One of the most dreaded home improvement projects is residential roof replacement. Roofing materials are not cheap, and neither is the service provided by roof replacement companies. Still, when your roof needs to be replaced, you can’t dilly-dally forever. Otherwise, the problem is going to get worse. That means you might be put in a tight spot financially. The good news is that there are ways to reduce the overall cost of replacing a roof. Preparation for the task is one of the best ways to prevent costly mistakes, after all.
We have come up with a list of tips to save money on your residential roof replacement that you can start implementing right away. Let’s have a look.
Factors Contributing To Roof Replacement Cost
Knowing how to estimate the cost of your roof replacement is the first major step, because it helps you understand your budget. There are three categories of roofing costs to consider:
- Labor: The cost of paying roof replacement companies to tear off the old roofing materials and install the new ones, as well as additional repairs if other parts of the roof are damaged.
- Materials: The price of drip edges, gutters and downspouts, flashing, caulk, shingles, and anything else involved with replacing the roof.
- Disposal: Recycling or disposal of the old materials once they have been removed.
Keep in mind that some roofing materials are more expensive than others. Generally, asphalt shingles are around $3.50 to $5.00 per square foot. Products like tile, slate, and metal are pricier—around $9.00 to $15.00 per square foot.
Additionally, the cost of labor is going to be around 40-50 percent of the total cost. If your roof is complicated or steep, you can expect labor to be the most costly part of the whole bill.
Tips to Reduce Roof Replacement Service Cost
Now that you know a little more about what contributes to the price of a residential roof replacement, you can probably begin to guess at the ways to reduce the cost. Those tips are:
Do Some Research
You have already started down the right path by reading this article—but you can’t stop here! You need to do some homework; understand the ins and outs of roofing. While you don’t have to become a master (that’s what we are here for), you should know your own roof. Learn the size of it. How complex it is. That way, you can better discuss what needs to be done with the roofing contractor.
For example, knowing that a “roofing square” refers to 100 square feet can demystify a lot of what a contractor tells you.
Knowing those details will ultimately give you more approximate quotes, so you can choose the best roof replacement service for your home.
Timing is Everything
Another factor is timing. What time of the year do you plan on doing the roof replacement? Late summer and early autumn are typically the busiest time for roofers, and that leads to elevated labor costs. If you schedule the residential roof replacement for winter or spring, you will be able to benefit from off-season discounts and a less constrained schedule.
Utilize Insurance
Since you are paying for the insurance, you might as well make use of it. Homeowners insurance will generally cover the cost of your whole roof if the damage is caused by something other than neglect. For instance, if a windstorm blows off a section of shingles, your insurer may cover half or all of the cost.
Why not file a claim and see what your insurance can do for you?
Do Some of the Work
By handling some of the prep work yourself, you can shave off potentially hundreds of dollars from the end cost. Even if you don’t have much experience working around the house, tearing off the ripped, curling, or cracked shingles or tiles is fairly easy.
Just make sure the roofing contractor knows you are doing some of the labor yourself. Also, you will most likely be responsible for the disposal of those materials in the event you DIY some of the work.
Find Reputable Roof Replacement Companies
One of the first things you need to decide on is which company you want to use. There is no reason to not hire a professional roofing contractor, because, in spite of the labor cost, having a professional work on your roof comes with advantages. Not only do you receive a warranty for workmanship and from the manufacturer, but you do not have to worry about installation mistakes.
Minimizing mistakes means you reduce the risk of having to pay more to correct problems in the future.
Reuse Metal Parts When Possible
Since metal pieces are the priciest pieces of a roof, you will want to reuse them if they are still in decent condition. However, it is recommended that you discuss this option with your roofing contractor beforehand. Sometimes reusing metal elements is not possible because it may void the warranty. If the contractor advises against reusing materials, listen to the warning and purchase new flashing and other accessories.
Use Quality Materials
Believe it or not, sometimes splurging a bit more right now can save you a lot of money down the line. If you attempt to cut corners by purchasing substandard materials for your replacement roof, it will backfire. Why? Inferior materials breakdown faster, offer less than adequate protection, and have extremely limited warranties.
Choose materials that balance affordability with quality, so you know that your investment is going to last for many years.
Save Money on Your Residential Roof Replacement Today!
Yes, you are going to have to spend money to get your roof replaced, but that doesn’t mean the project has to break the bank or bite into your retirement fund either. By following the tips in this article, you should be able to greatly reduce the overall cost of residential roof replacement.
Don’t forget to hire a professional roofing contractor for your upcoming roof replacement project! Contact us today by filling out the form or giving us a call. We are more than happy to discuss options with you.
