If you've determined that your roof needs repair or replacement and this is the first time you've dealt with any kind of roofing work, you may not fully understand the estimates you've received or what factors affect those totals. The good news is that these estimates aren't nearly as hard to understand as you might think. When you look at each individual component of the roofing estimate, it's much easier to make sense of it all. Here's a look at what you need to know about the factors that affect each aspect of your roofing repair and replacement estimate.

Size Of The Affected Area

Where replacement roofing materials are considered, the size of the affected area is an important consideration in your roofing estimate. The larger the area, the more roofing materials will be needed. As a result, your roofing estimate will be higher for a complete roof replacement than it would be to replace a small section of damaged roofing material. Your roofing contractors will measure the affected area before drafting your estimate for this reason.

Extent Of The Damage

Another important factor for your roofing estimate is the extent of the damage involved. This is an important factor for a couple of reasons. First, damage that has extended beyond the surface layer of the roof may require more remediation and additional materials to replace the subroofing, insulation, and other material beneath the roof structure. This will result in an additional cost for those materials as well as for the additional time involved to complete this work.

Type Of Roofing Material

The type of roofing material that's being used in your residential roofing replacement will also directly affect the cost of your roofing estimate. You can talk with your roofing contractor about ways to moderate this cost, especially if you're having the entire roof replaced. Sometimes, you can opt for reclaimed roofing materials or just change the roofing material to something more affordable when necessary. Your roofing contractor will explore the options with you to help you find what best fits your home as well as your budget.

Disposal Costs

Especially if you're having a full roof replacement done, your roofing estimate will factor in disposal costs for the existing roofing material. Some roofing materials, like asphalt shingles, can be recycled, but there may still be a handling fee associated with that, so you can expect to see an additional line item for your roofing material disposal. In addition, if there's a dumpster required for the job, you might pay the cost for that as well.

Safety Considerations

Few homeowners think about the safety factor with their roofing repair work. The fact is that some roofs are more of a safety hazard than others, and that is typically reflected in the cost of the repair work. Remember that, when dealing with a roof that has a significant pitch or other safety considerations, your roofing contractors will need additional safety equipment and other materials, which will increase the cost of your estimate. Take that into consideration when you evaluate the cost of your roofing repair estimate.

Allowance For Additional Expenses

Sometimes, roofing companies will also incorporate a percentage allowance for additional incidental expenses. This is actually beneficial because it can help to cover things like additional damage to insulation that must be replaced, or other similar unexpected expenses. This percentage fee is usually listed as an allowance, and it's intended to prevent the roofing contractor from having to come to you for clearance for every little thing over and above the base estimate. It gives the roofing contractor a little bit of room to work with for unexpected issues before having to address any increased cost issues. If that allowance isn't needed, it's removed from the final invoice before you receive it.

Talk with a roofing contractor near you today for more information about your roofing estimate.

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