The roofing industry has been booming lately, and roofing contractors have seen significant increases (around 15 percent) in the number of people paying to have their houses reroofed.
Do you suspect that you need your house reroofed? Are you dreading finding out how much you’ll have to spend on repairs?
Before you panic, read on to learn more about the average cost of reroofing a house. You’ll also learn what you can do to save money on these repairs.
Signs You Need to Reroof Your House
It’s not always easy to tell whether reroofing is something you need to invest in. Be on the lookout for the following signs, though, all of which indicate reroofing is in your near future:
• Shingles are curling up or cracked
• There are bald spots on the roof
• The roof is more than 20 years old
• There are dark streaks on the roof
• Moss is growing in between the shingles
Consider whether or not your neighbors are replacing their roofs, too. If they’re shelling out for new roofs and their houses are roughly the same age as yours, it might be a good idea for you to keep up with the Joneses and invest in reroofing as well.
What Does Reroofing a House Cost?
Okay, maybe you’re feeling like some of the signs we mentioned apply to your current roofing situation. How much is it going to cost for you to fix the damage and reroof your house?
The cost of reroofing varies based on a lot of factors. On average, though, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 on reroofing.
At this point, you’re probably thinking, “That’s a pretty wide range. How do I know what reroofing for my roof is going to cost?” The following factors will influence whether the cost of reroofing your house falls on the lower or higher end of the average price range.
Roof Complexity
The more complex your roof is, the more difficult the reroofing process will be. If the roof is very steep, for example, contractors will likely charge you more.
This is because more labor is involved, especially since they’re not able to stack materials on the roof. They’ll have to go up and down more often to get what they need, which takes up a lot more time.
Roofing Materials
The type of roofing materials you choose affects the price in a significant way, too. Regular asphalt shingles are much more affordable than slate or tile shingles.
Water Damage
If your roof has experienced significant amounts of water damage, you’ll likely end up paying more in reroofing costs. Water damage will indicate more work for the roofing contractor and their team. Unfortunately, they often don’t know the extent of the damage until they’ve already started working, so it can be hard for them to factor that into their quote.
Roof Features
The presence of certain features on your roof will add to the cost as well. If you have a chimney or multiple skylights, for example, the roofers will have to work harder to avoid them while they go about the reroofing process. They may charge you extra in exchange for having to work around these features.
Tips to Save Money on Reroofing
Does the idea of spending thousands of dollars to reroof your house leave you feeling a little nauseated? Don’t panic just yet. There are lots of ways that you can save money on reroofing, including the following.
Get to Know Your Roof
Do some research before you start reaching out to roofing contractors for quotes. If you are living in Phoenix, check out Phoenix Roofing Contractors, created by Jeff Guthrie in 2010, a resident of Phoenix since 1997. Phoenix Roofing Contractors performs expert roofing, siding, and gutter work with a focus on quality. Get to know your own roof and understand the basics so that you’re not taken by surprise later.
Assess the existing damage (carefully) and decide what materials you want to use. The more information you have upfront, the easier it is for contractors to give you an accurate quote.
Get Multiple Quotes
Speaking of quotes, be sure to get quotes from multiple contractors before you make a decision. Shopping around gives you a chance to compare and contrast different contractors’ prices, as well as the work that’s included in that price. This will save you from spending way more than you need to, but it’ll also help you find the contractor who will do the best quality work.
Pick the Right Time
Reroofing your house will be more expensive at certain times of the year. For example, roofers are often busiest during the spring and summer.
If you want to save some money, consider delaying the reroofing process until the fall or late winter. Roofers don’t have as much to do at this time, so they might be willing to give you a good deal.
Talk to Your Insurance Provider
Sometimes, your homeowners’ insurance provider will help to cover some (or all) of the reroofing costs. If the damage to your roof is the result of a storm or other disaster, rather than neglect on your part, your insurance provider might be willing to chip in and help to foot the bill.
Do Some Work Yourself
It’s best to have a residential roofer on your team to assist you with the reroofing process. You can save some money, though, by handling the lower-level tasks yourself.
For example, if you remove the old roofing beforehand, this saves them a step and can lead to a reduction in price. Keep in mind, though, that if you do this, you may need to arrange for your own disposal services.
Are You Ready to Reroof Your House?
You now know more about the cost of reroofing a house, as well as how to save money on the process. With this information in mind, are you ready to go ahead and get started?
You might be tempted to put off reroofing your house. If it’s showing significant signs of wear and tear, though, it’s better to act now than to wait for it to get worse. Remember the strategies listed above and you’ll have a much easier time paying for the repairs and getting your house in tip-top shape.
Do you want to learn more about home improvement? If so, check out some of the other repair-related articles on our site today.