Your roof is an important part of your home. It keeps you safe, dry, and cool when it’s hot out. But time and the elements take a toll on the lifespan of your roof and even the best roofing eventually needs to be replaced.
Regular maintenance can extend the lifespan of your roof, but when the time comes to replace the entire thing, it can get a little bit expensive. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep the cost down. Let’s take a closer look at 6 tips that can make this expense a little bit less expensive.
1. Do Your Homework
For the best possible outcome, you should really do your homework when choosing a roofing contractor. You want a new roofing installation done right the first time because they are expensive as is.
Having someone who provides a substandard service means you’ll have to pay extra to get someone else to fix their mistakes. You’ll have to deal with additional maintenance costs in the future, and you might even have to get someone else to redo the job entirely.
Choosing the right contractor is an important decision. Be sure to do an extensive check of their portfolio as well as read reviews about the quality of their work.
Look out for additional things like, are there any discounts through referral, can you get a discount for getting roofing done during the off-season, and do they offer accurate onsite estimates – including how long the replacement will take, how much it’ll cost, and any other estimates – for free?
2. Use Good Quality Materials
Sometimes you have to spend in order to save. Investing in good-quality roofing materials means that you won’t have to spend money on costly repairs in the future. When you cut corners on your roofing materials it leads to a bunch of additional issues, but sourcing good quality materials aren’t exactly cheap.
There are a few ways to make things options a little cheaper. If you buy from the manufacturer directly, you’ll typically get better deals. You should also compare prices with different suppliers. Don’t be shy to look for coupon codes online. You never know what you might find.
3. Reuse What You Can
Not every single piece of the old roof needs to be tossed away when replacing it with a new one. This is especially true when it comes to things like metal flashings from your old roof. Most of the time your metal flashings will still be in pretty good condition.
However, this isn’t always the case, especially if you’ve reused them before. Your roofing contractor will be able to advise you on whether they are in good enough condition or not.
4. Cover Your Roof
This point is two-fold. Covering your roof is one of the best ways to preserve it. This protects it from environmental damage like long exposure to sunlight, excessive snow, rain, hail, etc. but sometimes that isn’t enough.
If you live in hurricane-ridden areas, taking out insurance against possible damage is a great way to save from having to cover the entire cost of a replacement yourself. You don’t need the most expensive coverage either. Compare different policies to find the best one for you and take advantage of any signing bonuses they might have.
5. Invest in Maintenance
Many people greatly underestimate the importance of regular maintenance. Roof maintenance is, for the most part, something you can do on your own. Start out by inspecting the interior. This is often the indicator of unseen exterior issues.
Look for stains on the roof that causes mold or the paint to peel in a spot. Next, inspect the exterior of your roof for any damage caused by weather, especially the pooling of water. Make sure that none of the shingles or roof tiles look loose, cracked, or broken.
Next, inspect the flashing and expansion joints. Be on the lookout for excessive moss, cracks, and tears that might indicate a leak and damage to the water membrane. Lastly, be sure to inspect any other structural components.
Look at vents, the chimney, pipes, and any skylights you might have, paying close attention to and peeling paint and rust build-up. Catching things early and fixing them yourself is the most cost-effective way to keep your roof happy.
6. Look Into Financing Options
When it comes to paying for a new roof you might not have the money, or the desire to spend it all at once.
This is where financing becomes a great option. There are a variety of options that will be better suited to your budget as well as your needs. Let’s look at a few.
Your Credit Card
If you have a good credit score you may qualify for low-interest rates. Credit cards give you more spending power and higher spending limits than something like a personal loan. Some even offer you repayment options with 0% interest, which saves you tons.
A Personal Loan
If you don’t like credit cards, you can always try to finance the payment of your roof with a personal loan. Be on the lookout for a competitive rate. A personal loan for your roofing provides you with a lump sum of money to pay for everything upfront.
The amount and the interest you have to repay are dependent on your credit history and your credit score. Be sure to review how much you’ll need to repay and by when, before you sign any contracts.
Roofing Company Financing
Some companies offer financing options for their clients. If you don’t have the best credit score this could be your best option. This allows you to make payments over a time that are more in line with your budget.
You will be charged additional interest, but it is easier to tailor this to your budget as you can negotiate with the roofing company easier than a bank or other financial institutions.
There are quite a few ways that you can cut costs when it comes to your roof, but they aren’t exactly what you might expect.
Cutting corners doesn’t save you money in the long run, and it can create further complications, costing you even more in the not-so-far-future. Cut costs by reusing what you can and investing in a good contractor who has access to good quality roofing materials at a cost price.
