How to Save Money on Repairing or Getting a New Roof
Repairing a roof is no joke. It is time consuming, stressful, and expensive. Unfortunately, pretty much everyone finds themselves needing to repair a roof at least once in their lives. Those same people are typically looking for ways to save money on repairing their roof- been there, done that.
Fortunately, as repairing a roof has so many moving parts to the process, there are plenty of ways to save money on repairing your roof. First, though, you need to understand the costs that normally come with it.
Understand the Costs
When it comes to repairing your roof, there are typically three foundational costs:
Materials- what you need to actually fix the roof
Labor- paying the people who are doing the work
Disposal- getting rid of the trash produced during repair
To save money on repairing your roof, these are the areas you need to focus on. When deciding how to cut expenses, dive into each of these categories one by one.
Understand That a Repaired Roof Does Save Money
As expensive as repairing a roof can be, it can actually save you a ton of money down the line. A roof that is not in good shape can cost you in many ways, but here are just a few:
It can affect your heating and cooling bills as it is not as protective against outdoor temperatures
It can let water leak onto other items that you will need to replace, such as furniture
Those same leaks can actually end up in electrical spaces, which can either cause your electricity to not work or even cause a fire
Those are just a few of the major problems with damaged roofs, but you should be able to see where I am going with this.
You can save a lot of money over the years by repairing your damaged roof. So, again, while repairing the roof is expensive in the short term, it is a long term investment that can save you as much as tens of thousands of dollars- more if your house were to burn down and you have to rebuild.
Consider Your Insurance And Any Warranties
Do you have homeowners' insurance? If so, there is a chance that your policy will cover some- maybe all- of the repair costs. Some people do not like filing insurance claims because they are scared of their premiums increasing. I understand this, but let’s not forget that you have been paying your premiums. What is the use of paying for insurance you are not going to use? You might as well just save money instead of having insurance?
At the same time, you do not have to file a claim. If the repairs are only going to cost a couple of hundred bucks, you might be better off paying cash and saving your insurance for bigger issues. This is all up to you, of course, but if you have insurance, consider using it.
Make a Plan And Do Your Research
One of the best ways to spend unnecessary money on roof repairs is to jump into it without any thought or plan. There are certain things that you should figure out to help you save money on repairing, such as:
Learn Roofing Terms
As you do research, talk to contractors, and shop for materials, you will probably run across terms you do not know. You may not be a pro, but if you are not at least familiar with common roofing terms, you just might agree to something you really do not want and pay more than you need to. This list is by no means exhaustive, but here are a few terms to get you started- terms that could affect your ability to save money on repairing your roof:
Underlayment
This is simply another layer of protection. It looks like sheets of asphalt.
Flashing
There are sections of a roof that are more vulnerable to water, such as around penetrations and were different sections meet. Flashing is a piece of metal that goes in these vulnerable spots to prevent water from seeping through.
Fire rating
This is pretty much what it says. Roofing materials are graded as Class A, B, or C. Class A is the most fire-resistant- and the most expensive- but you can choose lower class ratings if you want.
Overlay
Overlay means putting new materials on top of the old ones. In ways, it can cost you less in the short term as it requires less labor hours. However, it can cost you a lot in the future because:
- You will have to pay more labor costs to have the multiple layers removed
- It could void or affect your warranty on the materials, meaning if something happens, you might be paying out of pocket
- It tends to be a temporary fix- you will still have to get full repairs done in the future
In short, having overlays applied can save money on repairing now but it is not a long term investment.
Roofing square
This is a unit of measurement that is equal to 100 square feet of a roof. When it comes time to order supplies, or pay a contractor to do it, you should know how much you really need to get so you are not paying for more- or less- than you actually need.
Deck or sheathing
This is the plywood or other material that is like the base. The shingles or other roofing materials are applied to the deck. It is necessary, but many people use cheaper materials, such as plywood, for the deck. Unless there is a really good reason for it and it can clearly be explained to you, do not think that you have to spend a fortune on the deck.
Penetrations
This is anything that actually penetrates the roof deck, such as chimneys or vents.
The Best Time for Repairs
As you can probably imagine, summer is a big time for home repairs and improvements. Fall is pretty popular too as homeowners are preparing their homes for winter. I know that springtime seems like home improvement time, but most of the improvements done then are more about landscaping, building decks, and so on.
Like every other business, prices go up during the busy seasons as demand is higher. With roofing repairs, this generally means that contractors will charge more for labor during the summer and fall. If you can wait until wintertime, you can probably get lower labor costs since they are looking for more work. The beginning of spring is also a good time, especially in comparison to summer and winter.
This, of course, is a general time table. Climates differ. Winter in Montana, for instance, is very different from winter in Hawaii. You should easily be able to find out the slow times for your local contractors by talking to friends and family, asking people in a local Facebook group, or just thinking through what your seasons are generally like.
The Best Materials
Choosing the correct and best materials is an excellent way to save money on repairing your roof. The right materials do not necessarily mean the same ones you have now. There are plenty of roof types, and what is best for your neighbor is not necessarily best for you.
Look into the different available roofs. Check out reviews concerning leak protection, wind protection, energy savings, and more. Sometimes the best way to choose the best materials and save money on repairing a roof is by seeing what everyone else is saying.
Regardless of the type of roof you choose, check for discounts, rebates, sales, and credits. The government has programs that support making energy-efficient changes to your home. Check out any of these programs in your area and see which materials they support. Don’t forget to also claim these improvements on your taxes. Doing so means decreasing your tax liability, a whole other way to save money on repairing your roof.
Also, check for any sales, discounts, and rebates. Some hardware stores have great sales, especially in the off-seasons, or their supplier offers a great rebate for buying a specific brand. Shop around for the lowest price materials you can find that are of the quality you need.
Last but certainly not least, do not ignore local and small businesses. They often offer very competitive prices since they want to earn your business. I have a home improvement store around the corner from my home that offers the same products and brands as the big box store down the road at a fraction of the price. They have sales as much as 75 percent off of retail price, though sometimes it is closer to 25 percent off.
Still, we save a lot of money. Additionally, they have working relationships with several skilled contractors who offer competitive prices, and they even rent out equipment you need as opposed to having to purchase them. Talk about a way to save money on repairing a roof!
Shop Around
Always, always, always shop around for different prices. Contractors should be willing to come out and do a free consultation so they can give you an accurate estimate. Do this with at least three contractors and compare their estimates.
Negotiate
After getting the estimates, you have three options: Accept, reject, or negotiate. The estimate is not always the final offer. Try negotiating for a lower price with all of the contractors. If you have a lower estimate from one, share that estimate with the others. They will often try to beat that price to secure the work. And always get the estimates in writing.
I know that this guide is about ways to save money on repairing your roof, but it would be irresponsible to point something out. Yes, you want to find the best possible price for the repairs, but if one of the contractors gives you an estimate that is way below the others, you need to take a beat before accepting.
Most contractors are going to have somewhat similar estimates, especially if they are also quoting the materials. Sure, you can get really good deals on materials, especially when you buy in bulk. However, if something normally costs $100 per roofing square and a contractor is telling you they can get it for a dollar or two, or even ten, you need to ask how.
Coming in so low under others is usually an indication of either bad work or bad materials- both of which will cost you a lot over time.
Expect some fluctuation in materials as some contractors may have relationships with manufacturers that get them a pretty good discount. Also, expect fluctuations in the labor as different contractors price their work differently and have either a larger or smaller team than others. Some fluctuation is fine and desired. Too much fluctuation is a red flag.
Put Your Skills To Work
One of the greatest money saving techniques of all time for pretty much anything is doing things yourself. You can save money on repairing your roof by putting your own skills to work. In fact, you can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on labor costs.
Understand that not all work can be done by a non expert. Plugging up some holes is not very difficult but having to replace certain things is. For most jobs, you can easily find a tutorial online to help you out. If, though, you feel it is too much and you are in over your head, that’s okay. Do what you can on your own and let someone else do the rest.
If you are going to save money on repairing your roof by doing your own work, understand what you are getting into:
First off, you are not an expert, so you will probably not be producing expert work. If you are a perfectionist like me, this may be a big problem. If you can handle mediocre, DIY is not a bad idea.
It will take time away from other things that you need and want to do. For a job that will only take a couple of hours, this may not be a big deal. However, if it will take days or several weekends, you might want to reconsider.
Big jobs are usually better off with big skills. Some jobs require permits. If your roof repair is one of them, you need to let an expert handle it. You might still be able to do some of it yourself, but it is best to let the pros handle the most important aspects. In fact, some localities will require expert work. Still, there are ways to save money on repairing- like you could remove the old roof first or dispose of the old material yourself.
Learn the best ways to save money with Billry.
Trade-Off Skills
This is one of my favorite money saving techniques. Everyone has skills that they can use for something. Maybe roof repairs are not your thing but you have a buddy or a fellow church member who is skilled here. And maybe you are good at landscaping, but they are not so good at that.
You can both save money on work you need to have done by trading off skills. Do be aware, though, that this will usually just save you money on labor. No matter who does the work, the supplies are still needed, so unless your buddy has those supplies lying around, you will still need to spend money on supplies.
Think about your circle of friends, associates, and even coworkers. Who do you know that can either do roof repairs or know someone who can? Consider what skills, or just good old fashioned labor, you have to offer. Here are just a few things you might offer in trade, but there is no real limit to it:
Yard work and landscaping
Cutting down trees or tearing down other obstructions
Babysitting
Cleaning a house or garage
Power washing a home
Offering your home or yard for a big event, like a wedding
Accounting
Tax preparation
Sewing, alterations, knitting
What you should offer depends on what you can do and what your associate needs. To make it a fair trade, you may have to do something for them more- like they might agree to repair your roof if you agree to do their yardwork for the next four weekends or something similar. Accepting will be up to you. Just weigh out the cost of paying for labor against the trade-off. Whichever one seems fairer is the one you should go with.
Consider Financing
If you simply do not have a way to pay for the repairs, consider a personal installment loan. You may have the option to use your credit card or even a store card, but those will typically cost you a lot more than a loan. This is because, with many loans, the interest is calculated upfront and fixed into your monthly payments. With credit cards and store cards, you face compounded interest, which can cost you thousands of dollars over time if you cannot pay your balance fast enough.
Conclusion
Through this guide, we have discussed several ways that you can potentially save money on repairing your roof. After you have done so, you need to save yourself some money in the future by taking care of your new or newly repaired roof.
Research exactly what care your particular roofing materials need, and stay on top of it as best as you can. Additionally, if you notice an issue with your roof, face it as soon as you can instead of waiting until it becomes a major problem. With proper care, you can make your new roof last, saving you a ton of money in the future.