I am going to be considering buying a house, but the previous owners took the copper plumbing out when they left (along with some flooring, and the front porch).I was wondering if anyone could give me a rough estimate of how much this might cost to fix/replace? Also how much would re-shingling a roof, and a new furnace be?
Replacing the copper is not going to be a big expense as long as it is easily accessible. PEX plastic water pipe can be used and you will find it quite inexpensive to install and can even do it yourself quite easily. Re-roofing with asphalt shingles will be about $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot of roof area if it is a simple roof design. Expect to pay a lot more if it is a very steep or high roof or has a lot of peaks and valleys. A new forced air furnace could run anywhere from $2000 to $4000 installed for an average sized house. Make sure that you get several quotes IN WRITING and check the references of any contractors you consider using. Do not pay in full until you are fully satisfied that the job has been completed properly as you are legally entitled (in Ontario) to hold back 10% of the contract amount for 45 days after the job has been completed to cover any possible defects or deficiencies that might arise.
All are impossible to answer without knowing the size of the job. Copper plumbing is not going to be cheap. Copper is high. I suggest PEX. Cheaper material and labor. Roof materials will depend on quality and type. As for a furnace, if the duct work is OK maybe $300-$400 over the price of the unit.
