant and can recommend him very highly. He has worked in this area for many years and is experienced with many different types of roofs and roofing issues. He can do repairs as well as installations, deals with skylights, works with a wide variety of materials, and is very efficient without cutting corners-- it's truly amazing how much he will get done in a day. He's very knowledgable and can give really good advice. Incredibly clean, responsible and sensitive to aesthetics--a real craftsperson. (510) 653-1680 Very happily sheltered

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Feb 2008

Small roofing job in North Berkeley -- seek reputable and responsive roofer. jr

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I had good experience with Ace Roofing a few years ago. I have a small A-frame home. There haven't been any problems with my roof since, and their prices were good. Rahel

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We moved into a new house and had a small roofing repair job that needed to get done. We checked the recommendations and went with Planchon Roofing over here in San Pablo. 510-235- 1158 Their bid was 1/3 of the bid from another contractor yet they did the job on time and with excellent quality. I will use them again if I need more work done. G. B.

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Jan 2008

Hi, can anyone recommend a roofer who can actually repair leaks and will stand by their work? Thanks so much cr

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I recommend Nicholas Roofing, 848-4433, which was recommended to us by a contractor friend. They have shimmed our shake roof to stop leaks in two places. I don't think they (or anyone else) would give a written guarantee (if that's what you mean by ''stand by their work'') but we got the results we were promised. The results didn't last but they got us through the rainy season and bought us a few more years on our roof. Francesca

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Nov 2007

Anyone have any recommendations for a roofer? Erik

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We HIGHLY recommend Jay of Jay's Roofing. He did our roof this past week in only three days, and the quality of the workmanship is extraordinary. In fact, we were lamenting the fact that we live in a place where only a few people will ever see the top of our roof! We think it should be a display piece. He had a crew of about 7 men who worked so efficiently and smartly, that our neighbor (whose office window overlooks our roof) called the moment they were finished to rave about how well they worked. He said he'd never seen such quality work by any workmen in the neighborhood. They cleaned up the yard and patio each day, even cleaning up all the leaves that we hadn't had a chance to get to. My husband (who has built roofs himself before) went up on the roof with him and they talked everything over together, and even this morning he (my husband, that is) went up on the roof just to enjoy it! Jay came when he said they'd come, charged us the exact amount he had quoted us, and finished in only 3 days. We had two other roofers give us estimates; Jay's was the lowest, and we liked him the best. Jay is a very kind, friendly, hard-working craftsman, and his crew worked unbelievably hard and efficiently. (510) 532-1975 roof happy!

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Try Collins Roofing. You can contact them for an estimate. They were very easy to work with, and worked well with our solar installer. They are at http://www.collinsroofing.com/about.html Anon

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I've used Nicholas Roofing (in Berkeley I think) on my home in Kensington and my mother's in Berkeley. He does good work and is easy to deal with. Good Luck! Tansy

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Oct 2007

We're looking for a great roofer in the north berkeley area. Any recommendations? pamela

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We were really pleased with Jay Roofing - his crew replaced the roof on our Albany home. Jay gave us the lowest estimate (by far), was prompt, polite, and professional. The job was done in 2.5 days and they cleaned up thoroughly as they went along. His number is (510) 532-1975. Katrina

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For a roofer in the East Bay, call Alco Roofing, 510-633-9744. It's a small family owned business, and the owner himself will put the roof on. May not be the lowball quote (nor the highball either), but the job will be done right and everything left tidy afterwards.

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Oct 2007

we are in need of a contractor/roofer/handyman who can fix a roof leak in the corner of our home. The water has started coming through the walls so there is more than likely the chance that the existing inside plaster or drywall will also need to be replaced/repaired OUR BUDGET IS LIMITED SO THIS PERSON WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE REASONABLY PRICED
Dawn

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I'm happy to recommend Sorin Feraru again for roof work. He's just finishing work on our roof now and it looks great. Everything was done in time and for the right price. You can reach him at 510-228-7366 cindy July 2007

Has anyone had experience with this company? I'd love to get some feedback about them. Their bid for a new roof was the lowest ever! Thanks! anon in Berkeley

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Acker and Guerrero put a new roof on our house in 2005 for half the price others quoted us. We plan to remodel (really, we do, someday soon), so didn't need/want a roof that would last 50 years, we just needed something to stop our multiple leaks for the next few years until we get our act together. So far, so good, it's been nice not to have to do ''pot patrol'' whenever it rains. The crew showed up when they said they would, worked hard and got the job done when they said they would, then cleaned up after themselves. I'd hire them again to do the 50 year roof once we actually remodel... Kathy

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July 2007

We had our roof done last summer by Planchon Roofing, (510) 235-4056. They were fast, professional, and reasonably priced. I liked the owner and the workers very much. We also love our roof! He was able to handle our city requirements and put in some great skylights.

In general, I highly recommend getting more than one bid, because the price differences were really big. A good roofer should tell you exactly where the shingles are coming from, and in fact you can go on the web and look at all the different products, prices, and even try them out virtually on different colored houses. I found the 40 year shingles to be just right. This roofer was willing to wait so that we could special order the color we really wanted and it was well worth it. Another thing--you should not have to get the permit yourself, the roofer should take care of all that stuff. You can also look up licensed contractors on the BBB (Better Business Bureau) website and see if there are cases or complaints. happy with roof

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March 2007

Looking for roofer recommendations in Walnut Creek. The majority of recommendations in the archives are for the Berkeley/Oakland area.

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Colonial Roofing Alan Liebig 925.676.5418 Alan did a great job replacing the roof on our house here in Berkeley in 2005. Very honest, efficient and reasonable. I believe he is based in Lafayette or Concord. I hope you contact him for a bid. gemma

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Feb 2007

We just had our roof done by Jay Roofing (510-532-1975). His quote was very reasonable, he had great ideas and solutions for the particular problems the job posed, and he charged reasonably for the extra unforeseen work that cropped up. His crew was exceptionally careful of our yard and the neighbors' yards, their cleanup was absolutely spotless. In addition, he was able to handle a hostile neighbor with great skill and charm. And the work was done quickly. Absolute highest recommendation. marcella

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2005 - 2006 Recommendations

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Nov 2006

I'm trying to help my Mom find a good and reliable roofing company. The reviews are a bit old so I wanted to get some up to date recommendation to give her. Thanks, Laura

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I just had extensive repairs done on the roof of my house and an adjacent cottage and was very pleased by the work. The roofer I hired (Victor Zarate, who I connected with via Craigslist) gave a reasonable bid (I got bids from two other people) and did an extremely thorough job. He (actually his wife, Hilda, who handles all the scheduling/bidding) was also prompt in responding to phone calls and questions. During the 3 days it took to complete the job, everything was cleaned up daily; Victor even cleaned all our gutters at no additional charge. Apparently Victor has 17 years of experience working for others and has just gone into business for himself. He is eager to build his client base and is a genuinely nice guy so is well worth considering for large or small jobs.Hilda and Victor can be reached at: 388-8519 or hilda[at]sbcglobal.net Vanessa

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I would highly recommend R.K. Roofing and Construction in Oakland (phone number 510-536-7663) I am a UC Berkeley graduate, Civil Engineer, and have worked in the building construction and permit profession for over 30 years. When I needed to replace the roof at my house, I meticulously interviewed and got estimates from numerous contractors. I also checked references from previous customers. R.K. Roofing got the best references (even for the homes of other building contractors) and their price was among the lowest for the quality and scope of work. They were also Value Star Rated. They used high quality building materials, met or exceed building code standards, completed the work in two days, protected the areas around my house, and thoroughly cleaned the area when they finished. I have since recommended them to friends, relatives, and business acquaintances. All of them have been pleased with their work and their price. Calvin

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I would like to second the positive review of R.K. Roofing.

Before we moved into our current house the previous owners had our whole roof replaced, but we discovered to our chagrin that the roofers had done a lousy job on a particularly tricky part of the roof where a pitched section of the roof overhung a flat section, resulting in a large leak. I followed up with the previous roofers to try to get them to fix it (there was a warranty, which the previous roofers claimed was not transferable, but they came out to try to patch the leak anyway). They came, they worked, they left--it leaked again.

I called a number of roofers to look at repairing this, and nobody wanted to touch the previous roofer's work. RK Roofing not only was willing to take the job, but they quoted me a very reasonable price for what they had to do, and they did a fantastic job. It has not leaked since. Richard and I went up on the roof together, and he explained to me exactly what he needed to do to fix it, and it was clear that it was going to be a big job. Ultimately, what they had to do is reroof the flat section of the roof, but it has been well worth it.

If I ever have to replace or repair any of the rest of the roof, they will be the ones I call. Basically, we made up for the money that the previous owners did not want to spend. Erich in Oakland

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October 2006

We are in need of a new roof for our home and have recently received estimates from Hot Roofing and from Advanced Roofing. Has anyone had any recent experiences (good or bad) with either of these companies? Thanks, Bernie

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We had our 40 year-old roof replaced this past September of 2006. We read many positives reviews in BPN of Jay's Roofing Company and turned out to be the best decision we made. Jay lives in the neighborhood. We made an appt with him. He came by and provided a thorough inspection and provided thorough explanation of problems and solutions, still, though being conscientious of our budget and providing suggestions in ways we can save money. He is punctual, knowledgeable, experienced, and trustworthy. He and his employees arrived at time and date indicated. They were meticulous in making it a point to keep our landscape clear of any debris. Because of the size of our big roof, it took two complete days to get the job done. Jay kept us abreast of everything he was doing and we were just truly blown away by the beauty of our finished product as even our neighbors asked for his business card. His contact number is 510-532-1975 leticia

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I've had nothing but the best experiences with the roofer I use, Armando Salguera (510-669-0875 or 510-812-9097). I've been a general contractor for 28 years, and he's the best roofer I've ever used. By the way, I'm taking on new projects for anyone looking for a bid on additions, remodels, new construction. Larry

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Sept 2006

I'd like to post a recommendation for Ira Fabricant (510-653-1680) for roofing services. The prior owner-a do it yourselfer--put on a roof with new materials but used 1940's techniques so there were some problems and leaking. WE got a number of bids and most companies wouldn't do anything unless they did a whole tear-off. Ira came, looked for leaks and problems all over and sealed a number of spots to help the roof last for another few years for a very fair price. NO rain yet but we were happy with his approach, reasonableness and realistic manner. Melissa

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Dec 2005

We have had a roof installed by Ira Fabricant and I highly recommend him. He is very experienced, and has been working in the area for many years (over 20 I think). He can do repairs as well as installations, deals with skylights, a wide variety of materials, and is very efficient without cutting corners--it's truly amazing how much he will get done in a day. He's very knowledgable and can give really good advice. Incredibly clean, responsible and sensitive to asthetics--a real craftsperson. (510) 232-9028 cell (510) 653-1680 home office
smc

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2005 Reviews of roofers

Sept 2005

Re: Roofing - small repairs
I recommend Fabricant Roofing for your small repair in Walnut Creek. Contact Ira Fabricant at (510) 232-9028 or (510) 653-1680. He works all over the East Bay and does excellent work. Shana

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August 2005

Great Roofer!
We used Adrian Gomez Roofing, (510) 780-6432, after reading about him on Berkley Parent's Network. He did an exceptional job on our roof. He removed 3 layers off of tar and gravel and converted our roof to composition shingles. He installed a new gutter system to go with the new roof, using seamless gutters which he paints the color you desire. He accomodated all of our requests, including finding a more unusual shingle that we had selected. We were concerned about finishing the roof before we left on vacation, and he fulfilled his commitment to finish the job exactly when he said he would. His bid was the most professional (of 3) that we received. All of the details were typed up and faxed over. I found it very easy to contact Adrian to discuss details; he works in conjunction with his wife who is always available to answer the phone and gets back to you immediately. Adrian and his workers always left our house cleaned up, and was extremely pleasant to deal with. He is a genuinely nice guy! I cannot recommend Adrian Gomez more wholeheartedly. His pricing is very fair (cheap, even)and he does excellent work. Grace

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I have a great roofer to recommend, who I noticed posted his contact info to the newsletter recently--Ira Fabricant. I want to enthusiastically recommend him (I tried to post a rec. earlier this year, and it somehow never came through).

Ira roofed a small building for us and was so skilled, well organized, clean, helpful at deciding about material, etc, I would never use anyone else. He has a very strong sense of craft and is nonetheless amazingly fast--you will not believe how much he can get done in a day, and how good it looks! Yet he is quite cost-conscious and can repair rather than replace if appropriate.

Here's his contact info:
(510) 232-9028 cell
(510) 653-1680 home

He's been working in this area for years and can provide additional local references, but please feel free to email me if you want more details about his work for us.
smc

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Re: rafter repair
Enrique Barraza of All Weather Roofing, Oakland, Phone# 510-483-6153 or 510-638-0735 recently completed similar work on my house--two segments of roof were removed due to dry rot, new plywood and shingles, new gutters, some downspouts--and I would definitely use him again. He knew exactly what to do, did excellent work for a slightly less than expected price, and is a very amiable person. One note is that he did show up at slightly different times than we'd agreed upon, so if this is of concern it would be good to be especially clear with him about timing, however he did complete the job EXCELLENTLY and within the time frame we'd agreed upon. All in all, I would recommend him highly! Nina

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June 2005

Source of good roofing advice

I'm putting a roof on my backyard shed - it's small enough to do it myself, although I've never done any roofing. As a starter, I visited State Shingle in the Fruitvale district of Oakland.

Wow - this is the mother lode for roofing advice. The guys behind the counter answered all my questions and practically gave me a tutorial on how to install a flat roof.

Apparently most east bay roofing contractors get supplies at State Shingle - shingles, clay tiles, flat rolled roofing. Result is the counter staff know who's who. They are a great resource for finding a competent roofer.

They showed me the difference between cheap shingles and long-lasting ones, as well as pointing out what makes a good installation versus a bad roofing job.

Also, I saw they had skylights and attic vents. When I asked the guy at the counter about these, he went into details about the good and bad points of each. Impressed me with his competence and experience.

So even if you don't intend to do your own roofing, I suggest a visit to learn about what to ask prospective contractors. (I have no connection with them, other than as a customer who bought $300 of roofing supplies yesterday)

State Shingle - 900 37th Ave, Oakland, near the Fruitvale exit of 880. Phone 510 535 1311 (I think you'll get more information by visiting rather than calling)

Cliff

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I would highly recommend Interstate Roofing. They were very professional and did a great job with our roof. Their number is: (510) 639-0833 Suzanne

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I highly recommend Collins Roofing based in Oakland: www.collinsroofing.com; 510/482-2227. They did a great,very rapid reroofing job for our house and studio in Berkeley last month at a reasonable price. One of the Collins brothers exercised close quality control over the progress of the job, and they were quite neat in the final clean-up. Suzanne

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April 2005

Looking for a Great Roofer?
Jay Roofing is one roofing contractor I would highly recommend. He and his team are extremely professional and reliable. The quality of his work is excellent q he even does gutter replacement and advised me on leaks in my roof. He is very thorough (explains issues and problems). His estimate for replacing my roof was substantially less than other bay area roofers. His crew was prompt and left the premises immaculate after working each day. Jay is the owner of the company and I would HIGHLY recommend anyone to contact him for this type of work. Jay's number is: (510) 532-1975. Terry

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Feb 2005

We were very happy with Pacific Coast Roofing. Their bid was lower than we expected and they did great work fast. (510) 912-5454 Betsy

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2003 - 2004 Recommendations

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Nov 2004

We need to replace our roof. We have received many referrals for roofers from various sources and wanted to know if anyone had any relatively recent experience with the below roofers, good or bad. Has your roof been through any storms yet would be additional valuable information. Also, information on reasonableness of cost would be appreciated.
* Caldwell Roland * Nicolas Roof * Elliot and Elliot * Hot Roof * Gilberto Perez
Recommendations for other roofers and other comments would also be greatly appreciated!! Thanks! Juliet

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I used Bill Wong of Interstate Roofing Specialists in Oakland. I couldn't have been more pleased. Timely, efficient, and did a great job steering me away from hideous green roofing shingles. My roof has been through 6 winters with nary a drop getting through (there had been a hole in it, and El Nino came through, ugh!). Highly recommended, except that you'll expect further contractors to be on time and get the work completely done on time. :) Jennie

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We just had our red tile roof redone by Acker & Guerrero (not to add yet another name to your list) but I felt compelled to write as they were truly outstanding. Professional crew, efficient, cleaned up every mess they made, and most importantly did a fantastic job. We feel like we got MORE than we bargained for. It also only took 1 week. I had gotten an estimate from Elliot and Elliot and they were almost double the cost and said it would take 3 weeks. Our roof has been through the storms we have had so far and we are dry and cozy and happy inside. I had read about Acker & Guerrero in the Good Services guide -- supposedly there are rather high criteria to get in to the guide and easy to get booted out. (need recommendations and no complaints, etc.) We had originally gotten 3 estimates from 3 different companies. A was the middle bid. high and dry

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Hello, Someone asked in this last letter about roofers, and I thought I would put in an updated plug for Berkeley Roofing (call Christoph). I actually got the recommendation for them from this list and selected them to put a new roof on my 3 story house built on the side of a hill. The crew did a fantastic job, very timely, and professional, cleaning up after themselves and taking great care to ensure no rain got into the house during the installation process. I had three quotes, they were actually the lowest, and did an excellent job. I was so pleased I recommended them to my neighbors who were looking for someone to put a wood shingle roof on, and they did an equally excellent job for them. It was really a pleasure doing business with a roofing team that did exactly as promised. I weathered the rainy season last year with no problems, so I feel I can recommend them without reservation. Janice

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I would also like to say that we were very pleased with Berkeley Roofing Systems. They did a great job - showed up on time, cleaned up after themselves very well. Also, we had a bit of a more complicated roofing job because we put up a solar system at the same time. They worked well with our solar contractor. At the time we did our roof, we also quoted Elliott and Elliott ( and someone else who I cannot recall at this time). They were far cheaper than Elliott and Elliott. Leslie

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Sept 2004

We were pleased with Jay's Roofing, a recommendation we found on this site. A friend was equally satisfied with his work. Sherry

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July 2004

Jay Roofing is fantastic. He was half the price of another recommended roofer, and did more work. The quality was excellent, Jay was very prompt, and the work was very clean. Jay's english is not fantastic, but that's a minor issue. I recommend him VERY highly (and I'm a tough critic). Jay's number is: (510) 532-1975. Jamie

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April 2004

Pacific Roofing in SF did a wonderful job. Quick, clean, warranteed. 415-822-7000. good luck

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March 2004

Our roof has recently leaked, and we are in need of a good roofing contractor to give us an honest evaluation of what the problem might be and how to fix it. I suspect the problem has to do with gutters in two discrete locations. In the past I have called roofing contractors who want to charge me $400+ to come and do a comprehensive evaluation. I do not think we need that, and therefore obviously do not want to pay for it. I am happy to pay someone for their time, but I want someone who will come and evaluate the actual problem, not try to sell me a whole new roof that we do not need. Any recommendations?

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I recommend Jay Roofing and Construction. His phone number is 510 532-1975. He was recommended to me by someone who claimed he did her roof for about half the price estimated by other roofers, and did an excellent job. I saw her roof and it was very complex, multiple dormers, valleys, and chimneys. When I replaced my roof last year I solicited a bid from him and sure enough, he came in about half of the other bids. He also did a good job, completed it on time, communicated ongoingly about issues such as dry rot, and found low cost solutions. wwl

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I have been very happy with Ace Roofing. They're incredibly responsive, and have worked hard at solving my flat-roof problems. Bob's the owner - 521-0988. Nancy

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October 2003

I would like to recommend a roofer/roofing company: Adrian Gomez Roofing (510) 780-6432. He was my choice after meeting 3 roofers and obtaining 3 bids. His price was very reasonable. Adrian was so knowledgeable, pleasant, sincere and thorough. Overall, a painless experience. He helped us select a good color roof for our house. He removed 2 layers of asphalt shingles in one day- a messy job, but he left the premises very clean. He also went into the garage to thoroughly clean any debris that might have fallen. The workmanship on the roof was excellent. He replaced an area with wood rot and also painted all the aluminum vents so that it matched the roof. He also installed seamless gutters. We were delighted with the results and our neighbors noticed. One even hired him on the spot to work on her house. Adrian has since returned to make sure we were happy with the results. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Adrian. Teri

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I highly recommend Jay Roofing and Construction, (510) 532-1975. He did a thorough job for a little over half the other bidders ($14,000 as compared to $24,000 including new seamless aluminum gutters and some dry rot repair) He is experienced, communicative and honest. A real gem. High and Dry in Berkeley

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Bill Wong has been mentioned before but I just used him for my Office/Playroom. Very straight forward complete estimate; right in the middle of other estimates; knowledgeable and good suggestions; new roof looks great and no problems. Robert

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July 2003

My home had a great roof, put on about 25-30 yrs. ago, long before I moved in. It has a couple of troubled spots and the chimney needs some work - and it's summer! - so I think this is the time to replace it. I live in Oakland. The roof has a tar and gravel but a lot of the gravel has come off. Any suggestions on a reliable company that does good work, that finishes a roof to last for a decent length of time? Does such a company exist? (I've heard horror stories). lydia

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Hilderbrand Roofing does a great job. We had ours replaced, they had three layers of roofing to remove and they had to replaced most of the wood. They also put in new gutters, etc. They did an excellent job fast. His name is John Hilderbrand, phone 510-886-9300. If you have any specific questions, feel free to email me. Vyoos

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We took a recommendation from this newsletter for EG roofing and were very pleased. We HIGHLY recommend EG Roofing 925.634.5276 (Licensed, insured and bonded!) They were SPEEDY - 2 days to do the job, TIDY(they swept up all the dust and debris, and went around and picked up all the stray nails), FRIENDLY, THOROUGH, and PROFESSIONAL. Their foreman was beyond good! They had a mishap that resulted in some work needing to be done on the sheetrock inside, and he made it look better than new. They were super kind about it, and made sure we understood that they would take care of -- and they did, above and beyond what was needed. Plus, in talking to the guys, they like working for the owner, they say he is fair, pays well, and is a good person to work for - they get benefits, and he has helped at least one of them to buy a house. He came out when we were at work, sent us the estimate the next day, and work started 2.5 weeks later. He also included a list of houses in the area that he has done so I could see the various types and colors of shingles, as well as a list of people to contact for reference. He didn't require payment until after the job was complete - he sent us an invoice. And his bid came in under what 2 other roofers estimated. He also does repairs and can do housing inspections. Satisfied with my roof

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June 2003

Hello, I am looking for a good roofing company for my house in Moraga. I just moved to the area and would appreciate any reference that anyone can give. I am looking for a company that does honest, reliable work for a fair price with employees that are courteous and clean. At the same time, if you know of any roofing company that I should stay away from, please provide me their name(s) as well. Thank you in advance. Thuy

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Hi -- We are undergoing a big house remodel which includes our roof. Last ear, before we were ready to do the project, we had a leak and my contractor had me call E Roofing. I think they are in Pleasant Hill or Concord. I called them, explaining that we were going to remodel next year, but that we had a leak -- we were interested in using them as they work with my contractor, etc ... The owner, Eric, told me that they would patch the roof for free if it were under $200; otherwise would give me an estimate. They patched it for about $100 (this was last year). They just finished roofing our house last week and they did the ENTIRE house in 2 days! There were 9 guys up on the roof working away all day and they got it done in a jiffy. Also, they were very friendly and courteous -- never heard a bad word or inappropriate music, etc ... Hope this helps! If you can't find the #, feel free to e-mail me and I will get it for you. Good luck! Trish

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April 2003

We are looking for recommendations for roofers that service the Berkeley area. Unfortunately, the UC recommendation list has several roofers that do not service the East Bay and/or are no longer in service. Any information appreciated! melro

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We really liked our roofer, Brian Wade of Wade Roofing, (510) 526-1117. They're located in Richmond, but do work in Berkeley, including our house and the house across the street. Very responsive to some unusual issues (removal of old asbestos roof, solar panels, etc.) Karen

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I used Pacific Roofing company is SF (415-822-7000) and they were very good. Did a wonderful job in a very short time. Cleaned up perfectly, very accomodating and well within our budget. We had our roof done two years ago and recommend them highly. Liz

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March 2003

We're getting bids from Collins roofers and Acker & Guerrero to put a new roof on our house. Does anyone have any input on these companies, good or bad? Is there anyone else you would recommend or warn against? Thanks. soggy dwellers

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I can recommend roofers Acker & Guerrero. They pulled off three old layers of wood shingles, put down plywood, and installed a very nice for us roof 2 years ago. The roof is perfect, they kept the job site clean, they did the work quickly, and were a good price. They later did two more roofs in our neighborhood and our neighbors were also happy with them. I'd highly recommend them. On another note, if you're looking for gutters too, I suggest you shop around for gutter installers, their price seemed high and they were going to sub-contract it anyway. Hilary

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Last fall, Acker & Guerrero replaced the rear roof of my house and the entire roof of the garage. I had the work done because it seemed time to do so and I wanted to take advantage of favorable home equity loan rates, so I wasn't dealing with actual leaks. As far as I can tell, they did a very good job. The only thing I wish I had asked (or had them warn me) about was the debris that was likely to fall in my attic as they banged away on the roof. Had I known, I would have covered much of what I store up there -- though nothing was ruined, only very dirty afterward. Lorraine

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We had Collins Roofing replace a roof last year, and I would recommend them without hesitation. They did a fast, clean job for the best price of the several companies from which I got estimates. They installed both a roof and new gutters, neatly and properly done. They also left very little debris behind, and no particular garden damage. And to boot they were friendly and easy to deal with. Highly recommended. Kate

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Feb. 2003

We are trying to find a very good roofer to give us a quote for 1) a new roof, and 2) just redoing the gutters. Thanks! Susan P.

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I can recommend VA TONG ROOFING CO.
FAX 510 532 -1033 phone 510 693-1683 Address: 927 E. 23rd St Oakland, CA 94606
We had a new roof installed -- the crew worked very quickly and cleaned up well. It was five years ago, so I'm not sure if they are in the same location. It was a family owned business. Cornelia

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Jan. 2003

I am looking for a roofer to put on a new roof and repair some rotting facia board. Can anyone recommend a roofer who will do a good job at a reasonable price? In need of roof repair!

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Do yourself a favor: if you're looking for a roofer, call Mark Lencl. The scary thing about many roofers is that they'll count on your ignorance to tell you you need more work at a higher cost than is necessary. Mark Lencl is not only WAY too reasonably priced, but he is one of those kinds of people who is more than a roofer, he's a *craftsperson.* What I mean by that is that he takes immense pride in his work and has a ''thing'' about being honorable. He doesn't use any of the shoddy, cheap shortcuts that you will get with just about every contractor, he'll fix your roof the RIGHT way. He did my mom's roof, and she was THRILLED. We'll never use any one else (most of his customers are repeat customers). His number is: 510.763.7438 Best of luck! ~Alesia

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2002 & Earlier

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Sept. 2002

I'm looking for a recommendation for someone who can replace gutters and evaluate our roof before El Nino gets going. We live in No. Berkeley and appreciate this list so much- thanks Lisa

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We used Nicholas Roofing (on San Pablo near University) for our El Cerrito house about a year ago. They were the lowest bid, took less than two days to complete the job *and* gave us a sturdy, waterproof attractive asphalt roof. They subcontracted the gutters which were a part of the total estimate. This company, too, was prompt and efficient. Dorothy

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Aug. 2002

I've checked the archives and there's no mention of Acker & Guerrero Roof Company. I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has had work done by them, as their estimate is significantly lower than the other I received, and it's very tempting to hire them. Naturally, I'm wondering why it's so much lower, too. Thanks! Lorraine

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We used Acker and Guerrero for our tar-and-gravel roof replacement about 6 or 7 years ago. They did the job in one day and left our yard, driveway, etc clean. The roof has not leaked at all since then. I would recommend them; their price was very reasonable compared to the other bid we got (that was a one-man outfit, highly recommended and a very nice guy, but we just couldn't afford him.) Lisa

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2001

I have an excellent recommendation for a house shingler. His name is Matthew Schneider of Schneider roofing. He put the roof on our house five years ago and is currently reshingling our entire house. He is wonderful to work with and his work is impeccable. He is a true craftsman and someone who cares deeply about the quality of his work. He's a rare find these days. His number is 510-528-1617. -William

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2001

RE: the inquiry about Frederick's Roofing: I have known Frederick's Roofing (Greg and Nancy) for a good 12 years. They are good trustworthy and good people. Moreover Greg replaced my roof 5 years ago at a very reasonable cost. The work was done fast and there were no surprises. In the future I will first go to Frederick's for Roofing and Roof inspections. -Julene

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We used Pacific Roofing Co. (415-822-7000) last year and they did an amazingly beautiful and quick job. We had asphalt shingle but their add says they do all kinds of roofing jobs. To boot, i found them in an SF consumer booklet afterwards and it rated them very highly. -Liz

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We used Colonial Roofing when our roof leaked and they were great! They came when they said they would, were quick and clean and the job cost less than their quote. Their address is 4345 Cowell road, Concord, CA 94518 & phone (925) 676-5418. Katherine

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2000

I can heartily recommend Christoph Lars of Berkeley Roof Services. 524-2352. Very professional, tidy, efficient. He came highly recommended to me by our realtor and our home inspector. Not the cheapest, but among the best.

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We hired a roofing company called Eliot and Eliot (or Elliot and Elliot). We were very pleased with the company.

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Here is an excellent roofer, recommended to me by other UCB parents, who gives good advice, is very knowledgeable and reliable and has reasonable prices as well. We used him 5 months ago. His name is Bill Wong, Interstate Roofing Specialist Corp., 510-601-6369 or 510-639-0833.

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Ginger (5/00)
Our 80-year-old house still had the original roof under 6 or 8 layers of shingles. In 4 days, Collins pulled it all off, put down plywood, felt, flashing, and a new roof, and did a really beautiful quality job. They also arranged for new gutters and had them installed within a couple weeks. Collins' bid was very competitive with the other bids we got - they were recommended to us by the wonderful Irish Sweep who patched up our chimney. The Collins are three brothers from Ireland, state licensed, with a professional team of workers. James Collins, whom we worked with, was friendly, soft spoken, and very efficient. I highly recommend them. Collins Roofing 482-2227

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Jonah (Jan 00)
We bought a house last spring, which needed a roof. Both our housing inspector and realtor independently recommended the same roofer, Bill Wong, Interstate Roofers, 908-5178 or 261-0833. Wong was described to us as an up and coming roofer, who does great work. Wong told us up-front that he was not the cheapest roofer, but that he would make sure that we did not have to worry about any aspect of our roof for the next 40 years. Wong pointed to the roofs of neighbors, showing where contractors had cut corners. We hired Wong, and he did an excellent job, taking a number of initiatives that we had not even requested (painting our utility box, reanchoring a wobbly chimney, covering low-lying areas that were not part of the roof) and for which we were not charged. Despite having a somewhat complicated roof, the job took only three days, the workers were lovely (mostly Hong Kong immigrants), and there was no mess. We would recommend Bill Wong to anyone.

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1999

Kristina 7/99

We recently used Berkeley Roof Services to replace our three-ply tar and gravel roof. We solicited bids from several of the local companies (Elliot & Elliot, among others). BRS did not submit the lowest bid, but they were definitely competitive, and relative to other bidders, they were extremely responsive, professional and did an excellent job.

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Sarah 9/99

I would recommend Faith Roofing, who did a small job for us last fall after another company had advised us to replace our entire roof when a leak developed over our kitchen. They did the work well and reasonably ($500!) and we have not had any problems since.

Faith Roofing 800-774-0322 The owner's name is She (pron. Shay) Lewis

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Dorothea (7/99)

This co. did very good work: no problems with my roof so far. It's been 5 years since installed. IDEAL ROOFING 510-536-1111. JAMES MERLONE LIC #501411. 3140 CHAPMAN, OAKLAND 94601. Good Luck! Dorothea Dorenz Nicole 7/99

We had a good experience with Pacific Coast Roofing. They came in way under other bids, and did a reasonable job as scheduled. Brian Palkowski is the main guy and he's very pleasant. They do other stuff too, carpentry, fences, etc. Call Brian at 510-912-5454.

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Laurie 9/99

We had good luck with Planchon roofing. They gave us a competitive bid (many roofers we called didn't even turn in a bid or return phone calls, even though they said they were interested). Planchon also completed the job quickly at the price we expected, and we feel they did a good job. Dominic 9/99

Robert Wright is a wonderful roofer. He re-roofed our house last winter and went above and beyond the call of duty in doing it. There were some leaks while it was underway, because it rained halfway through, and he came out one evening at 9:00pm to fix them. He was honest, affordable, and a pleasure to deal with. Because of that he's usually booked long in advance, but if you can get him I highly recommend him. His phone number is (510) 538-8074

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1999

To the person who recently wanted recommendations for a shingler. We just had our house partially reshingled and I can highly recommend Avi Messeri with Shingles on the Side. His number is 527-8583.

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1998

From: Nancy (9/98)

Regarding the inquiry about inexpensive roof repairs: When I had an extremely minor roof repair job, I waited until one of my neighbors was having their roof redone. Then at lunch time, I went over to the job site and asked if anyone wanted to do a side job for me at the end of the day. One of the workers agreed and I paid him $25/hour plus materials to do a very minor repair job. He did it during his lunch hour over 2 days. I don't know if it applies to the situation described, but it worked for me.

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From: Judith (11/98)

I wanted to recommend a roofer, Pat Rossen. My first encounter with him was when he did the inspection of the roof on my home when I was contemplating buying the home. Although the existing roof was old, he said it did not yet need replacing. Each year, for the next couple of years, he came by to inspect my roof at no charge. Only once did he suggest a minor repair around the chimney, for about $50. Finally, after I'd been in the house for five years, he said I should replace the roof. I sought bids from several roofers. Pat's was in the mid-range, and I had a great deal of confidence in him from the years I'd had him inspect the roof. His well-organized team of 7 men replaced my roof in only one day. Two retired neighbors had watched their work as it progressed. Both independently commented to me that Pat's men had done an excellent job. I'm pleased with the results, both structurally and visually. No problems during last year's exceptionally wet winter. Pat can be reached at (510) 525-1242.

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Adding dormers to a roof

June 2007

I'm interested in adding dormers with windows to my roof at the same time as replacing the roof. I have a large attic which I'd like to expand by adding the dormers. I've called a couple of roofers, but have been told they don't do that kind of thing. Can anyone tell me how I should go about this? Do I need a separate contractor to build the dormers? -don't know where to start

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Hi - how odd that I chose to read this BPN! My husband is a Framing Contractor and specializes in what is called roof cutting/stacking which is essentially the framing of the roof - in particular complex structures that involve compound angles converging (as in the addition of a dormer onto an exisintg roof - which is actually typically pretty simple). Anyhow - he is a true specialist and has been featured in articles and books on the subject and is amazingly kind and honest and a great person! (Nick - NM Ridge Construction) and our office is 510-558-0184. Thanks Sarah

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A general contractor can take care of your project to add dormers and a new roof.

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You will need a design/build company if you want to avoid paying high architect fees. Ideally, you would hire a General Contractor experienced in structural changes.