The price for reroofing will vary tremendously depending on the roofing contractor you choose.
Here's a few tips for you:
1. Ensure that the roofing company are covered by a current WCB account. This is VERY important as you do not want anybody getting injured on your property if they do not have coverage. The contractor should give you their WCB number and you can get a clearance on the net.
2. Check whether the contractor has liability insurance. Again, this is very important as I have heard of roofers stripping a roof and getting caught in a storm causing massive damage inside. Without insurance coverage you may very well be out of luck.
3. A company safety program is usually a good sign. The larger companies will often have a government certified program in place which means they will have to go through safety audits and the like. This is a good thing for both the workers who are on your site and protects you as a customer too.
4. Check with the Better business bureau. A good contractor, even if they have the odd issue, should have a good rating. A contractor with a rating of A+ is usually the best to look for.
5. Ask for references. A contractor with good standing should be able to provide you with a list of completed projects and names and addresses to check their quality.
6. Workmanship warranties vary dramatically. I've seen some contractors give a 25 year workmanship warranty when they have only been in business a year! That's ludicrous. They have no track record and likely will not be around to honor any warranty of that length. A workmanship warranty is only as good as the company behind it. Consider the company carefully.
7. Be careful of a contractor that wants money up front to be able to buy the shingles. I've heard of cases where you never see that contractor again after paying that deposit. Are they bonded? Probably not. Larger companies usually do not need a deposit up front.
As for the roof itself Architectural fibreglass shingles are the norm nowadays. There are a number of manufacturers to choose from (GAF, IKO, BP, Owens Corning, Malarkey).
You could check out the GAF Timberline shingle. This has a 50 year limited warranty which can be upgraded to a non-prorated warranty if you choose to go with a certified contractor. This will cost you a little more as the contractor has to register you with GAF but it's a good selling point having a 50 yr non prorated warranty.
GAF Timberline HD shingles:
http://www.gaf.com/Roofing/Residential/Products/Shingles/Timberline/Timberline-High-Definition/Timberline-High-Definition-Shingles.aspx?zip=t4n5e3
IKO Cambridge is a popular shingle too. IKO have a mixed performance history especially with their organic shingles. IKO & BP both have class action lawsuits against them for their organic lines which are now discontinued.
However, the Cambridge shingle seems to be performing quite well. Personally I have this shingle on my roof. I installed them in 2000 and they are still in excellent shape.
IKO Cambridge shingles:
http://iko.com/products/residential/residential.asp?task=ProductDetails&product_id=64& region_id=18
I have also heard good things about the Malarkey Alaskan shingle but do not have any experience with them.
An Ice & Water Protector is highly recommended especially along the eaves and a definite requirement in valleys. You should ensure that there is an underlay on the remainder of the roof deck. Synthetic felt is an excellent product that is much preferable to the likes of 15lb felt.
Cost depends on numerous factors. Roof slope. Anything under a 4/12 slope is deemed to be a low slope and requires a two ply underlay under the shingles. 4/12 to 6/12 are standard applications and 7/12 and up will increase costs for additional labour.
Also important is access, height, layers to remove, number of vents, difficulty i.e. valleys, hips etc.
Insurance rates, under the Xactimate system, for a 4/12 roof with good access are currently $254/sq. ($2.54 sq.ft.) for an architectural shingle plus any vent replacement etc.
Normal rates should be lower than that and again will vary depending on the company.
You have a 1300 sq.ft. house but have to add for your overhang and slope.
A good guessimate for you would be in the $4800 to $5200 range for your house provided you have good access and a 4/12 to 6/12 slope. For the garage, $2500 to $2900 is likely.
You may get lower prices than that as there are some hungry contractors out there but I cannot stress enough that you have to be very careful. The majority of reputable contractors are very busy right now given the number of storms there have been in Alberta this year. If a contractor can be on site within the week I would really be wondering why that is the case.
Some final words of advice.
Get a minimum of three quotes. Compare the pros and cons of all. Check out the companies thoroughly. The lowest price is not always the best option.
Good luck!
Getting my roof done (what am I looking at approx.)`
