There’s no doubt about it—a new roof can be expensive. Keep-you-up-at-night expensive, especially if your insurance company isn’t going to help out. And since you already know you shouldn’t make price the first consideration when deciding which contractor’s bid to accept, you may feel like there aren’t any good ways to save money on the repair. After all, if you take a lowball bid, you could end up paying big in other ways.
But you can work with a legitimate roofing contractor and still save money.
Go off-season
People think about their roof in the summer and in the fall. And while it’s true that we do need good weather to complete most roofing projects, there are plenty of good weather days in January in Tampa. Winter and spring are great times to contact us because work is slower, and sometimes we’re able to cut you a bit of a break as a result.
Ask about re-using your flashing.
Sometimes, your flashing is still going to be just fine, and we can just put it back on. That saves you on some materials costs. If there is some reason why the flashing can’t be re-used we’ll tell you, but there’s no harm in asking.
Get your insurance discount.
This is a good way to save some money on the back end. You may not directly impact the cost of your roof replacement, but a new roof usually means lowered homeowner’s insurance premiums. Be sure to call your agent and let them know you’ve had the roof replaced so you can enjoy the premium reduction.
Replace your roof earlier.
Some people will use every last scrap of their roof’s lifespan. However, this usually means there’s an awful lot of damage up there. It could also mean that the roofing deck becomes damaged or rotted because some water you never saw got in there and started wreaking havoc. Instead, start planning for a roof replacement about 5 years before you expect your roof to go. As a bonus, that also gets you time to get your bids and save up to it.
Go metal, get Energy Star.
Yes, metal roofing is one of the most expensive roofing materials. But if you get Energy Star certified metal roofing you’ll still save money. First, you’ll qualify for federal tax credits for energy efficient home upgrades. Second, your energy bill should go way down, especially when you’re trying to cool your home in the summer. Finally, the roof will last for 50 to 100 years, which means you may never have to bother with this nonsense ever again…it will be your kid’s problem, or your grandkid’s, when they inherit the house after your death, or the next homeowner’s, when you sell it.
Finally, don’t let the price of a new roof scare you into trying to push your existing roof past its natural lifespan. Sooner or later you’ll have a big problem, and it will usually occur at the worst possible time. Recognize that you will need a new roof eventually, and plan accordingly.