Simple and easy roofing tips to save money
Whenever roofing is mentioned, it seems like simple enough a job for most people. It just involves ripping off the old roof and put the new one in place. This couldn’t be further from the truth, because not only is it a difficult project, but it can end up soaking up all your finances and turning out to be one of the most expensive home repair ventures you could ever undertake.
Most, if not all, areas require regular upgrades to keep the roofing in place thanks to a sudden change in weather, so it’s a pretty important venture to undertake, but if you’re not prepared, it won’t be easy.
There ways to save money while taking care of your roof. However, before you even begin considering any of these cost-saving tips, start off by getting the law on your side, easily achieved by picking up a copy of your municipal roofing regulations.
Simple and easy roofing tips to save money
A bad roof can make a hole in your pocket. A well-maintained roof needs lot of care and attention. So, here are ten roofing tips that will prevent you from wastinga huge sum of money along the way.
1. Pick the right roofing company
When selecting a roofing company, make sure you go for a roofing company that you’re sure has trained installers and at record of previous successful roof installations. Before making your final pick, interview three or more roofing companies then make your favourite selection.
Call your neighbourhood business offices and visit your state attorney general’s website and cross roofers with legitimate consumer complaints off your list. This is the first step towards avoiding unnecessary expenditure, saving you money.
2. Have a plan
Be sure to specify the exact requirements in the contract. This saves you money and time by preventing misunderstandings along the way, as well as eliminating extra costs that would otherwise come into play for removing, replacing and acquiring new work materials.
Besides the obvious legal benefits of having one, it will also let you compare the final completed work with the original installation requirements and recommendations.
3. Get quality materials
Quality materials may not always be cheap, but quality should be the primary concern when you’re selecting materials for a re-roofing operation. Relatively cheaper materials will cost less in the short term, but more often than not have a shorter lifespan – this means you’ll end up paying for yet another repair sooner than is necessary.
However, it’s not enough that the material you use to roof your home be quality, it should also be affordable, not expensive, especially if you’re on a budget. To get the best deals, sign up for your manufacturer’s newsletter on their website and skim through newspapers and mail adverts for the latest deals.
4. Upgraded underlayment for moisture protection
The protective layer underneath the tilesis called underlayment. An upgraded synthetic-type called ‘peel and stick’ could save you money with your homeowner’s insurance. It acts as a secondary moisture barrier, further protecting the wood in your home.
5. Consider re-covering instead
Make a rough draft of what you expect to go through to re-cover your old roof rather than going all out and installing a new one. It’s also worthwhile to check your municipal building codes so you’re able to determine how legal this alternative method is instead. Ask a structural engineer to look at your house to see if it can handle the extra weight.
6. Invest in Energy Star products
Some manufacturers offer Energy Star class roofing materials that offer a more effective roofing system, basically translated to mean they are highly reflective and can help reduce the temperatures in your attic. Who doesn’t love a cool home during a hot summer?
Additionally, you could also potentially win yourself a tax credit in the process. Of course, going in on your own isn’t a good idea. Consult your insurance agent or accountant for specific savings opportunities.
7. Combine the costs
The best advice you could possibly get is to combine dumpster fees with any landscaping work that’s potentially going on around your house. Large trash removal fees could send your roofing costs sky-rocketing.
8. Reuse materials where possible
Not all your roofing materials need to be replaced. Once you’ve settled on someone to do the job for you, ask them if reuse of materials is possible and, if so, they should take this approach. If you’re doing the work yourself, however, the best way to proceed would be to approach a professional and ask them for advice about reuse.
9. Do some work yourself
Before you finally settle on someone to do the re-roofing for you, first check to see if it’s something you can do on your own, or if there aresome parts of the process that you can manage. For instance, re-installing the gutters on your roof or doing the trim are pretty simple to do and will save money.
All you have to do is pick up a helpful home DIY kit, maybe even develop some arbitrary demolition skills so you can remove the old roofing yourself. This will obviously save you a considerable amount of money.
10. Hurricane straps to securely attach roof
It all depends on the age of your home, but the method that was originally used to attach roof to the exterior wall can have a particularly great impact on your home insurance premium.
Simply put, there are three types of ways builders use to attach roofs – the toe-nailed, clipped, and hurricane-strapped. Of the three, hurricane straps are the most effective for ensuring the roof stays in place even in the event of strong gales and will save money on your insurance.