There is a reason why the phrase “at least you have a roof over your head” exists. That is because a roof is one of the most important factors to having a secure home. However, roofs are not just made of a collection of shingles topping your home. There are a lot more components to roofing systems that affect your life in a significant way.

Of course, when you hear that you suddenly need a roof repair, you do not want to have to spend an arm and a leg, but because your roof is so crucial to your family’s safety, it is important to invest in a quality system. Although it may be tempting to opt for the cheaper immediate fix, the consequences of doing so could be costly in the long run.

Since we care about you avoiding larger costs and constant pesky repairs in the future, we will give you some of the reasoning behind why and how cheap roof systems may not be as cost-efficient of an answer as you may think.

The Components Of A Roofing System

Before making a decision on what type of roofing system you would like to invest in, it is important to know what different elements comprise a roof system.

  1. Shingles: This is the outermost layer that people see when they see a roof. They not only act as the first layer of defense against natural elements like heat, debris, and rain, they also contribute to the aesthetic of your home.
  2. Shingle Underlayment: A layer of felt or waterproof material placed directly onto the roof to sheet anything the shingles don’t catch.
  3. Starter Shingles: The asphalt-based shingles that hang over the edge of your roof to direct rain and snow into a rain gutter.
  4. Self-Sealing Ice & Water Barrier: The biggest elements that can cause major damage to your roof are water and ice. They can cause wood to rot and break down, as well as create a catalyst for mold and mildew to grow and wreak havoc. This is why it is important to have this waterproof membrane to protect your roof from weather damage.
  5. Ventilation System: Ventilation systems are important because they regulate temperatures inside and outside of your home. This prevents your roof from failing by pushing heat away and keeping moisture at bay.
  6. Ridge Capping: This is the trim that lies at the peak where two roof slopes meet.
  7. Insulation: Keeps both hot and cold air in check, balances the effect of exterior heat and cold rain or snow, and increases your homes’ energy efficiency.

All of these components put together create a complete roofing system. If one part of your roof is failing or installed incorrectly, it could affect the rest of your roofing system and, eventually, your entire home.

Problems You Encounter With Cheap Roof Systems

A quality roof system is a manufacturer’s roof system, meaning that all of the roofing materials and parts are from a specific and trusted manufacturer. This system must be installed closely following the manufacturers’ instructions, ensuring that your roof is up to the highest standards.

On the other hand, a cheap roof means that all the parts are generic and sourced from different manufacturers at the lowest price point. They are mixed and matched together to create one whole.

These two different approaches to roofing system repair and replacement can vastly affect the end product of your roof. Choosing to invest in a manufacturer’s roof will end up being pricier in the present moment, but it is sure worth it by saving you money in the long run, giving you a higher quality and piece of mind, an enhanced warranty, and a much longer life.

Your Roofs Warranty Options Are Limited

Generally, when you replace your entire roof, you will receive two warranties: a material warranty and a contractors’ workmanship warranty. If you use all of the manufacturer’s roofing components, you may be able to receive an enhanced warranty. This means that they will cover the cost of labor, materials, and dump fees if there is a defect in the materials for at least 50 years to come.

If any of the materials are faulty, the company will pay to replace the entire roof if you go this route. The only reason the warranty would ever become void is if there is improper ventilation or incorrect installation.

There are a couple of problems here if you end up going with a cheaper option.

  1. Going with the cheapest option may mean you won’t be able to get the best possible warranty to protect your roof and your bank account for years and years to come.
  2. If you don’t go with the manufacturers’ complete roofing system and end up mixing and matching, you definitely will not be able to qualify for an enhanced warranty. Even if you somehow manage to receive the enhanced warranty, the likelihood that an issue of poor ventilation or installation that would void the warranty is higher when cutting corners with cheap labor.

Hiring cheap labor to cut costs may put you in a tough spot. Because the material warranty is out of the question, you will be forced to rely on the workmanship warranty, and this may not be worth much. The lower the price, the more likely you’ll get short-changed on your warranty.

Think about it this way. Suppose the cost of the contractor is low and the quality of the job is quick and inefficient, requiring many future repairs. In that case, it’s unlikely that they will give you a warranty that will cover a lot for a large amount of time, so they won’t have to keep coming back to fix it for no additional cost.

If You Pay A Low Price, You Get Low Quality

The truth is, you get what you pay for. If you want to invest in a roof system that lasts, it is going to cost more to get quality materials and labor. Doing otherwise will set you up for roof failure and just a long list of repairs in the future.

Choosing price over quality means you will probably opt for a mix-and-match roofing system as opposed to the higher-quality manufacturer’s roof system. Opting for a mix-and-match roof fix could save you anywhere between $500 and $2000, give or take, depending on the size of your roof. Manufacturers’ roofs are pricier because of the quality of the materials and components, which are lasting and offer more protection.

Labor is also another cost that you have to think about when repairing your roofing system. You do not want to skimp on the actual contracting job and receive poorly installed roofing components that will not protect you from weather conditions. Roofing contractors who have cut their costs down may even do so by not installing one or more of the crucial components to your system listed above.

Cheap labor will ultimately leave you coming up in a worse position than you started, showing up in the quality of the finished product and costing you even more money in the long run with repairs and replacements.

The Life Of Your Roof Will Be Affected

Having a roof with a long lifespan means that your home and your family will be protected and worry-free for years to come. This completely depends on what materials you use for your roofing system and the quality of the installation.

A combination of cheap labor, materials, and installation not only affects the quality of day-to-day use but how long your roof will last. Sooner or later, you will start noticing leaks that can cause all sorts of other problems. If your warranty doesn’t cover you, you will then have to go back to square one and think about replacing your entire roof after your cheap components have failed.

Granted, if your manufacturer’s roofing system was installed correctly, it will last as long as the materials last, which could be anywhere between 25 and 50 years. Do not think that investing in quality materials but looking for the lowest price installation is a good way to cut costs. This only ensures that the quality roofing materials will not last as long as they are meant to.

Conclusion

It is understandable to be on a budget and not spend a high amount upfront on your roofing system. However, spending a bit more now can save you even more in the future.

It’s also important to hire a contractor who you trust. Most credible roofing contractors will recommend investing in a manufacturers’ roofing system than a random generic one. Although your contractor has a lower price point, it does not necessarily mean that they will not provide you with quality service. Now that you know the general risks of cheap roof service, you are ready to decide that will most positively impact your family.

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