HIGH COST OF ROOFING

Of course we all knew this, but roofing materials are petroleum-based so of course the price of roofing will go skyhigh this year. Here in New Mexico we constantly watch and worry about our roofs, and our stucco. Flat roofs are the most worrisome as the heat destroys them. A few years ago one of our heavy hail storms ripped up flat and shingle and tile roofs so no one was immune to the destruction.

Our home is 13 years old so in a couple of years we will need to put a whole new surface on or re-roof. Here re-roofing is when they scrape off the gravel and re-tar so it's not taking off the roof as is done else where. You can re-roof about 4 times, so they say before the weight forces you to take off the whole bloody thing. I have had three roofing estimates this month with three different answers. One gave me an estimate of $14,000 and said the roof had holes in it. I think he thought I was a rich sucker living in High Desert and a woman at that so thought I was gullible. He was just hungry! At the other extreme was an estimate by Right Way Roofing, John Sanchez, who said the roof was in great shape for it's age and just needed a yearly maintenance for $1500. One has to be so careful. Of course, John got the job and yes, I do know that I am prolonging the inevitable re-roofing but I also have to re-do my stucco this year, but that's another story!