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Contractor’s Corner

Roofing, painting, siding and window tips and tricks from Rocky Mountain Roofing & Exteriors
Affordable Roofing: Getting a New Roof Without Breaking the Bank

Affordable Roofing: Getting a New Roof Without Breaking the Bank

Replacing the roof of your house is as exciting as buying a new hip or life insurance. Thankfully, there are a few things a savvy homeowner can do to at least reduce the cost.

Generally, a new roof’s cost can be broken down into three categories: materials; labor; disposal.

Materials

The first thing to do is to decide what material you want your new roof to be made of.

The most popular material is asphalt. Its appearance is perfectly fine and it tends to last 15-30 years before it needs to be replaced.

Now, if your aim is to never have to replace your roof again, metal may be a better option. It’s more stylish and eco-friendly than it used to be, and can last 50 years or longer. In fact, certain metals can stay intact for 100 years.

Besides asphalt and metal, there are wood shingles and shakes; clay, concrete or composite tiles; slate; and relatively niche materials. Each has its own pros and cons. Finding out what material will be best for your home before contacting roofing companies can help keep estimates consistent and make the negotiation process simpler.

Labor

By some estimates, labor can account for half the cost of replacing your roof. There are two main tactics to employ to make sure that whatever you spend on labor doesn’t go to waste.

The first thing to do is to plan for your roof to be replaced during the winter or spring. Summer and fall are far busier for every roofing company in the universe, so if you can have yours done during their slow seasons, they will be much more inclined to work harder to earn your business with lower prices.

Next, make sure the companies you contact are licensed and insured. Roofing is a business that can attract people who know how to do the work but don’t want to bother running a legal business. Whatever they charge you, make sure that if they get hurt or make mistakes, you won’t be held responsible.

Disposal

Often, you have to pay to get rid of your old roof. Sometimes that’s rolled into the labor cost of installing the new roof.

If your old roof is asphalt, there are just about a zillion options for recycling or even selling those old shingles.

Otherwise, you can easily check with your municipality to find out their preferred methods of disposal. Whatever you do, just make sure you nail down the most cost-effective way to dispose of your old roof before trusting your roofing company to do it for you. If they plan to do it a different way, maybe you can take care of that detail and save some money.

How To: Affordable Roofing

Getting a new roof is a big deal. It’s expensive and time-consuming.

In the quest to save money, it may be best to pick your spots. For example, a traditional asphalt roof will always run up a bill that’s less than, say, a Tesla solar roof. Timing the job for the slow roofing season can help as well, as can finding the least expensive way to dispose of your old roof.

If you take your time and do your research, the process can be less painful–and less expensive–than it sometimes can be for those who don’t put the time in.

If you are looking for affordable roofing in Denver, Colorado, make sure you grab a free estimate from our team!