Roofing tile wait may be a year

[Mrs. Hein]

QUESTION: Will missing peak tiles (the ones running along a gable or hip joint) allow water leaks? I'm wondering what to do in the 12 months before tiles are available again?

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-ptile29oct29,0,633833.story?coll=sfla-news-palm
Roofing tile wait may be a year


And they'll be dear when on shelves again, experts say



By John Holland
STAFF WRITER

October 29, 2005



Don't even think about getting new barrel or flat roofing tiles for about a year, and expect prices to soar when they do finally arrive.

That's the message from contractors and suppliers who said Hurricane Wilma turned an incredibly tight market into an impossible situation. Homeowners seeking shingles still have plenty of selection and large supplies, but that's expected to change in the next few months.

Overall, construction materials of any kind are going to be expensive and difficult to find for quite some time. Manufacturers of barrel and flat tiles had already cut the color options from more than 50 choices to about 20 in an attempt to increase production.

In the days since Wilma pummeled South Florida, owners of commercial buildings have snapped up every piece of roofing to fix or replace flat roofs that were ripped apart.

"I've ordered $4 million worth of roofing material within five last days, and I'm just hoping to get some of it," said Don Hamby of ABC Supply in Lake Worth. "I'm shipping from all over the place, paying any price. Roll material [for roofs] that I normally get from Savannah, Ga., I'm now ordering from Oklahoma for a lot more money."

The shortage of tiles -- waiting lists already reached six to nine months before Wilma -- has been made worse because two of the largest manufacturers in the state, Monier Lifetile of Boca Raton and Hanson Roof Tile of Deerfield Beach, were hit hard by the storm. Deliveries from the companies have stopped, suppliers said, although both said they are operating other plants around Florida.

"I'm not even quoting prices now. I'm just telling them, `When it comes in, I'll tell you what the price is,'" Hamby said. "If they don't want it, someone else will."

Importing tiles from out of state isn't a viable option because it costs too much to ship the heavy concrete material. And tile breaks easily, said Steve Munnell of the Florida Roofing, Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association, a trade group based in Orlando.

"Down there in South Florida, it's going to be a huge issue, worse than anything we've been seeing," Munnell said. "I think people will be lucky to get it in just a year."

There are two bright spots, Munnell and Hamby said. Shingles are readily available, and labor shortages seen after last year's hurricanes are not expected to be a problem here.

"All of the work in Punta Gorda [after Hurricane Charley], the Panhandle [after Ivan] and Melbourne area [after Frances and Jeanne] is pretty much down now, so a lot of the licensed roofers from around the state are going to be free to head south," Munnell said. "Last year, every place in the state was devastated. This time, everyone can concentrate just on South Florida."

John Holland can be reached at jholland@sun-sentinel.com or at 954-385-7909.


Copyright © 2005, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

[jzt]

I wonder if we could just put up any color and than paint all the roof tiles. Then we wouldn't have to worry about color selection.

[d-o-b]

QUESTION: Will missing peak tiles (the ones running along a gable or hip joint) allow water leaks? I'm wondering what to do in the 12 months before tiles are available again?

yea, actually I believe that's the worst part.

[d-o-b]

I wonder if we could just put up any color and than paint all the roof tiles. Then we wouldn't have to worry about color selection.
the problem is you are not going to find tile AT ALL!!! So if you see some now, around your neighbor yard, GO GET THEM!!!! :D

[Toad]

the problem is you are not going to find tile AT ALL!!! So if you see some now, around your neighbor yard, GO GET THEM!!!! :D

I wonder if roof tile theft will become a problem? BTW what color is your tile;)

[Donna]

I saw someone had stacked some roof tile (2 or 3) out for the trash. If they are still there, maybe I should pick them up.

[Tubby]

I'm going to have the roofer but the good tile and correct color on the front of the house and if I have to replace any they will be on the back.

[jzt]

Okay - so I need to go sneaking around the neighborhood grabbing tiles. Nono

[Donna]

Shhh! If you see someone else doing it too, don't worry it will just be me!!:D

[dianepmny]

My mom's friend owns a roofing tile business (I guess he is a supplier or something) and she told us this yesterday. I told her that she had to be wrong, but now I see that she wasn't.

This is going to suck for us.

[Tubby]

Roof Tiles have been is short supply for some time. They can't keep up with all the construction.

Before the hurricanes I heard most orders were taking 6-8 months.

[Toad]

Has anyone been successful in arranging roof or screen repair? What is your plan of attack?

[d-o-b]

I'm working on importing a big order, I'll keep you posted.Toad maybe you can help me with the freight part.

[Toad]

I'm working on importing a big order, I'll keep you posted.Toad maybe you can help me with the freight part.

Let me know what country it comes from and I will see what I can do. Is it containerized or bulk?

[Tubby]

Has anyone been successful in arranging roof or screen repair? What is your plan of attack?

I'm hoping the guy who is working on my father in-laws roof will fix ours also. If not I have another another person I'm going to try.

[d-o-b]

Let me know what country it comes from and I will see what I can do. Is it containerized or bulk?
pallets.... I should have an anwser by tomorrow. I'll let you know.

[jzt]

pallets.... I should have an anwser by tomorrow. I'll let you know.

oh oh oh - are these for sale to your good pals on neighborhood round table? :) :) :) :)

[Donna]

I talked to my Dad. His next door neighbor is a general contractor and has someone to repair my Dad's roof. They have already done temporary repairs putting down tarpaper to hold it until they get to it. It needs a permit as the missing section is too big to do without so they have to wait on the city for the application process. Dad told his neighbor that I need the roofer too. They already gave the roofer my number and he is to call me. I'll keep you posted.

[jzt]

oh oh oh - are these for sale to your good pals on neighborhood round table? :) :) :) :)

D.O.B. - still waiting for a reply on those barrel tiles. ;) ;) ;)

I was told that our screen was covered in our homeowners insurance today. Yeah!!! We won't put it back up, but this should cover our deductible.

[Donna]

I haven't heard from the roofer yet.

I saw a neighbor yesterday who was looking for a roofer. She has the same damage as the rest of us with the ridge tiles. She said her insurance company, Lloyds of London, says she needs a new roof. I told her to get on a list like the rest of us. Another neighbor said their insurance adjuster was coming out today and they were going to push for a new roof. She only has the ridge tile problem. No other damage.

I know my insurance company isn't this generous. My Dad is actually missing a section of roof and they are paying to fix that, not replace the entire roof.
I haven't called the insurance company and haven't planned to.

What have the rest of you heard? This seems crazy that they would cover a new roof when there is no damage, no leaks, nothing. If these companies are going to pay, no wonder the insurance rates are so high. Will we be adding the cost of a new roof each hurricane season to the premium????:mad:


d-o-b, any news on your import order of roof tiles?

[d-o-b]

d-o-b, any news on your import order of roof tiles?
I'm afraid is not good news. The only other country that uses this type of tiles (cement) is Netherland. The rest of the countries use clay tiles. If you see the new neighborhoods, they are being built with clay tiles, cheaper, quicker to fabricate....

[jzt]

I haven't heard from the roofer yet.

I saw a neighbor yesterday who was looking for a roofer. She has the same damage as the rest of us with the ridge tiles. She said her insurance company, Lloyds of London, says she needs a new roof. I told her to get on a list like the rest of us. Another neighbor said their insurance adjuster was coming out today and they were going to push for a new roof. She only has the ridge tile problem. No other damage.

I know my insurance company isn't this generous. My Dad is actually missing a section of roof and they are paying to fix that, not replace the entire roof.
I haven't called the insurance company and haven't planned to.

What have the rest of you heard? This seems crazy that they would cover a new roof when there is no damage, no leaks, nothing. If these companies are going to pay, no wonder the insurance rates are so high. Will we be adding the cost of a new roof each hurricane season to the premium????:mad:


d-o-b, any news on your import order of roof tiles?

What about hiring an insurance adjuster to fight for you. They take 10% I believe.

[Toad]

What about hiring an insurance adjuster to fight for you. They take 10% I believe.

I bet your insurance company would also drop you after they paid the claim if you fought them that way.

[jzt]

I bet your insurance company would also drop you after they paid the claim if you fought them that way.


You don't think they will drop us anyway?

By the way - I haven't hired one, only considering if I don't feel that they are being fair. I'm waiting for the analysis of my roof. I will fight for a new one if it is needed though. Because that seems to be the most important thing for us right now. If the roof goes...??/

[Donna]

I don't know anything about roofs, but it seems to me that if there is no damage beneath the ridge tiles to the tarpaper and plywood, that we should just be able to cement the tiles back. I don't think they compromised the safety of the roof.

One neighbor talked to a roofer and that is exactly what he was told. I don't understand why another neighbor's insurance company is going to replace the whole roof for a few shifted ridge tiles.

Can someone explain this to me?

[jzt]

I've been told by some that they've had it recommended that the roof be replaced. Also, what if a lot of tiles have lifted. Can that compromise the roof it the nails pull? Hey, are there even any nails up there? I'm so confused and I'm hearing so many different things. I'm really afraid of being royally screwed. :( :eek:

[Donna]

There are not any nails in the ridge tiles. My guess is that they would have fared better if there were. The other tiles have two nails each (I think).

[jzt]

There are not any nails in the ridge tiles. My guess is that they would have fared better if there were. The other tiles have two nails each (I think).

I think that's where the problem lays. I've heard that if the other tiles lift and the nails have pulled, then the roof can be compromised. I need about 100 ridge tiles and only about 15 to 20 of the other tiles. But most are loose or lifted.

[Donna]

That makes sense. I don't know how many I am actually missing. Some fell off the roof, but there are many that just shifted en masse (the whole ridge).

[Donna]

A few years ago we cleaned our roof ourselves and were surprised how many tiles were loose. We cemented them back down. It is strange walking on the roof feeling them shift under your feet.

[JungleJim]

Don't believe the hype!

I went down to Medly and picked up 50 S tiles for $170.00 out the door, even matching my roof color. I didn't have any ridge tiles come off, I had gone up a couple of years ago and sealed them all down with RT600 Roof tile adhesive. I did have 9 S tiles damaged by my nieghbors tiles flying onto my roof. Some of my other nieghbors also went to Medly/ Miami and picked up ridge tiles. They were red and will need to be painted but they have them now.
I believe many of these people calling themsleves roofers are just looking to patch as many of the roofs as they can, as fast as they can. Pocketing some nice cash while claiming they can't get tiles. Then later they will charge huge $$ for the tiles using the alleged shortage as an excuse.

Do yourself a favor and go to anywho.com and search roof tiles, click on suppliers and start calling...NOW before they are gone....or google anal lube and grease your backside so when the 'roofers' come back with the tiles you are ready