Q. I am very capable but this home is very old. They are pre-dry wall. There are holes in the roof and leaks everywhere. I don't need a contractor as much as I need clear instructions. I mean it is not raining in the living room, but I think they have neglected it too long. There may be structural damage. Especially to the roof. Most contractor's only cover the roof and so far few actually repair the roof. I live in the Philadelphia metro area which includes New Jersey and Delaware.

A. Sounds like one dangerous roof to walk on! Don't do it! Call a roofing company. They're all capable of full repair. You'll want it stripped so that all rot is exposed and then replaced....... and the new roof lays well. When it comes to shingles, there are different weights that last varying numbers of years..........get the heavy weights! Otherwise, you'll be reroofing in 16 years. Labor is the same for light or heavy.

Q. How I can remodel my old roof when it have many shingles?How can I repair it?Because roof repairing is now very important as many roof leaks detected.

A. Look in your yellow pages for "roofing contractor". This is not the type of job you want to take on if you don't know what you are doing. Expect to pay between $100-150/square (100 square feet) as a base price. Add for any sheets of plywood that need to be replaced, which they won't know until the old shingles are off. Also add if the roof is particularly steep, if you need a lot of flashing, etc. Hope this helps.

Q. Hi there I am a homeowner of a 2 family connected brick home. We have been having serious leaking problems for about a year and finally decided to fix our roof. We replaced it and the problem continues. Our connected neighbor, the roofs meet in a valley if you will..her roof is in decrepit shape. We feel because there are many holes in her roof that the water is running downhill on the underside of her roof. She has no damage to her roof and has refused to have her roof repaired. What rights do I have to compel her to repair her roof. The damage keeps mounting in my home!How would I go about this? Any help would be appreciated. thanks!

A. My husband is a roofer and try calling in a roofing company to a look at it well at both roofs so you will know where it is leaking

Q. I asked my insurance company to pay for a roof because their were leaks, they sent check, it was endorse by mortgage company. My roof is only 14 years old and now another contractor told me that they could fix the leaking parts around the vents, but I do not need a whole new roof. Should I and can I with out getting into legal trouble. Repair it and pocket the rest? What could happen with the insurance company? What could happen with the mortgage company. I have the money for the entire roof in my hands.

A. You won't get into legal trouble. HOWEVER. The insurance company will most likely refuse to pay for ANY more leak claims, and they DEFINATELY will refuse to pay for another new roof, if something happens to this one, because you've already been paid. They can also cancel your policy if you don't get the roof replaced. Roofs have a limited lifetime. Yours, seems to be at the end of it's usable life. If it were me, I'd definately replace the roof, since the insurance PAID for it. Because if a tree lands on it . . . there won't be coverage, if it's still the old roof.

Q. We had our roof leak one night when we had days of rain coming in. It resulted int he roof leaking and dripping into our kitchen from two places, and leaving ugly stains in another around our light fixture. We are not sure how to repair or what ti will cost. Any help would be appreciated. Just so you know, we already patched up the roof, so the leak is not a problem anymore. The ceiling is textured

A. You already did the hardest thing, repair the roof leak. The ugly stains can be spot painting with KILZ to remove the water stains. Than buy a spray can of texture and spray it lighly over the stain and rest is history. As for water around your light fixture it will evaporate otherwise it is very obvious when water is bothering your electrical system, it trips the circuit breaker. Good Luck!

Q. We have had something chewing through several roofs in my neighborhood and many folks are needing a new roof...including us. We had major leaking in the front part of our home. We used the Insurance Co. recommended restoration company to give an estimate on repairs. They gave the insurance company a $12,000 estimate which included an entire new roof in order for the shingles to match, plaster repair and repainting in the front room along with refinishing the wood flooring that has water damage. The Ins. Co. came to do their own assessment and decided they will only paint from the "trim" up (which does not even touch where the water damage occurred!), refinish the wood floor, and repair only the front part of the roof because our policy covers only the first elevation. We live in a ranch home with a same level addition on the back of our home...the roof ties in with the front. According to the Ins co. they will do only the front part of the roof that you can see from the road. If we have only one level, then what is an elevation?

A. Basically it is what is visible from the street standing center line of your house. If there is no damage to the rest roof that is fair but any damage related to the leaks must be repaired also. If your state has an insurance commission or other insurance over site group I would get them involved. the repair company should be able to match the roof pretty well.

Q. I wanna know if in order to repair/chage the roof top on ur house u need a permit? oh my roof is flat and they tell me that i need some kind of rubber rolls i wanna kno if dats true also?

A. It depends on where you live as far as permits go. In San Antonio, for example, yes, you do need a permit, technically, although in 30 years of roof contracting I have never acquired one. Smaller towns keep a closer eye on things, and in the country, nobody gives a hoot 'cept the hootowls. I wouldn't worry about it much, the most they are liable to do if they see you working on your roof is make you go get one. Unless you are in FLA, I hear they are pretty touchy over there. Rubber would be the way to go on a flat roof for a DIY'er, but, it's not quite as easy as it sounds. Be sure to get plenty of advice from the supplier.

Q. I need to call around and find a contractor to repair my roof. I thought it might be a good idea to at least have the name of this type of roofing correct so I don't sound like too much of a mark. Thank you in advance for your assistance.

A. Most typically, it's a sprayed polyurethane foam system. Simple repairs can be made with a sealant, unless you need a section replaced.