House Calls Renovation Advisors

Jay Charendoff - Principal, House Calls Renovation Advisors provided clarity, guidance and perspective when we reneeded to replace the flat roofs of our house. With his background in architecture, he looked at both the big picture of our project and the individual details we needed to pay attention to. We highly recommend Jay to others who are trying to make sense out of renovation decisions.

Having interviewed several roofing companies that claimed expertise in flat roof construction, we were overwhelmed by the differences in their recommendations and the price difference of over $40K for similar work. We did not know who to believe or trust. Flat roofs require specific expertise. They are expensive and important investments in a home.

Jay recommended a roofing company with expertise in flat roofs that he had worked with in the past and had referred his clients to who gave him positive feedback. With winter approaching, we needed to make a decision. This roofing company promptly provided us with a quote.

Jay reviewed two of our quotes. One of the biggest and most stressful decisions was whether or not to modify the current water drainage system. We had areas of water pooling on each of the two roofs that needed to be addressed. These two quotes recommended removing a parapet wall on one side of each of the roofs and replacing them with an eavestrough and downspout.

Jay provided thoughtful technical advice using non-technical language so that we could understand the pros and cons of making these and other changes. He offered additional water drainage options to discuss with the companies we were considering, questions to ask and price points to clarify.

Jay took away the fear factor and gave us strategies to ensure that the information we were given was clear and that we were making informed decisions. Jay's perspective regarding the two extreme ends of the price quotes was helpful. He suggested that they were red flags that something was not quite right and that the middle price range was probably the most reasonable and fair.

We chose the roofing company that Jay recommended for a variety of reasons including their expertise in flat roof construction, feedback about their integrity, taking the time to answer our questions, and the trust we place in Jay. It was a mid-range price quote. Jay later provided valuable perspective mid-way through construction when decisions about enhancements to the original project plan needed to be made.

We also included Jay's recommendations that will make future roof maintenance simple, including during extreme winter weather.

Jay did a site visit and went up on the roof to see the progress of the work firsthand and then provided additional feedback. He took photos of the work to share with us.

Now that we are on the other side of roof construction, we are very grateful for Jay's advice and hand-holding. Having had rainstorms in the past week, the eavestroughs that were installed have made a noticeable improvement in water drainage. And an added bonus: the new roofs have improved our home's appearance and curb appeal.

Thank you Jay! D & D