by Ben Johnson | Apr 15, 2019 | Roof Replacement
Unlike a kitchen remodel or bathroom upgrade, a roof is a necessary home repair that just can’t wait — especially if you’ve recently experienced damage due to inclement weather or storms. So, what do you do if you need a new roof but aren’t sure how to pay for it? Here are four financing solutions if you’re wondering how to foot the bill.
How to Pay for a New Roof
Depending on the size of your home and the slope of your roof, installing a new roof can cost anywhere from a couple of thousand dollars to $10,000 or more. Here are four ways how to pay for a new roof that don’t involve you paying the entire fee upfront.
1. Insurance Coverage
One of the easiest ways to pay for a new roof is to get money from your insurance company. If something unexpected has occurred, like massive wind or weather damage, your insurance company will likely cover the cost of a new roof, especially if you’re proactive.
Homeowner insurance companies want to protect their investments, so if you’re working to keep your home as up-to-date and in shape as possible, they’ll likely help cover the cost of a new roof. Talk to your insurance agent to see what roofing coverage you qualify for.
2. Roofing Company Payment Plans
New roofs can be expensive, and roofers understand that. If you’ve just had your entire home’s roof completely redone, it can cost thousands of dollars, and it’s difficult to pay that cost all at once upfront. That’s why many roofing companies offer payment plans to help you cover the cost in installments. If you know you need a new roof but aren’t sure you’ll be able to pay for it all at once, just talk to your roofer. Most will be happy to work with you.
Werner Roofing is happy to offer financing plans. You can provide us with the necessary information in less than two minutes and discover if you’re pre-qualified. We offer monthly payments so you can pay off your new roof over time. Our financing program includes 12 months of no payments with no interest – you can’t beat that!
3. FHA Title 1 Home Improvement Loans
Another way to secure funding for a new roof is to opt for a loan. The Federal Housing Administration Title 1 Home and Property Improvement Loan is made available through specific lenders and is insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This loan was created just for homeowners, and since the government insures it, it is a safe route to take if you’re not sure you can fund an entirely new roof project on your own.
To acquire a Title 1 loan, you’ll have to prove that your roof needs major repairs or a total roof replacement, but it is a valid option that helps many people pay for roofing and home improvement costs every year. With a Title 1 loan, you’ll have 20 years to pay back what you owe, but it’s good to know that loans over $7,500 must be secured by either your mortgage or deed of trust. If you cannot make payments and fall behind, the lender can seize those assets.
If you’re interested in an FHA Title 1 Loan, you should consult with a few lenders to ensure you get the best deal. This tool can find an approved Title 1 lender near you.
4. Personal Loans
In some cases, you may be able to use a personal loan to help fund your roof repairs or replacement. Visit your personal bank or financial institution and find out their interest rates and regulations regarding personal loans. Different creditors will offer varying rates and terms, so it’s best to shop around to find the best deal for you.
Some personal loans will be short-term and last between two and six years, and others will be long-term, which can last for 15 years or more. Depending on your credit score and income level, your interest rate could be lower than 5% or up to 20% or more.
We’re Here for All Your Roofing Needs
A new roof can be expensive, but it’s a necessary investment. If you need roofing repairs, don’t fret – you have options. Many resources are available to help you get started on that new roofing project.
Are you looking for a new roof in West Michigan? Werner Roofing can help. Whether you’re not sure about financing or want to get an estimate of how much a new roof might cost, we’d love to help. Give us a call at 616-844-5382 or contact us online today for your free roofing estimate and to talk about roof financing options with us.
by Ben Johnson | Jul 3, 2018 | Roof Maintenance
Overhanging branches, clogged gutters, standing water, a porous roofing material, and poor roof ventilation can all cause roof algae. Roof algae is an issue that many homeowners face, and many find themselves unable to fix it. That’s where we come in. Read on, we’ll tell you how to remove pesky roof algae and how to prevent its return in the future.
What is Roof Algae?
Roof algae, scientifically known as Gloeocapsa magma, is a dark stain or streak, mold-like in nature, that appears on roofs. It’s most commonly found in warm, humid climates, and can affect a house for many different reasons and cause a rather unsightly appearance. Roof algae is characterized by dark streaks, possible white or green markings across the roof, or even the spreading of moss across the surface of the roof.
How to Remove Roof Algae
You’ve recently noticed some unattractive coloring or moss growth on your roof and you’re wondering how to get rid of it quickly. Quickly is the key word, if you don’t act fast, the problem will only get worse. We recommend having a professional come in for removal purposes, however, if you’re good around the house (and not scared of heights), there are methods that can be useful.
The most common method of removal is a mixture of 50% water and 50% bleach. Plants don’t like bleach, so this is a proven effective method to remove the algae. Pour the mixture over the infected area and let sit for a half hour to 45 minutes. Once you’ve let the mixture set, rinse off the area with water. We cannot stress this enough – do NOT power wash the roof, it will damage it. The algae will take a bit of time to come off with this solution, just be patient.
For directions on how to create the right cleaning mixture for your particular roof, refer to this article here, which discusses the right solutions for removing roof algae.
Again, this method is for those who feel capable of fixing household problems themselves, and for people who feel comfortable up on their own roofs. If you are not one of these people, have no fear, there are professionals who can remove the roof algae, stress-free.
How to Prevent Roof Algae
If the algae on your roof has been banished (either by you, or a professional), it’s now time to take preventative measures to avoid the algae returning. Even if you live in a humid climate, or a rainy climate, or you deal with overgrown trees, there are still ways of keeping the algae at bay.
The easiest way to prevent roof algae from coming back again is to install zinc or copper strips underneath the shingles closest to the peak of the roof, leaving a couple inches of the metal exposed to the elements. When it rains some of the metal molecules will run down the roof along with the rain killing any algae that may be trying to regrow on your roof.
It’s also vital to have regular maintenance scheduled for gutter cleaning and for roof inspections. Make sure there’s never any standing water on your roof, and if possible, trim any trees that may shed onto the roof or block the sunlight. Make the maintenance of your roof a priority, and you’ll save time and money in the long run – not to mention your house will look its very best.
When to Call in a Roofing Professional
Contact a roofing professional the day you notice signs of discoloration, watermarks, dark spots, peeling paint, mold on your chimney, rotting wood, or crumbling drywall– it could be a sign of potential algae growth on your roof. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to treat. It’s never a bad time to ask for the help of a professional.
At Werner Roofing in West Michigan, our goal is to provide quality roofing, roof repair, and roof replacement to communities along the lakeshore (Grand Haven, Spring Lake, Ferrysburg, Norton Shores, Muskegon, and Holland). We have over 30 years of experience in the industry, use only the highest quality materials from top brands, and we pride ourselves on honesty and integrity. We’re proud of our service and our team, and we’re happy to come out and take a look at your roof, and offer a few suggestions to help treat your roof algae issues.
by Ben Johnson | Jun 14, 2018 | Roof Maintenance, Roof Repair, West Michigan Roofing Blog
Finding the right person to re-roof your home isn’t always easy. Since roofing can be a major expense, you want to make sure you choose the right roofing contractor to do the job, but you might not know what exactly it is that you need to look for in a good roofing contractor. If this is your first time hiring a roofer, the most important thing to pay attention to is their proposal.
Most homeowners opt to collect bids from several roofing contractors and then choose the one that makes the most sense for what they’re looking for, based on budget, materials, and timeframe. To be able to choose the option that’s best for you, though, you need to know a little bit about understanding roofing contractor proposals. That’s where this blog comes in. We’re going to break down the roofing proposal process, so you know exactly what to look at, and how to tell which roofing contractor is the best choice for your home.
First things first. Before a contractor can create a proposal, they’ll need a bit of information from you first:
Budget – You’ll need to tell potential roofers how much you’re willing to spend on your new roof. Though you might not have a specific number in your mind yet, do a little research to see what is reasonable for the material you’re looking for, and the size of your home, to give potential contractors a ballpark figure to start with.
Preferred Material – Are you looking for a metal roof? Asphalt? Something different like ceramic tile? Whatever aesthetic you’re going for, you’ll want to let your roofer in on it so they can put together a proposal that reflects the end goal. Different materials, different finishes, and different colors will have different price points, so make sure you’re clear about what color and material you plan on using.
Timeframe – Do you need your roof completed by a certain time? If you’re building a new home, the time frame will be really important, because you’ll have to have a roof installed before you can move onto interior construction. If you’re just re-roofing an existing home, the timeframe may not matter as much to you, but you’ll need to loop potential roofers in any way.
Description of any Current Problems – Of course, any quality roofer is going to inspect your roof before they give you a final estimate, but if there are any issues you know about beforehand, you’ll want to tell potential roofers. Then, they can put the price of those additional fixes into their proposal, giving you a fair look at how much you’ll be spending.
Once you’ve given roofers a basic idea of what you’re looking for in your roofing project, they’ll put together a proposal and send it to you. The proposal should serve as an outline of everything the roofer plans to do, when they plan to do it, and how much it will cost.
What to Look for in Roofing Proposals
- Materials Used – The roofer should include exactly which roofing materials they plan on using, from the name of the manufacturer to the style of the shingle to the grade of the material. This will allow you to compare multiple proposals evenly, and give you a better idea of what type of quality to expect from each roofer.
- Scheduling – A roofing proposal should also include a detailed schedule of when everything will happen. Most roofing jobs shouldn’t take that long, but they are inconvenient for those who live in the home, so it’s important to know exactly when roofers will be there, and how long it will take them to finish the job.
- Explanation of Liabilities – A quality roofing proposal should include an explanation of any potential liabilities, and how the roofer’s insurance will cover those liabilities in the event of an accident. This is an important line in the proposal to look for, because it will tell you what insurance the roofer has. If they don’t have insurance, then you’re liable for any injury that occurs on your property, and it’s possible that your roof won’t be in compliance with local building code.
- How Waste Will be Removed – Roofing is a messy job. There are nails and shingles flying everywhere; roof debris falling on your plants, landscaping, and lawn. You need to ensure that whoever you hire has a plan to clean that mess up before they leave, and the proposal should state how they plan to clean up. Many roofers have a giant magnet that they go around the home with to pick up any fallen nails, and others make sure to throw all old shingles and waste into a giant dumpster that they provide, but you need to make sure they offer clean-up, or you may end up paying a lot more.
- Explanation of Warranty – Roofs often have multiple warranties. There’s the warranty on materials, and then there’s another warranty on the work the roofer and their crew completes. The proposal should outline the specifics of each warranty, and explain what is covered under each warranty. This helps to ensure you’re protected in the event that the shingles fail, or the work was not completed to expectation.
- How the Roof Will be Paid For – A quality proposal will also outline what you need to pay, and when. Some roofers take payment in installments, while others prefer part up front, and the second part when the work is completed. The proposal will outline when you need to pay, and how much. A good proposal should also contain an itemized list of costs.
- Additional Costs – If there are any additional costs associated with your roofing job—repairing subroofing, installing flashing around the chimney, etc.—the proposal should also outline those. Most likely, any additional costs will come from existing issues in your roof that the roofer has to fix before they can comfortably put on a new roof.
Things to double check the proposal for:
While everything on a roofing proposal is important, there are a few things you’ll want to double check for, as a quality roofer will include them, while a shadier roofing contractor might leave them out to get your business, and then charge you more money than you expected later.
Itemized List of Costs
Not every roofer offers an itemized list of costs automatically, but if you’re comparing bids, it’s a good thing to ask for. An itemized list will let you know exactly what you’re paying for each aspect of your roof, from labor to material costs. When you ask for an itemized list, it’s clear exactly what you’re paying for, and you’ll be able to assess if there are any hidden costs you may not have known about without the breakdown. This also lets you compare each bid fairly against others. You’ll be able to see who charges more for labor, and who charges more for materials, giving you a better sense of which roofer is the best for your project.
Licensure and Workers Comp
Another key line item you’ll want to watch out for in your roofing contractor proposal is the one about licensure and workers comp. You need to make sure that any roofer you hire is licensed and provides workers compensation to their crew members. This protects you from any liabilities that occur on your property, and ensures you get a quality roof that will be cleared by your city or township code requirements.
In the end, when you’re choosing between roofing contractors, it’s important to make sure you read through each proposal thoroughly. Quality roofing contractors will be as upfront as possible with cost estimates, and will have the permits, licensing, and insurance necessary to make sure their crew, and your home are protected.
If the roofing proposals you’ve been looking at still don’t seem to make sense, feel free to give Werner Roofing a call. We’ve been working in the area for decades, and provide roofing services you can trust. For a free estimate, give our office a call at 616-844-5382, or submit a request for a free roofing estimate online today!
by Ben Johnson | May 15, 2018 | Roof Maintenance, Roof Repair
The last thing you want during a rainstorm is water dripping from your ceiling. Your roof is the part of your home responsible for keeping you and your family dry, and when it fails, it can be tough to know what to do. Sure, you can put a bucket or pot under the drip, but that’s just a short-term fix. If you’re looking for the best, most effective way to stop a roof leak in its tracks, or at least until a roofing professional can get to it, here’s what you need to do:
Find the source
If you’ve noticed water stains or drips coming through your ceiling, the first thing you need to do is figure out where the water is coming from. There’s a possibility your roof may not be to blame. Head upstairs and uphill from where you’ve spotted the damage or the leak, to find where the water is coming from. As you make your way up to the attic, check to make sure that none of your plumbing or appliances, like the toilet or washing machine is the culprit.
Take a flashlight
If you’ve noticed water coming through your ceiling, it’ll probably be easy to find the source of the leak because of puddling water, but if you’ve caught the problem in time, it may be a bit more difficult. Take a flashlight with you to shine on the ceiling of the attic to identify any holes in the roof. The flashlight should also help you find any dark spots that indicate water has seeped into the plywood subflooring.
Control damage
Once you know where the water is coming from, you can control it to an extent. Put buckets out on the floor wherever water is dripping, and do your best to dry the areas that have already gotten wet. Consider your job as triage right now. Do what you can to clean up the worst of the mess, and keep your home as dry as possible while you get to stopping the water temporarily.
Stop Flow of Water Temporarily
Since you’re experiencing a leak, there’s probably something wrong with your roof. Whether you’ve got a hole, a crack in the flashing, or missing shingles, it’s likely that you’re going to need some professional help one way or another. You can’t just let your home continue to damage while you’re waiting for your roofer, though, so it’s a good idea to see what you can do to stop the flow of water until an expert can fix the issue permanently.
Roofing cement or tape
The easiest solution is to apply roofing cement or roofing tape to the inside of your roof to plug the leak. This certainly isn’t a long-term solution, but it should save your home and roof until someone can get together the right tools and materials to stop the roof leak.
Tarping
Another good way to stop the water from coming in is to place a tarp on top of the space where water is coming in. If you’re feeling agile, you’ll want to take your tarp up on the roof with you, and place it over the leak, so the water is blocked from entering. This is typically a more effective temporary solution than roofing cement or roofing tape, because it stops the water from getting in at all, but it is definitely more dangerous. Only put a tarp up if you have worked on the roof before, and are comfortable securing the tarp.
Call your roofing expert
While you probably could go out to the hardware store and purchase a few shingles to patch up the area, it’s a better idea to call your local roofing expert. Water damage can be tricky, and if the water had been trickling in for a while, you may have more extensive damage to the sub-roofing, which will mean a bigger, more complicated job that’s better suited for a professional.
Additionally, there’s no guarantee that the shingles are to blame. It could be the flashing, a roofing nail that didn’t quite hit its mark, or any number of things that a roofing professional will be able to identify and repair quickly. At the very least, you should have a roofer come out to inspect the damage, to make sure it’s not a larger problem than it seems.
Watch for Roof Damage in the Future
Once you get your current roof damage taken care of, don’t let yourself forget about the potential for problems in the future. Roof damage is much easier, and less expensive, to fix when it’s caught early. That’s why it’s important to be vigilant and watch for signs of potential roof damage. The quicker you diagnose a problem, the easier it will be to fix.
If you’ve got a leak in your roof that needs looking at, give Werner Roofing a call! We’re a trusted local roofer with years of experience. We’ll come out, give your roof and leak a look, and provide you with an estimate before we start any work. Request a free quote, or contact our office at 616-844-5382 to set up your inspection today!
by Ben Johnson | Apr 2, 2018 | West Michigan Roofing Blog
Whether you’re thinking of listing your home this year, or a few years down the road, the overall value of your home is always a big concern. Obviously, you want to be able to sell your home for a nice profit, and that means adding equity. You’ve probably already boosted the value of your home since you’ve moved in, by upgrading the appliances, knocking out that wall for an open floor plan, and renovating the kitchen, but did you know that your roof is another improvement you can make to seriously boost the overall value of your home?
Though it might not be as sexy as a kitchen remodel, a new roof can add serious value to your home if you’re looking to sell. Here’s a breakdown of how a new roof boosts your home value:
Value
The most concrete benefit of a new roof to your home is straight-up value. A home with a new roof will always go for more money than a home with a bad roof. Buyers will be willing to pay a bit more money for the house with quality construction, and a good roof they know they won’t have to fix in the future. One study has shown that for sellers, a roof replacement can provide 105% return on investment. That’s a definite profit, meaning that you’ll make back any money you spend repairing the roof when you close the sale and then some.
Efficiency
New roofs are considerably more energy efficient than older roofs. They’re better insulated, so they prevent heat from escaping in the winter, and deflect sun’s rays in the summer, keeping the house cooler. This provides more added value for a buyer, as they’ll have to pay less on those heating and cooling bills than they would on a home with an older roof.
Appearance
The roof isn’t something that people usually look at and say “Wow, now that’s a nice roof.” But a bad roof is glaringly obvious. Though people don’t usually notice a great roof, they’ll definitely notice a bad roof, and it will seriously affect their opinion of the house. A nice new roof will blend in nicely with the rest of the exterior of your home, giving you a cohesive, beautiful image, even if people can’t identify that it’s the new roof that makes the home looks so nice. Replacing an older roof before you sell the home can add value just by boosting your curb appeal.
Better saleability
One more intangible benefit of replacing your roof is the saleability of your home. With a new roof, you’ll likely sell more quickly than with an older roof. This is because you won’t have to negotiate for the price of a new roof in the sale price and because some buyers won’t purchase an older home until the current owner has replaced the roof. With a new roof, you can expect a lot less hassle during the sales process, and you can also plan to spend less time on the market than a home with an older roof that could use replacement. That means less time that you’re paying your mortgage, the realtor, and anyone else who’s helping you list the home. Less time on the market means more money in your pocket.
In the end, if you’re planning on selling your home, and can’t decide whether you should replace the roof or not, it’s probably not a bad idea to just go for it. You’re almost guaranteed to get a better price for your home, and you’re also likely to sell your home more quickly. So, whether you’re planning on listing now, or a few years down the road, know that a new roof can increase your home value, and help you sell.
If you have more questions about replacing your roof, or if you’re interested in replacing your roof before you sell your home, feel free to reach out to the experts at Werner Roofing. A trusted, local roofer, we can give you a free roof replacement estimate, and help you decide if roof replacement is the right option for you. Give our office a call today at 616-844-5382!
