The roof is the most critical foundation in your home. Because it shields you from various weather conditions and keeps you safe, warm, and dry, there are a few home problems and repairs that are more important than fixing a damaged roof. Having an old roof can allow water to enter your home and cause all sorts of issues, so having it repaired should not be put off. If you suspect that your roof is starting to break down, you should at least know the basics of a roof repair before making bids with contractors.

Before you start considering possible options, you first have to understand the basics of roof replacement. Examine the damage and calculate whether what’s needed is a simple repair or an overall replacement. If you’re not familiar with this, you can consult a professional and have it inspected to help you understand the extent of the damage and know all the variables needed.

Common problems with roofs include:

• Water leaks
• Damaged flashing
• Unsealed joints around the skylights
• Punctures from harsh weather
• Debris
• Pests
• Damaged vent boot
• Damaged or missing shingles
• Curling shingle edges

In contrast, roof replacement is less concerned about simple structural repairs and instead focuses on installing a new roof. It can be a bit more expensive because it may also mean repairing existing problems while you’re at it. The old shingles are removed, replaced with new ones along with new finishing flashings.  

Once you’ve concluded that your roof needs replacing, understand that it may have to cost a bit more than what you’ve initially planned. Roofs only last for 10-15 years (roof repair maintenance can add 5-7 years more). Sooner or later, it will need replacing. In this case, consider your possible options: you can call the professionals, or you can do the work yourself.

Option 1: DIY roof replacement

Doing the work yourself may cost less because that means you’ll only have to pay for the materials and cut out the labor. However, it should only be if and only if you’ve had previous experience with fixing your roof and know the basics of roof repair. Replacing it might be an enormous task and will require more knowledge.

 

Plan and research

You’ll first need to inspect your roof for other problems thoroughly. Once you’ve done this, you can start planning and creating an outline for your immediate roofing needs, as well as your long-term goals. You ought to go beyond the short-term repairs and plan for the longevity of your roof replacement. 

Consider all the roofing materials you will be needing. Take your time looking for both online and offline options for every tool. Remember to choose materials according to what will suit your best– just because an option may be the most expensive doesn’t mean it’s the most cost-efficient. 

 

Estimate your expenses

Calculate all the costs of your chosen materials and how this will impact your financial situation. Refer to estimates to determine the total cost of the roof replacement. You also need to plan for the unexpected and allot an extra amount of money aside from your estimate because you never know what will come up that will end costing more.

 

Do both

If you don’t think you can do the whole process required but have experienced repairing the roof previously, you can cut the cost by doing some of the work yourself. While waiting for your appointment with the roofing contractors, you can fix the problems that need only simple repairs. You can even get started on removing the old roofing. This way, you can ensure that you’ll be paying significantly less in terms of manual labor.

 

Option 2: Calling the professionals

The second option is that you can always call professional roofing contractors NYC. To save where you can, here are a few tips to getting the best deal:

 

Look for a roof warranty

A roof warranty is applicable if you’ve recently purchased your home. Look back on the records and check if the roof is still under contract. If you’ve bought the house from previous owners, you can check the repair records with them. If the home is newly built, you can check the coverage of a new home warranty. 

 

Check with different roofing companies

If you have a roofing inspector, you can check with them for recommendations on different roofing contractors and get multiple quotes. Reach out to your neighbors and friends and see if they can vouch for previous roofing contractors they’ve hired. Check with online directories and see if they have reviews on their website from actual customers. This way, you can compare prices and see which option can efficiently tackle your roof problems.

Consider other financing options

You may not have anticipated a leaky roof and may not currently have the money to pay for it. If you’ve checked the different companies from the previous tip, you should also check if they have installment plans. You can also call your credit card company and ask if this can be covered.

If any of these don’t sound financially viable, try looking around for home equity loans, state incentives, and government-backed housing loans.

Overall, the cheapest way to replace a roof will have to depend on how smart you’ll go about it. If you choose to hire roof contractors, you might have to shell out more money for the labor, but you can cut out some of the expenses if you look up existing warranties and other insurance options. Suppose you opt for doing the replacement work yourself. In that case, this will entirely depend on your knowledge and experience: you’ll have to know which materials give the best quality for their price and do the manual labor skillfully. Otherwise, you can end up paying more.

Either way, roofing contractors can help you with both options, whether with a simple consultation and inspection or doing manual labor. For your roofing needs and concerns, learn more @ ManhattanRoofingNyc.com.