Ron Ripley says, believe it or not, there haven’t been many complaints about roofing projects in Austin.

Saturday, October 07, 2000

Ron Ripley says, believe it or not, there haven’t been many complaints about roofing projects in Austin.

"Actually, considering the number of projects we have had since the May hailstorm, there have been only a few and what complaints are received seemed to have been taken care of between the contractor and the homeowner," he said.

Considering the amount of roofing projects in Austin and the presence of storm-chasing roofing crews, some residents may find that hard to believe.

How big is the roofing business in Austin? How many crews of local contractors and storm chasers are at work?

The answer to the first question is huge and to the second question, many.

The Austin City Engineering Department tracks the number of building permits issues.

During September’s 30 days alone, 341 residential roofing permits were issued for an estimated total valuation of $1,623,829.

That brought the year-to-date nine-month totals to 2,172 permits for an estimated total valuation of $9,799,728 for residential roofing projects only.

A year ago at this time, 420 residential roofing permits had been issued in the first nine months of 1999 for a total estimated valuation of $1,226,958.

According to the city engineer’s office, during the month of September four commercial roofing permits were issued for an estimated valuation of $7,827. The year-to-date commercial roof totals are 28 permits for a total estimated valuation of $463,220. For the same nine-month period in 1999, 13 commercial roof permits were issued for an estimated total valuation of $197,836.

Educational roof projects: Only one issued to-date this year for an estimated total valuation of $24,586. A year ago, two permits were issued in the first nine months of 1999 for a total estimated valuation of $57,874.

Public works roof projects: Only one issued to date in 2000 for an estimated $34,906. A year ago, only one was issued in the first nine months of 1999 for $65,500.

With 439 new building permits issued in September, that brought the year-to-date totals for all types of permits to 2,838 and an estimated $29,623,326.

A year ago, 882 permits had been issued January through September for a total estimated project valuation of $21,926,833.

In addition, this year’s heating permit pace is ahead of last year’s.

A total of 41 heating permits were issued in September for an estimated $127225 which brought the year-to-date totals to 403 permits and an estimated $2,276,096.

A year ago, 252 permits for an estimated $2,096,366 were issued in the first nine months of 1999.

Plumbing permit totals are also ahead of last year.

Fifteen more permits ware issued for plumbing projects in September for an estimated $31,106. That brought 2000’s totals to 228 permits in nine months and an estimated $315,652 valuation.

A year ago, only 149 plumbing permits had been issued in the first nine months of 1999 for a total valuation of $289,001.

When all of the building permits are combined, new construction, alterations, roofing, fences, moving and the rest,

Through nine months of 2000, 2,838 permits were issues for an estimated $29,622,326 in all building projects.

In 1999, the city engineer’s office issued 2,481 total permits for an estimated $34,308,872 in projects.

This year’s building permits and valuations could surpass the record-setting 1999 figures in the next three months.