I have an estimate from a roofer and will be meeting with him tomorrow. Would appreciate comments on some of the optional items he listed in the estimate. The house currently has regular asphalt type shingles. Roof is 6/12 pitch, I think, and climate is hot in summer, cold in winter (Chicago area). The roofer and estimate seem reasonable in general. House is old (90+ yrs) and 2-story.
-- upgrade to architectural shingles - do these really have a longer life, or is it mainly aesthetics? The claimed life is only a little longer (30 vs. 25 years). I'm inclined to skip it as the roof is not all that prominent and we don't need it fancy.
-- ice and water shields along eave edges and base of valleys. Not sure what that is, or if it is needed. We have not had any trouble with ice dams causing leakage. The attic is well insulated. We do get some icicles sometimes. The eaves are in good shape, except for around the chimney where there has been past leakage.
-- Metal valley liners - I'm a little skeptical - the small amount of valleys we have haven't been a source of trouble so far.
-- grind out base of chimney and install custom flashings. This strikes me as worth it - flashing around the chimney always seems like a weak spot and there has been leakage there before. I have gone up there to slather tar around a couple times and don't want to have to again. It's not bad for the chimney is it? (chimney is brick)
Your opinion welcome. Thanks, -- H