The Ultimate Guide to Getting a New Roof: Key Considerations and Tips for Homeowners

Last updated on March 20, 2024

Getting a new roof gives you the opportunity to make your property feel and look brand new while still giving you a chance to make it safer and more energy efficient. Unfortunately, getting a new roof isn’t as easy as most of the purchases we make in modern times.

If you’re ready to get a new roof and aren’t sure where to start, these are the top things to consider!

Think about Your Budget

The cost of a new roof depends entirely on the material you use, how much square footage your roof takes up, and what roof crickets or complications are added to your roof. Before you make a deal with any company, consider how much you can afford and if you’d be willing to finance this.

Financing can still require you to make a huge down payment and large monthly payments, but it’s worth it to have a safer property. If you don’t want to finance this, consider how much you could afford to pay out of pocket.

What Materials Work

There are dozens of different materials, hundreds of colors, and countless styles to pick from when you’re having your roof built. Whether you want wood shingles or you’re more into slate, it all depends on your personal taste and what you think would work best for your property.

If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, you should contact them to see if there are any rules or guidelines on what color and style your roof can be. Although most will just give you a range of colors and styles, some may be far pickier than that, so it’s important to talk to them before putting in a downpayment.

Check about Roof Removal

When you contact roofing companies about their services, make sure the price they quote you includes the cost of the tear-off. Although most businesses do include that price, it’s always a good idea to be careful and avoid getting the wrong initial price.

This can usually be done within the same day of adding the new roof, but it generally depends on how large your roof is, what the weather is like, and what the condition of the roof is when they’re removing it.

Consider Timing for Noise

Although adding a new roof shouldn’t take longer than one to three days, depending on the size of your property, you should still plan carefully. Do you work from home and know you have a big deadline coming up? It could be a good idea to put off the roof for a couple more weeks.

Otherwise, you could always request those days off or work in a different location while they’re installing your roof. By nature, adding a new roof makes a lot of noise and hubbub, and it’s hard to avoid that.

How Well-insulated You Want It

Insulation is one of the most important parts of any home, so when you’re looking at roofing companies, consider what they offer. Adding polyiso roof insulation will not only make your roof last longer but will trap in the air and conditions of your home, so your HVAC system doesn’t have to work as hard. This can save you an incredible amount of money in the long run.

If your current insulation is that your attic is filled throughout with fiberglass or some other material, it’s a good idea to take the time to decide if you want that removed when new insulation is added or not.

What Roofs Companies Have Built

When you start contacting companies, ask if there are any properties that you can drive to take a look at. Some will even offer addresses that are over ten years old so you can see how the roof is holding up.

This gives you the opportunity to get a clear view of how their work turns out and if it’s how you’d want your roof to look.

Make sure that while you’re doing this research, you also check reviews online! You will also want to make sure that your roofing contractor is licensed. The last thing you want to deal with is finding out a company is a nightmare to work with after you’ve already hired them. Any good roofing company will be as respectful to your property as possible while making the repair.

How Soon Can It Be Built

How soon do you need your roof built? Can they deliver it in that timeframe? Although you should be realistic, since most companies will set a two to three-month date at the most, don’t let them push you around. Be clear about what you need and whether or not this is an emergency with a leaking shingle.

Every Property Needs a Great Roof

Whether this is the first time your roof has been updated since you bought it, or you’re considering replacing it due to the amount of damage and aging it’s been through, you should find the best roof possible. Consider each of these ideas before sealing the deal.