Rap, I priced my roof with three different folks--the same sort of 50 year (hail resistant) roof. First guy, big commercial roofer, wanted $10,000. Second guy, mid-sized local company, wanted $8,000. My contractor put me in touch with the guy who put the roof on my garage when he built it, he's the guy who actually DOES the work (the other two would have hired someone like him). He asked a hair under $6,000. Great job.

Have something handy to offer as a treat at lunchtime--they work really hard at this job, and for these crews, lunch is almost a ceremony. When I checked to see how they were doing, they offered some of their Mexican dishes, and I accepted a plate, but I brought out a bag of clementines to contribute my share. A pleasant rapport with the folks who are working on something so critical to your house as your roof is, like Martha says, 'A Good Thing.'

My reduced insurance bill dropped my monthly mortgage payment more than $50 a month with the new roof. Be sure to tell your agent about this.