You get what you pay for, and installing a cheap roof means that your inexpensive roofing system will be prone to leaks, damage from light storms and wearing out long before it should.
And remember this – cheap roofing is a bad idea not only because the material is inferior, but because the cheapest estimates often come from installers that deliver poor workmanship.
Roofing Cost Big Picture – Why a Cheap Roof is a Bad Idea
Purchasing materials and installing a new roof is one of the biggest expenses a homeowner will face. Not only are materials costly, but so is professional installation.
The overall expense of a new roof breaks down with materials costing about 50% to 60% and installation running at 40% to 50%. The installation cost will generally include the cost to dispose of the old roofing materials.
These costs might lead you to make the decision to purchase less-than-quality materials or hire the installer offering the lowest price.
Rock-bottom roofing costs sometimes turn out to be the most expensive. What??? Think about it. The failure of a cheap roof will cause water damage leading to mold and rot compromising your home and your health.
This article will explain why purchasing a cheap roof is a bad idea but also provide you with some things you can do to save money on purchasing and installing a quality roofing system. It includes cautions and tips.
The Top 2 Reasons a Roof Will Fail Prematurely
Even a cheap roof like $60 per square 3-tab shingles costs thousands of dollars. When you purchase a new roof, no matter what the cost, you want the roof to last as long as possible. Essentially, the longer your new roof lasts, the less it costs you in the long run.
Think about it this way, having to make major repairs will outweigh any savings gained by installing a cheap roofing system. If you have to replace your roof in 8 to 15 years, it certainly wasn’t a bargain.
Following are the top two reasons why a roof will fail early:
1. Choosing Cheap Materials
Buying sub-par, off-brand, or non-warranted materials is a sure way to set yourself up for problems. Poor quality materials may be thinner and weaker than necessary for your climate. Whether they are cheap asphalt shingles or the least inexpensive metal roofing, it might quickly crack, split, dent, rust or blister causing leaks.
Caution! The least expensive asphalt shingles are produced with a cheaper grade of asphalt and stone fillers to cut costs. Poorly manufactured materials will not live up to expectations.
Quality materials are more expensive, but they are also more durable, require less repair and maintenance, offer better warranties, and will deliver a longer lifespan.
2. Improper Installation
You can buy expensive material, but if the installation is wrong, the roofing is no better than cheap stuff.
This is because an improperly installed roof will quickly develop problems.
Caution! If you are relying on your roofing contractor to provide both the materials for your roof and a cheap installation price, you can be sure they will use the cheapest materials available.
How do cheap contractors keep costs low? They hire low-wage, inexperienced workers, save time by using 4 instead of 6 nails per shingle, over-caulk instead of using proper techniques, and reuse old flashings, underlayment, or drip edges.
And low budget contractors probably won’t have completed any manufacturers’ training programs that qualify them as certified installers.
Warranty Alert! Did you know that many manufacturers won’t honor the warranty unless you have your roof installed by a contractor that has been certified in and adheres to their installation guidelines?
A low-cost contractor probably won’t offer you a workmanship warranty and may not be licensed or insured. If a worker hurts himself on the job and the contractor is uninsured, you may be liable for their injuries. And here’s another common problem with cheap roofers – if something goes wrong and you need them to repair it, they’re long gone and can’t be located. Then you have to hire a quality roofing contractor to make it right. That’s why we say that a cheap roof is a bad idea – you’ll often end up paying more for it.
Ventilation
There is more to a good roofing job than what’s on top of the house. An inexperienced contractor may not understand the importance of creating proper ventilation in the attic. An attic needs air flow to prevent moisture build-up which allows the roof deck to mold and rot. Poor ventilation also allows ice dams to form which can lift and damage your roofing materials.
An experienced contractor will be aware of the latest technology and will make sure your attic is properly vented.
How to Save Money on a Quality Roof
OK, a cheap roof is a bad idea because of inferior materials or installation – or both.
Following is some information on things you can do to purchase and install a good quality roof at the best possible price – and make it last!
Make Sure You Really Need It
The cheapest roof is the one you don’t have to buy.
If you are not sure you really need to replace your roof, hire an independent roofing inspector. The inspector will be able to tell you if the roof can be repaired or if in fact it does need to be replaced. The average cost for a roof inspection is about $225.
Caution! Do not use a roofing contractor for the inspection because their objective is to make a profit off of you by selling you a new roof. While the inspection may be free, you may not get an unbiased opinion.
The independent inspector will also be able to tell you how many layers of roofing you have on your home and whether you need a complete tear-off or can lay a new roof on top of your old roof saving you money.
Make Sure You Have to Pay For It
The independent inspector may be able to tell if the damage to the roof was caused by a storm, in which case your homeowner’s insurance may pay for a new roof.
If you live in a condo or townhouse, check with your homeowner’s association (HOA). In some communities, the HOA pays for a roof replacement out of the monthly dues each resident pays.
Is the Roof Under Warranty?
If you installed the current roof, check to see if your roofing materials are still in the warranty period. An independent inspector will be able to tell you why the roof has failed. Perhaps it’s just old or damaged by a storm, and the warranty won’t apply. But it could be that it is a verifiable manufacturer’s defect of the roofing materials. If so, you may be able to file a claim with the manufacturer of the roofing materials and recoup part of the replacement cost.
Consider Materials
First decide what kind of a roof you want. Knowing how long you expect to stay in your home could be a factor in deciding what materials you choose. An asphalt shingle roof will provide the lowest up-front cost but will require more maintenance and won’t last as long as, for instance, a metal roof.
A good-quality asphalt roof will cost between $10,000 and $15,000 for a 2,000 square foot home (24-28 squares of roofing) and will last approximately 18 to 30 years. A quality standing seam steel roof will cost between $18,000 and $27,000 and will last 45 to 70 years. In many cases, a metal roof can be installed on top of an asphalt shingle roof.
Consider Climate
The lifespan of roofing materials is affected by climate. Asphalt shingles do not hold up as well as metal or tile in hot, dry climates. Metal is a good roofing choice in areas where hurricanes are common, but metal may not be suitable in areas that experience frequent hailstorms.
Understanding how roofing materials perform in your climate will guide you in choosing the best roofing materials for your situation.
Research the Brands
Once you’ve decided on materials, review the available brands and the manufacturer’s warranties. Read customer reviews. Have customers had good experiences with the brand or issues filing warranty claims?
Look for brands that are Energy Star certified. Energy Star products will save you money on your energy bills and may qualify you for tax credits or rebates from your energy provider.
Tips on Purchasing Materials
If you’ve done your homework enough to know good and bad roofing materials, purchase the materials yourself or ask your roofing contractor to use the brand that you prefer. Select the best materials that you can afford.
Consider purchasing all of the roofing components from the same manufacturer. This is called a “manufacturer’s roof.” In the roofing industry, a roofing system pieced together with materials from different manufacturers is sometimes called a “Frankenstein” roof.
A manufacturer’s roof allows you to get the best warranty, and in many cases, an extended warranty. Using assorted brands of underlayment, water barrier, starter shingles, ridge vents, etc., might invalidate the warranty. Visit manufacturer websites to review their warranty details.
Tips for Hiring an Experienced Contractor
Because poor installation is the biggest cause of early roof problems and failure, select a reputable contractor that has experience installing the type of roofing materials you will be using. A contractor that has experience with asphalt shingles may not have experience with other materials.
Interview at least several roofing contractors and, besides getting a quote, ask them for the following:
- The details of the quote, what it includes, what it does not include.
- References – talk to customers that have lived with the contractor’s roof for two to ten years to find out if they are satisfied.
- Ask if the contractor is a certified installer for the brand of roofing you chose and if they install the roof to meet the manufacturer’s warranty requirements. Remember, you might lose the warranty on the materials if they are not installed by a certified contractor.
- Ask for proof that they are licensed and insured or check with your state consumer protection agency.
- Ask them if they provide a workmanship warranty, what it covers, and the length of the warranty. A workmanship warranty should cover all of the work being done and last at least two years. Improper installation usually becomes apparent during the first year.
Install Your New Roof When Demand is Low
Mid-summer through the fall is the busiest time for roofing contractors. If you can, wait until late fall, winter, or early spring when the contractors are slow and may be willing to provide a better price.
Do Some of the Work Yourself
If you have the proper equipment, you could tear off the old roof yourself. Arranging for a dumpster and disposal of the old roofing materials may also save you money.
Look for Incentives, Tax Credits, Rebates, and Store Sales
Federal, state, and local governments offer incentives and tax credits on Energy Star certified products. Get details at: https://www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits
Manufacturers may offer rebates on their products. Check their websites.
Many home improvement stores offer quality roofing products on sale from time to time, so check stores in your area.
Maintenance
Once people have a good roof over their heads, they tend to forget about it but to get the longest life from your roof you need to keep it in good shape. Keep your gutters clean and debris and plant growth off the roof.
Inspect the roof annually and after severe storms. Repair small issues before they become major problems.
Our bottom-line recommendation is to start with a quality roof. And then take care of it – and it will take care of you.