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Do you have a flat or sloped roof?
Solar Tubes – sound like a good idea, some people like them, many people are disappointed. The amount of natural light that comes through a 12 or 16 inch tube is quite small. But then again so is your roof opening – so there’s much less work than a skylight.
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Do you have a flat or sloped roof?
Solar Tubes - sound like a good idea, some people like them, many people are disappointed. The amount of natural light that comes through a 12 or 16 inch tube is quite small. But then again so is your roof opening - so there's much less work than a skylight.
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The primary advantage to the tube type skylights is that they involve very little disruption to the roof and ceilings in retrofit. If you are having the roof replaced anyway, why not use real skylights. The results are more pleasing.
However, skylights are not necessarily a good idea in San Diego, certainly not on any south facing roof slope. On the north or west you will get hit with the late afternoon summer sun. Most skylights in our latitude and climate will produce solar gain in the months when it is not needed and do little in the months when it is. Shading skylights is very difficult.
What kind of roof do you have now? What neighborhood are you in? What is the "style" and age of your house?
Hot mopped roofs are soon to be a thing of the past, but as of yet there are not a lot of roofers experienced in alternatives, especially in So. Cal.
In my experience prices offered by roofing companies for reroofing in San Diego can vary considerably, much more so than the differences in details would suggest, This makes the the choice a difficult one.
You have several months before the season is upon us inspite of yesterday's rain, so you can make a considered decision.
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Kai
solar tubes are great in small rooms like baths or small entryways. expense and ease of installation surpass skylights. newer tubes also come with ventilation systems. skylights are good in rooms without alot windows so as to let in light. you can find a large array of dual glazed and tinted glass to insulate and give UV protection. but as anything, spend a little extra and buy good quality, not HOME DEPOT junk. what do you want to research - solar tubes or roofing contractors? Better Business Bureau and California State Contractor License Board are a must for reseaching contractors. both numbers can be found in phone book on 411.
Jim
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Hi Frank,
My roof is a combo--over the house it is sloped ^ but not that steep, and over the garage it is flat. I think the garage may need new rafters, as well. I was thinking of maybe putting a railing around the garage's roof for a sort of rooftop patio (I have crude access via the garage up a removeable ladder through what was an openable skylight), but that may not be in the budget just yet.
*Hi Mike,I was considering tubes for cost, and because I only want spots of light (for example, in the hall), not expanses of it--at least not until I get a/c.My roof is shingled (what type, I do not know), and the house is ~90-100? in North Park. It's not as nice as a Craftsman (no fireplace,e.g.), but still one of the earlier ones (built by someone not that well known who only did a few in the neighborhood)--wood floors, some old glass, ironing board in the wall, one of the few w/a basement (not even half finished).Are you in SD too?Yes, I will have my work cut out for me trying to research this all.
*Hi Jim,I was planning tubes for those areas you mention-- w/few or no windows. And, I absolutely hate Home Despot! I will certainly get a licensed contractor, but past experience w/the BBB doesn't guarantee much, nor do customer referrals (at least w/the guy that did the patching). I guess the question(s) for the Board are: is this company in good standing? what else should I be asking?
*Kai, contacting the license board, 800 321-2752, or http://www.cslb.ca.gov, ask about any complaints, law suits, arbitrations, past or present. I am a licensed remodeling contractor in S.D. and can refer you to a good roofing contractor. e mail at [email protected] and I'll give you more infoJim
*Thanks Jim! I will be contacting the Board and you. Gosh I hate this kind of stuff.
*Kai:I'm up in LA, and this is what I would do: (1) Talk to your neighbors. Who did they use. I assume their roofs are fairly close to yours, how much did it cost?(2) Call your local roofing supplier, and ask for a list of their best customers. They won't recommend a clown, trust me.(3) Get a bid or two. Roofing is estimated by the "square" which is a 10x10 foot square of area. Have the first bidder tell you how many squares there are on your roof. Probably less than 15. Use that to price the rest.(4) Ask questions: Does it include new plywood? Will they use plywood or oriented strand board (called OSB)? Ply is better, although if you want to have some fun, post that question and you will get about 50 different opinions. What length of shingles is the bid for? They are priced by age, such as 25, 35, and 40 years. Get the best, unless you are planning on moving soon. Does the bid include drip edge? What is the installer's warranty? What size of felt will they use? (15 is standard, 30 is best, most bid at 30)Finally, don't waste your money on a solatube. They have the light capacity of about a 60 watt bulb, and will run you about $500 to install one. Either get a full skylight, or forget it.Good Luck
*I'm in North Park, too. The contractor's board will not be much help in finding a contractor, only in eliminating a bad one.You need to do the flat part of the roof first, if the rest drains onto it.I'll e-mail you a roofer's name when I remember it.Yellow pages ads are difficult to evaluate because they are expensive. Big ads = big volume. There are good low volume contractors who don't advertise. Follow Scooter's advice.
*Thanks, everyone, for your helpful suggestions and referral advice!Now, I just have to continue my research and get on with it.You can be certain I'll be back if I run into a snag.Thanks again!
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I'm in older, urban San Diego and need a new roof before the rains come this Winter--although it rained yesterday! House is about 90 yrs old and has had two or three "roofs" on top of the original, plus some patching (tar?) a few years ago. I'm thinking of having "solartubes" or something similar installed at the same time.
Any hints on how I research this--i.e., building associations, reference materials, etc.--aside from yellow pages, web, library, calling references from bidders (of course, first I need to know what type of roof would be best), etc.
Do I need an architect?
Thanks very much!
kai