June 2026
Bid Process = A+, Price = A,…read moreCommunications = A-, Schedule adherence = A+,
Work site set up = A, Work site clean up = A
Workmanship/detail = B,
Problem solving, Quality assurance = B+,
incidentals = A, Conclusion
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Bid - Bates examined, sketched and after about 20 minutes provided a complete bid with 3 option levels.
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Price - Bates was equal to other bids.
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Communications - Bates, email, text was Excellent & timely. Only issue might be crew, only crew lead spoke fluent English.
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Scheduling - provided tentative date 3 weeks out, confirmed with 1 week & kept that date.
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Work Site set up - Crew arrived at 8 am, placed tarps at all areas that might be affected by debris & placed plywood sheets against & over areas that might be impacted.
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Work Site Clean up - removed debris in all areas. No issues.
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Workmanship/detail - I'm sure they worked hard, but their attention to detail could be better. 4 areas of concern. 1)accurate nailing of new plywood, 2)proper anchoring of electrical mast, 3)caution during debris removal on roof, 4)level placement of shingles in one vertical area.
Description of the work issues:
Replaced over 30 sheets of plywood. Used stapler to tack plywood, then nails. Many staples missed rafters & were visible under eaves. Many more visible in the attic which I did crawl through to check. Some nails missed. visible in the attic.
While removing the old roof, they used blower to clear/clean the decking. Ended up blowing debris in the range hood exhaust vent, causing debris to get into over-the-range microwave.
Front of the house is a vertical patch of roof, that was shingled crooked/slanted. Neighbor, wife, myself all agreed. The crew lead did not think it was. We physically measured & the span was clearly off. He made an adjustment & we accepted it.
The electrical mast has two anchor lines to support if against the wire drop pull. Those are removed during re-roofing. They reconnected, saying it was now anchored properly into the rafters. But it wasn't at all. I was lucky enough to cut a hole into our garage ceiling sheetrock and clearly saw they missed the rafters completely.
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Problem solving, trouble-shooting, Quality assurance - After job was done & crew gone, I walked the perimeter, went in the attic and noticed some issues and my wife started the microwave fan. I emailed Bates & they were quick to send their PM out & I was able to point out things. He was able to explain some things to my satisfaction & scheduled the crew to come out & address everything. I called the inspector & he agreed to approve.
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Incidentals - I arranged to have some of the old cement roof salvaged with a company in Auburn. Bates was agreeable to cooperate & worked to have a bunch of the old shingles sent down a chute to be collected.
When they returned to address the work issues, they left me with some bundles of shingles so I could re-roof my small back shed. The even offered to roof it. But I declined. (Project for my son & I)
They also gave us a gift card for dinner at a nice local restaurant for the trouble.
Things I did not think of up front but wish I did.
Replaced 30+ sheets of plywood. I would have liked to have kept a good many pieces that they discarded. Also some of the new plywood that they cut & then discarded the remnants, I would also have kept. I did on the 3rd day, ask to keep the newest remnants & I dug some out from the trailer dump bed. But I didn't think of it in the prior days.
They also kept & piled the old lead vent pipe flashing. It was quite a pile & made sense when they said they'd take it to the recycle center and maybe get $60 for it. Wish I'd have thought of that, I would have made my son do it for the experience and sense of value & gas money for him to earn.
Conclusion - I like Bates. The process, overall communication was very good. They identified & corrected unknown roof issues due to rot & prior installation shortcomings. Thus all the new plywood & some facia board. Room to improve attention to details. New roof looks good.