Now.
Today.
This month.
As soon as possible.
If your roof is over 15 years old and is showing signs of aging (sagging sections, warped or missing shingles, and granule loss, among other things), right now is the time for a roof replacement.
In addition to the fact that the condition of your roof will not improve over time, the cost of new roofs has skyrocketed in recent years.
Worse, unless the cost of materials drastically falls, the price for roofs will not begin to decline.
Consider that in 2019, Grussing Roofing was charging $500 per square for roof replacements.
For context, in the roofing industry, a “square” is a single 10’x10’ area on the roof, and many homes in Eden Prairie are roughly 3,000 square feet, or 30 “squares.”
Pre-pandemic, an average roof in Eden Prairie would have cost $15,000 to replace.
Going into 2023, the average roof replacement in Eden Prairie will cost roughly $18,000.
That’s a $100 increase per square, and a $3,000 overall increase for virtually the same roof that homeowners would have received a few years ago.
“Shingle manufacturers and distributors have both increased their prices since COVID,” Grussing Roofing owner Guy Grussing shares.
“That forced me to have to increase my prices as well so that my business was still generating sustainable revenue.”
Of course, if you’re an Eden Prairie homeowner, these price increases can be worrisome, and if you’re not comfortable with paying for a complete roof replacement out of pocket, there are a few options you can explore:
1. Get a roof inspection
Having a licensed roofing company inspect your roof is the first step in determining if your roof needs to be replaced.
“Some people think their roof needs to be replaced because their neighbor got theirs done, or because a few shingles are missing,” Grussing says.
“But sometimes a roof repair is the best option, especially if there are missing shingles.”
Something to be aware of:
Not every roofing company does repairs, or even presents them as an option, but Grussing Roofing does.
“There is obviously more money in doing a roof replacement, but if the customer isn’t at the point where they need to replace every shingle, then it makes no sense for me to push something they don’t need,” explains Grussing.
2. Finance a roof replacement
For some homeowners, making a $15,000-20,000 out of pocket expense isn’t feasible.
In that case, financing a roof replacement allows a homeowner to replace their roof right away, and then pay the roof off with low monthly payments over the course of the next few years.
In recent years, Grussing Roofing has partnered with Sunlight Financial to offer homeowners an array of financing options that best fits their needs.
The most popular financing option is a fixed APR of 6.99% over 60 months.
On an $18,000 roof, that translates to a monthly payment of about $350.
“Financing a roof gives homeowners more flexibility, and with Sunlight Financial, we can get homeowners approved for a loan immediately, versus them having to go to their bank or credit union and wait for their loan application to get processed,” Grussing says.
3. PRAY for hail!
In 2022, severe hail and windstorms ripped across Eden Prairie and the entire Twin Cities, resulting in damaged roofs that couldn’t be repaired.
For many homeowners, their insurance policies covered this damage, meaning their insurance carriers covered the overwhelming majority of expenses related to replacing their roofs.
“If your insurance company deems that your roof has hail damage, then your only expense will be the deductible on your policy, and any elective upgrades you choose,” Grussing explains.
To find out if your roof has hail damage, schedule a roof inspection with a licensed local contractor.
Of note:
Grussing Roofing offers roof inspections at no cost to homeowners.
“I don’t believe in charging homeowners for information related to their roof,” Grussing reveals.
“Sure, we would love to get the homeowner’s business if they have issues with their roof, but I constantly remind my sales team that we won’t win business if we don’t educate homeowners and bring them as much value as possible. That’s a major reason why we offer complimentary inspections.”
That being said, there are no guarantees that a homeowner will have hail damage on their roof, or that their insurance company will approve a roof replacement even if hail damage is found.
But all three of the options mentioned above can help homeowners save money on what otherwise can be a major expense.
“Some people will wait to do a roof replacement until their roof is leaking, or until they start to notice yellow stains on their ceilings,” Grussing says, but adds that waiting for visible damage could have long-term ramifications that are ultimately more costly than replacing a roof.
“I typically advise homeowners who are considering replacing their roof to do it as soon as possible; not only because of the price increases on materials, but also because if water eventually starts to leak into your home, paying for that is going to cost more than if you just replaced your roof.” QS