How to Get an Affordable Roof in Florida

When you need a new roof, there’s a good chance that you won’t have any warning. And unless you’ve planned for a large emergency expense, suddenly needing a roof replacement can saddle you with a lot of stress and anxiety. But you shouldn’t feel like you’re alone — John Hogan Roofing has been working in Florida for over 25 years, and we know that there are plenty of ways to save money and get an affordable roof in Florida.

So today we’re going to put our decades of experience to work for you and help you figure out how to get a great roof at the best cost. And that starts with one very important decision: what roofing materials to use.

Affordable Roofing Materials

Aside from which roofing company you pick, choosing roofing materials is the decision that will make the most impact on your total costs. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you want the cheapest option. Because while you may need an affordable roof, you also need a roof that works well and can protect your home.

For this reason, we recommend architectural shingles for Florida homeowners who need an affordable roof. These shingles resist high winds and water damage, and when properly installed can last for up to 25 years. And they come at a very economical price point of $5 to $7 per square foot.

While these are not the cheapest shingles on the market, we don’t suggest going with the cheapest option in your search for an affordable roof. This is because the cheapest option, three-tab shingles, is also the worst option. They’re thin, not very hardy, and rarely last longer than 15 years. In fact, many roofing companies in Florida won’t even install three-tab shingles anymore because there are much better options on the market.

For all of these reasons, architectural shingles are the way to go if you need an affordable roof. But affording a roof in Florida isn’t just about the type of roof you get installed. You can greatly change your bottom line by looking at how you pay for your new roof.

Ways to Afford a New Roof

How you finance your roof replacement has a huge impact on whether or not a roof is affordable for you. And in Florida, there is no shortage of options when it comes to financing a roof. So let’s look at the most common ones so you can decide which roof financing option is right for you.

1. Financing Through a Roofing Company

If you need an affordable roof but don’t have the money right now, you may be able to finance it through your chosen roofing company. This is probably the easiest option—roofing companies don’t usually require perfect credit, and you can get low-interest financing on terms that suit your needs.

At John Hogan Roofing, we proudly offer roofing financing to help everyone in our community get the security and protection that they deserve. We offer quick approval and funds that are available almost immediately, which means that you can get your affordable roof ASAP instead of dealing with leaky ceilings or other issues with old, damaged roofs.

2. Using Your Homeowners Insurance

If you need an affordable roof, you may have already considered this option. But if you haven’t already filed a claim with your insurance provider, we strongly recommend doing so. If your roof was damaged beyond repair due to a storm or other bad weather, you may qualify to have your insurance pay for your new roof. However, if you don’t qualify or your insurer rejects your claim, you may need to turn to other affordable roofing options.

3. Applying for a Home Equity Loan

If you’ve owned your home for a while, then you’ve probably built up equity in it over the years. And when you suddenly need a roof replacement, this equity is a great tool for getting an affordable roof immediately.

When you apply for a home equity loan, your lender will look at how much is left on your mortgage and compare that to what your home is worth on the market. If that ratio is favorable to you, then you’ll be approved for a loan that can cover the costs of a new roof.

But you should be cautious when applying for a loan like this. While these types of loans typically have low interest rates, they are not risk-free. Your home is collateral here, so you need to be completely sure that you can make the payments for this loan.

These are the most conventional ways that people finance roofs in Florida. But that doesn’t mean you’ve learned everything about local affordable roofs. Because there is still one major factor in the cost of your roof: the people installing it.

Choosing an Affordable Roofing Company

Unfortunately, scam roofing companies have heavily targeted Floridians in recent years. This has resulted in a homeowners insurance crisis and a lot of distrust in the community. So when you need an affordable roof, you need to make sure you’re choosing reputable roofers.

One of the biggest areas of concern is how long they’ve been in your community. Storm chasers might sound affordable up-front, but the crew that installs your roof will likely be out of the state in a matter of months. This can make it hard or impossible to get help if there’s a problem with your roof, and since these companies love to hire cheap, inexperienced, labor, there’s a good chance that there will be trouble. So even if you see an affordable roofing company, make sure that the quality of their work is up to industry standards.

A great way to do this is by checking out their reviews. Every roofing company will say that they’re the best, but your neighbors will be honest about their experiences. In addition to a high star rating, you also want to look for a high number of reviews—few reviews could indicate that a company is new to the area, which could be a sign of scammers.

Finally, you want to make sure that your roofers have experience. In addition to standard licensing with the state, also look for additional accreditation. For example, John Hogan Roofing is GAF Master Elite certified, which means that we get access to the best products and can offer you the strongest warranties on your new roof.

Get a Free Roofing Estimate

The above factors may not seem like they’re related to the cost of your roof, but they are. Because while an unreliable roofing company might be cheaper up-front, they will always cost you more in repairs and issues down the road. So if you want an affordable roof, then you need to trust the people installing it.

At John Hogan Roofing, we start building that trust with our free roofing estimates. This simple process allows us to personally inspect your roof so that we can give you an estimate that accounts for your preferred roofing material, the size of your roof, and unique roofing features like skylights, chimneys, etc. By giving you the cost up-front, we make sure that there are no nasty surprises down the road where you find out that your affordable roof isn’t as affordable as you’d thought.

We’ve been helping people get affordable roofs in the greater Tampa Bay area for more than 25 years, and now we want to help you. Schedule your free, no-obligation estimate and see why we’re still so popular in our community after all these years.

Video – Ways to Afford a New Roof