Roof

[kona]

Is there any advantage to getting a home with a 7/12 roof other than looks? The dealer has told me that adding this style of roof will add about $7,000 to the price of the home.

Also I would appreciate any feedback on Cavalier Homes.

[rmurray]

Eye appeal is it...In snow areas higher roofs do not build up lots of snom...Some folks believe that higher pitch roofs might be a little more energy efficient (since the sun shines on the roof at an angle..)..I did not know that Cavalier offered 7x12....I learn something new here every day...3x12 is standard.. usually 4x12 is an inexpensive option..5x12 is more of an option because it is hinged and requires more money to set up.. (usually $3-5000)...There is no reason for a 7x12 to be that much more ask about all of the available pitches and their prices..

[kona]

Thanks for the information on the roof. I don't live where it snows so maybe I will just save my money. Do you have any feedback about Cavalier? Here is the link for the website where I first saw a Cavalier with the 7/12 roof.

http://www.goldsborohomesonline.com/index.html

[rmurray]

Cavalier is similar to all the other mid range homes..If you check their financials..you might decide to buy an extnded term warranty from an insurance company such as American Modern or Foremost..These will extend the warranty to 5 years and will even cover you if Cavalier does not make it..They like most other small manufactures are struggling a lot right now..They have good leadership in top management who probably mske it thru these rough times..

More important is the dealer who you buy from...A visit here to the bookstore will offer you some excellent books on what and how to buy..They are well worth the few dollars they cost...

Most importantly..prices are rising and time is money...Go for it as soon as you can..

[mhpsrus]

In general, the larger the airspace in the attic, the longer it will take the sun to heat up the home ...and this will help keep your cooling costs down. Larger airspaces can be a real advantage if your home is located in warm climate areas. However, adding $7k to your cost means it will be years before you get any payback.

I recommend that you try to negotiate down the extra cost or go for a lower cost option. You might see if a local a/c specialist will do the manual calcs on the various options for you so you can see what your payback will be for each of them. For example, you might save some money initially AND lower your cooling costs by paying for an upgrade in your a/c system (two stage compressor, etc).