Your roof is one of the essential parts of your home. It’s the one that protects your home from the elements, and without it, your home will depreciate a lot faster. But because of this, your roof is taking a hit in terms of maintenance. Maintenance costs are far more expensive and common for roofs, and you might think it might be better to replace them every few years, but the cost of replacing a roof can skyrocket over time. It’s estimated that a roof replacement can cost as much as $11,000 on average-sized homes. So what should you do to avoid this cost? You need to develop a robust roof maintenance plan.
How Do You Make a Roof Maintenance Plan
Every part of your home should have a maintenance plan in place. This is even more important for something like your roof, as it needs to be maintained annually. If you don’t make a maintenance plan for your roof, you’re likely paying a lot more for maintenance costs. Here are some things that need to be included in pre-planning your maintenance plan and its general planning.
1. Get in Touch With Local Businesses
Calling local businesses should be the first thing on your mind, especially during pre-planning your roof maintenance plan. A local business can be your best option regarding annual maintenance. There are two main reasons for this.
Location
They are the best option because of their location. When it comes to proximity, they are closest to you. This means that you’re likely to offer far cheaper prices than a professional roofer from another state. Another reason why they’re a great option is because they can be there faster than other roofing companies, especially during emergencies or natural disasters. So, even if roofers outside your city or state have more experience, you should still give your local roofer a chance.
Local Supplier
There’s a good chance that local businesses in your area also work with local suppliers. This means that they can provide cheaper materials for your roofing needs. You can also negotiate prices with them, knowing they work with a local supplier. Lastly, by supporting your local roofing service, you support two local businesses at once.
So, with this in mind, contacting local businesses during your pre-planning phase is good. This way, you can get quotes from each one and compare the pros and cons of each one. Once you pick the right business, it’s time to partner with them.
2. Create a Partnership
A partnership with your chosen roof contractor is crucial for pre-planning your roof maintenance plan. A partnership can ensure cheaper labor and materials for your roofing projects. However, establishing this partnership can be challenging at first. This is why you should follow these steps to create a robust partnership between you and your roofers:
Check Their Credibility
Before anything else, you need to check how credible your chosen company is. You can do so by checking their certifications and even their reviews. Word-of-mouth is also a great way to check their credibility. Ask around about your chosen roofing company and see the work they’ve done for you. This way, you can be sure of your choice.
Pay on Time
Once you’ve chosen the right roofer for your projects and they’ve done a great job, then it’s important that you pay on time. Paying on time gives them the idea that you’re a paying and responsible customer. This can be a huge plus for many contractors and a stepping stone to a lasting partnership. You can also choose to give tips whenever you can.
Build Rapport
Next, you can start building rapport with your roofer. You can do so by visiting their store and talking to them. Tell them about the projects they’ve done for you and how much you appreciate their work. This way, you can lay a foundation for your partnership and lock it in.
Negotiate
Lastly, once you’ve settled with your partnership, it’s time to negotiate. Negotiation is an integral part of a partnership, and once you’ve settled on an agreed-upon plan, you can start talking about your maintenance plan. Remember, these roofers will work for you annually, so it’s in your best interest and theirs to settle on a price that’s feasible for both parties. This way, you can keep your partnership without breaking the bank.
A partnership can make a huge difference in the cost of your maintenance plan. This way, you can ensure that your home can get the roof repairs it needs without spending all your money on them. Once you’ve established a good working partnership with your roofer, it’s time to transition to the main planning phase of your roof maintenance plan.
3. Choose The Right Materials
The materials are the first thing you need to consider regarding the main planning phase of your maintenance plan. There are so many materials right now that you can consider for your roof. Here are some of the most common and when you should consider them.
Asphalt Shingle
The most common roofing material used by your local roofer is asphalt shingles. These are inexpensive and are easy to maintain. That’s because roofers only have to replace shingles in your roof. This means you only have to pay for individual shingles and the labor cost for every roof repair. This also means you don’t have to replace the entire roof if it gets badly damaged.
Metal Roof
Another common roof material is metal. Metal roofs might not be as common as asphalt shingles, but they can be found in some residential and commercial properties. The main benefit of metal roofs is that they can practically last forever with the right maintenance. But the main problem with this kind of roof is that it will cost you an arm and a leg to replace it if it gets too damaged.
Slate Roof
Lastly, there are slate roofs. These are essentially tiles installed on your roof. But unlike traditional roofs, these slates often have good insulation and are resilient against the elements. This is a great option for splurging on your roof and maintaining it less than an asphalt shingle roof.
Choosing the right roofing material can dictate how much you need to spend on maintenance and how often your roof needs to be maintained. You can create a roof maintenance plan around it with your local roofer. They can suggest maintenance procedures so that you don’t have to worry too much about the technicalities of roofing maintenance.
4. Cheaper Alternatives to Roofing Materials
We’ve discussed earlier some of the most common roofing materials. Now it’s time to discuss some cheaper alternatives to help cheapen your roof maintenance plan. Here are some of those alternatives.
Tiles
Tile roofing might not be the best option due to its insulation problems, but it can drastically reduce the cost of maintenance. Tiles are easy to procure and replace compared to slate roofing and asphalt shingles. However, they are not resilient and will require constant maintenance. It’s still a good option if you’re on a budget; just make sure to work around its maintenance needs in your plans.
Synthetic Slate
Slate roofing is usually mined from places like Italy, which means that it can be expensive to ship. But synthetic slate can be manufactured anywhere in the U.S., making it a cheaper option. Synthetic slate can be as resilient as original slate for half the price. The downside is that it doesn’t look like real slate, so it might decrease your home value.
Mycelium
Lastly, mycelium is a fungus that grows interconnectedly to create various parts of a home. Mycelium is an experimental roofing material that hasn’t been released yet to the public, but once it is, experts believe that it will be the cheapest option in the market. The best part is that it’s considered fire-proof, making it a good choice for homes that experienced wildfires.
5. Choose The Right Payment Plan
The next thing you need to consider is having the right payment plan for your roof maintenance plan, especially if you’re hiring a commercial roofing service for your maintenance. As a business, the right payment plan can help you idealize the cost of the annual maintenance of your roof. This can also ensure you can secure the right funds for your financial report.
The right payment plan includes how often you have to pay (e.g., monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly) so you’ll know how to shoulder it. The next thing to consider is the mode of payment. Ask your roofing service what kind of payment mode they can offer. If it’s only cash, then that can be problematic. If they accept other payment options like credit cards or auto-debit, that’s great since you can plan around that. Lastly, you need to put into your plan where you can secure these funds. Should it come from the estimated roof depreciation, and you always save up for it? Or should you have it deducted from tenants who use your property? All of these can make a difference in how you can save money for your maintenance plan.
6. Prepare For Business Interruptions
Another thing that needs to be in your roof maintenance plan is business interruption. Business interruptions are a common problem when it comes to maintaining the roof of your commercial properties, and you need to put that in your maintenance plan. The cost of business interruptions can be between $40,000 to $50,000 per hour in small businesses. That’s a lot of money being pushed down the drain.
Your maintenance plan should cover a time when you’re not operating. This means talking to your commercial roofer and plotting a perfect schedule. This might mean pushing for a graveyard shift from your roofer, so be ready to shell out extra costs. But this is better than losing thousands of dollars because of a business interruption during operating hours.
7. Choose to Stand Out
Next, you need to consider how your roof can stand out every time you upgrade or maintain it. There must always be something new to your roof every time it’s kept. It can be from adding exterior accents to adding extra decorations during Christmas time. Consider contacting a custom roofing company and see how you can stand out. They can certainly give you options to make your roof look different annually.
8. Choosing Resilient Replacement Options
Roof replacement should always be your roof maintenance plan because, as much as you want to avoid it, it will eventually happen. You should always use more resilient options, such as a metal roof when replacing your roof. If you do plan to do this make sure you contact your local metal roof company to get a quotation. This way, you won’t get blindsided by the cost when the replacement happens.
9. Prepare For Pests in Your Roof
Pests are a serious concern because they can damage your roof. For example, pests such as pigeons and rats can nest in your roof, and their droppings can be toxic to your family or employees. This means you might have to deal with pests before they become a serious problem. Thankfully, roofing companies can help you contact pest services that specialize in clearing out pests from roofs. These pest services can ensure that they won’t return and nest in your roof again.
10. Save For Yearly Maintenance
You must save for annual roof maintenane. Once you’ve started a partnership with your local roofing contractors, they expect you to pay on time. That’s why you should always budget for roof repairs to pay them on time. This way, you can cement your relationship and avoid complications in the future. So, always have the necessary cash for the yearly maintenance of your roof so you can maintain your relationship with your contractor.
Your roof deserves the best because it holds a pivotal job in protecting your property. Following the tips above, you can create a maintenance plan that won’t break the bank. So, ensure that your maintenance plan is robust and fits your budget. This way, you can ensure that you can keep track of your expenses and avoid future problems that might cost an arm and leg to handle.