What started as a $32,000 reroof on a steep California house built in 1943 became much costlier once three layers of shingles came off.
After the tear-off, the crew said the roughly 2,000-square-foot roof needed all-new decking, eventually adding $13,000 to the bill.
Here's what to know
In a Reddit post, the homeowner said the property had an older section plus a later addition, with the newer area appearing to have less gapping. Once the existing roof had been removed, the contractor reported "extensive gapping" in the old shiplap deck and priced plywood or OSB at about $8 per square foot.
They said their husband accepted the revised $13,000 increase after negotiating it down from $16,000, but they were frustrated that the possibility had not been raised before the tear-off and asked, "Are we being completely ripped off?"
A number of replies said redecking can be unavoidable when the spacing between planks is too wide for modern roofing materials.
One commenter wrote: "You can't fasten shingles when there is a gap in decking like that. Should it have been caught on the front end? Yeah. Does that change the fact it's needed? No."
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A commenter who said they sell roofing jobs also offered a rough pricing reference: "The companies I sell for usually charge around $100 per sheet labor and the sheet is usually around $35-45 each."
More background
Several people focused on the inspection issue rather than the need for a new deck. One commenter wrote, "They could have easily looked in the attic prior to beginning and SHOWN you the gapping of the boards."
People from other markets also posted their own numbers. A roofer in Colorado said 70 sheets of OSB would total about $5,740, or around $7,000 on a very steep roof, while a California homeowner who did a similar reroof said 78 sheets cost about $5,500 and that they had seen rates of $80-110 per board.
Others pointed out that once the old shingles are removed, homeowners can feel they have less leverage. A commenter in Philadelphia added that the best way to judge the charge is to compare what local roofers typically bill for deck replacement.
What can be done?
One practical suggestion was to verify exactly what material the roofer bills for. As one commenter put it: "OSB is considerably cheaper than plywood. Make sure you don't pay for plywood and get OSB."
Another commenter said homeowners may be able to hold off on approving a large add-on, if the weather allows, and ask another roofer what they would charge for the redeck.
Other replies said that on older houses, where an attic or deck inspection can reveal plank spacing ahead of time, the possibility of full deck replacement should ideally be listed in the original quote.
In one reply, the poster said, "We totally trusted them and feel like it's a pretty big oversight to raise the total cost by 50%." They later came back with an update after doing more research.
Afterward, the original poster wrote, "I understand the new deck is completely necessary. It also seems the pricing is just a little higher than some comparable areas, but not by much. I think this was an honest mistake on the company's part, but it was an oversight nonetheless and we should have been warned about the possibility."
Where can I learn more?
These stories touch on many of the same issues, from roofing materials and labor costs to surprise charges that catch homeowners off guard.
• Another homeowner saw a roof estimate jump with an added plywood charge before a solar installation.
• In Florida, a couple's white roof experiment drew warnings about painting asphalt shingles.
• Cities are testing smart blue roof technology to hold stormwater and reduce flood risk.
• A New Jersey homeowner balked at an outrageously expensive quote for new insulation.
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