Nightmare in replacing the roof

Started by NathanL2 • 6 replies • 478 views

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NathanL2 (California)
Posts: 47

Posted:

We are going to replace our roof, but the design of our building is old and dumb in that the roof has depressions or "pits" for the AC units to fit into. In order to properly replace the roof, the AC units need to be lifted up. At least one is the source of a leak. Based on the setup, we need to pay an AC company to bring a crane in and lift the units out of those pits, put them somewhere, and put them back after the roof is replaced. It is looking to be a very expensive job and several companies just won't even put in a proposal as it's too much hassle and the units are fragile. We could try to figure out ways to fix the roof without fully replacing it, but i worry that these will be non warrantable repairs that will eventually add up.

Does anyone have experience with anything like this? Does anyone know of any way to fix the roof without lifting these old units up? Does anyone have any advice at all?

MelissaP1 (Alabama)
Posts: 13,836

Posted:

I would get educated before blindly deciding to remove things. There has to be a reason why the A/C is put into the "pits". What type of units are they? What kind of roofing material do you already have?

It seems a bit illogical for this to be the set up considering it's a known roof's get replaced. So I question why the set up and why the roofing company can't work around the issue?

Former HOA President

NathanL2 (California)
Posts: 47

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By MelissaP1 on 08/21/2020 4:32 AM
I would get educated before blindly deciding to remove things. There has to be a reason why the A/C is put into the "pits". What type of units are they? What kind of roofing material do you already have?

It seems a bit illogical for this to be the set up considering it's a known roof's get replaced. So I question why the set up and why the roofing company can't work around the issue?

It's completely illogical set up. i tried to post a picture but it didn't go. Yes, it makes me rethink my ownership of this place honestly. if I'm going to be here another 15 years or whenever the roof dies again, do i want to deal with this every time? If we need a crane to lift up AC units (and they've stated they won't be liable for any damages that may happen to them) every time and companies may just refuse to do it, we might not be able to replace the roof. in which case, this place can be a disaster. I'll talk to some of the roofers and discuss the issue of how we can work around this issue. Thanks

SamE2 (New Jersey)
Posts: 310

Posted:

It shouldn't be a nightmare it should just be more expensive. How old are the AC units? Should getting new AC units be part of the project since you already have to pay the labor? Bottom line I don't think it is uncommon for AC units to be on the roof in commercial buildings so maybe you could look for roofers that do that type of work regularly. You could look into moving the units but I doubt you will want to go that route. Be glad you don't have solar panels on the roof to deal with it.

NathanL2 (California)
Posts: 47

Posted:

People's AC units are pretty old. One AC guy said those pits are so small that if people get new AC units they wouldn't fit there.

Solar panels are a problem? Well, that's true, we don't have to deal with that.

Thanks

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