Need a New Roof? What You Need to Know about Materials, Costs, and Roofing Companies

Few things in life are as important as keeping a roof over your head. But roofs wear out over time. Eventually they develop leaks and need to be patched up. Eventually, the entire roof will need to be replaced. At this point, investing in a new roof is unavoidable. Putting off a roof replacement when its life is up is only going to cause additional problems and higher costs. Here are some other things you should know about replacing your roof.

Materials

There are many roofing materials to choose from the most people opt for asphalt shingles because they’re the easiest to install and the least expensive material. Though asphalt shingles are less expensive, there are several reasons you may want to consider a different roofing material. Materials like metal, clay or concrete tiles, and slate all cost a lot more, but they’re more energy efficient, require a lot less maintenance, and have a significantly longer lifespan than asphalt shingles. All of those advantages will save you money down the road if you’re able to afford a higher initial investment. Research the various roofing materials and their pros and cons before making a decision.

Cost

The cost of a new roof can vary widely depending on a number of factors. Obviously, the roofing material you go with will largely determine the cost of your new roof. The size and complexity of your roof will also factor into the cost. Roofs with a steeper pitch or roofs that have dormer windows or other embellishments will require more materials and will be more difficult to install than a low sloped roof with a simple structure. The climate and time of year might also play a role in the cost of a new roof. You can pay as little as 2,000 for a new asphalt shingle roof on a small, simple, low sloped roof or as much as 25,000 for a slate roof.

Roofing company

Choosing the roofing company is just as important, if not more important than choosing the material. Regardless of how premium the materials, if they’re not installed properly, you can run into problems a lot sooner than you should be. Select a local roofer and not a storm chaser that won’t be around should problems arise down the road. Make sure you hire a roofer that is licensed to do roofing work and has insurance. Any prospective roofer should have plenty of experience, especially with the roofing material you’ve chosen and they should have a good reputation in the community. Get a few written estimates from local roofing companies and look over the estimated cost and time frame and make a decision of what’s going to be best for you. Resist the temptation to simply go with the lowest bid because it’s the least expensive. It may be the right option, but it also could be a sign that the
roofer is less experienced or will cut corners or use inferior materials.

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Source: recorderstandard.com/2015/12/new-or-replacement-roof-material-choices-average-cost/