What is the 2009 Roofing Tax Credit?

The 2009 roofing tax credit is a two fold plan rolled out by the Federal government. The first and most relevant of goals is to help stimulate the economy by enticing people to re-roof their homes, which of course will in turn create jobs in the roofing manufacturing and construction industry.

The secondary goal of the 2009 roofing tax credit is to reduce harm to the environment by requiring consumers to install energy star products on the homes to receive the tax credit. The installation of energy star roofing on your home will help to fulfill this goal by reducing the heat within the home, which will reduce the consumption of electricity needed to cool the residence.

Covered by the Roofing Tax Credit

The tax credit states that the roofing materials must be metal with an appropriate pigmented coating or asphalt with cooling granules that meet energy star requirements. Like most things with the government the exact materials that are covered by the roofing tax credit are somewhat vague. Energystar.gov provides a list of some products that are approved to receive the tax credit, but consumers should also check with the manufacturer prior to purchase to ensure the materials qualify.
The government has also placed a restriction on the tax credit that the roof must be installed on the principal residence of the tax payer between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. Principal residence is defined as a home you own and use as your principal place of residence. (where you live most of the time) The principal residence covered includes a house, houseboat, mobile home, cooperative apartment, condominium, or manufactured home.

Amount of the Credit

The roofing credit is based on the cost of the materials used. A consumer can receive a tax credit of 30% of the material cost up to $ 1,500. As stated this credit is based on the energy star approved materials and is not based on installation/labor cost.

The Energy Star Difference

It is also a great idea to use materials that will reduce the heat of your residence, simply to reduce your energy consumption and your impact on the environment. However not all consumers will benefit the same from the use of a reflective heat reducing roof.

Reflective heat reduction roofing is most beneficial in hot sunny climates. If your roof is completely shaded or even partially shaded you may not benefit as much as someone with a roof that is in direct sunlight. However even if your roof is shaded you will still receive the tax credit, receive benefit of heat reduction roofing and get a new high quality environmentally friendly roof.

Houston Roofing Specialist

Roofing Tax Credit

Green Roofing

How much is my roof going to cost and is it negotiable?

In today’s economy when you need a new roof the first question is how much is this going to cost me. Unfortunately there is no easy answer to that question because the prices can vary majorly from one contractor to the next. Below are the major categories that make up every roofing contractors proposal, some with room for negotiation and others non-negotiable.

Cost of Materials

In every bid that is submitted for your job the contractor will list the cost of materials to do your job. Some contractors choose to break this amount down and show their customer how much the materials are going to cost on the job and others simply submit a bid as a whole including materials. Many contractors will use the cost of materials to drive up the price of your job.

When comparing the bids that you received from contractors, compare the cost of materials for each. If there are major disparities in the amount of materials needed then one of the contractors is either padding their bid or can’t estimate the size of your roof correctly, either way it’s not someone you want on your job.
Most contractors realize some profit on the materials for your job, since they pay contractor prices and charge you retail. This is usually a very small part of their profit, but usually leaves some room for negotiation in the overall price of the job.

Cost of Labor

The cost of labor can change a roofing bid dramatically from contractor to contractor. Some contractors use day laborers at a very modest cost and are able to provide a significantly lower bid. While major roofing companies who have actual employees who they provide benefits to are unable to provide an equally low bid. However as the saying goes most of the time you get what you pay for.

As far as negotiation of labor cost goes, a contractor without the overhead cost of employees will have much more room to negotiate then a major company.

Profit

With either a major roofing company or with a contractor profit is the area with the most room for negotiation. Typically major roofing companies are making more profit per job then a small contractor, but are less willing to negotiate. Most contractors deal more in quality then in quantity, which can work to the advantage of the consumer.

Incidentals that may arise

It is very important as a consumer to understand that things happen. Re-roofing your home is like any other home improvement job, in that you never know what you’re going to encounter until the job is in progress. I’m not talking about the scrupleless contractor that stops in the middle of the job and demands more money. I’m referring to the incidentals that arise when your roof is removed only to find that ten of your rafters are rotten and need to be replaced. As a home or business owner you need to be prepared to possibly expend the extra money if something like this happens. Keep in mind that the cost of repair will be cheaper when the damaged area is exposed and easily accessible.

Houston Roofing Specialist

How to conduct a proper Roof Inspection

Roof systems can deteriorate from normal wear, severe weather conditions, building movement (e.g., settlement) or even improper construction and maintenance. Any roof repairs not dealt with after the first signs of failure can result in increased damage to the buildings exterior and interior. Failure of structural integrity can endanger occupant safety.

Regular inspection of building roof systems will lead to early detection of roof problems, protection of property and occupants.

Objectives:

To identify signs of weakness or deterioration

To determine if the roof system is performing its intended function

To identify if any repairs are needed


Steps:

Inspect exterior for continuity of roof covering, deterioration of fascias, gutters and soffits and performance of flashings.

Inspect your ceilings and walls for signs of water penetration or structural damage.

Look on the roof for exposed nail heads; these can be a source of leaks.

If your roof is covered with composition shingles, look for dark patches, which would indicate the granular coating has worn away
Closely inspect the valleys by looking for rusty metal or displaced shingles along the valley this can be a sign of roof weakening.

Look for any blistered, curled, or split shingles. A few can be repaired, but if the general appearance of the roof is poor, it may be time to re-roof.
Look for significant accumulation of granules in your rain gutters. Some granules are normal, but a lot, combined with dark patches on your shingles, is a sign of an aging roof and may be severe enough to require a new roof.

Houston Roofing Contractor

Finding a Good Roofing Company

Finding a roofer that you can trust can be a very difficult process. It is common knowledge that when a storm comes into the a region there is an influx of roofers from all over the country trying to price gouge hard working individuals.

These so called “storm chasers” do the job for twice the price and move on to the next city. This practice leaves many homeowners in a difficult situation when they later have problems with the roof.

The first key thing that you want to take into account when you are selecting a roofing company is that they based in your local area and that they will stand behind their work. Make sure that you always ask what kind of warranty they offer and if that warranty is at an additional cost to you. Most major product manufacturers warranty the materials, but only if they are properly installed, which leads to the second major concern.

When you are in the process of selecting a roofing company for your project always make sure that you check references or reviews for the company. You want to make sure that past customers have been happy with the workmanship and their overall experience with the company.

Third always ask how long your job is going to take. Many companies have vast sales departments and they simply get as many people under contract as they can. However once the customer is under contract with the company they take their time completing the job and the sales representative is no where to be found. The best way to remedy this problem is simple to get an estimate of when the job will be completed up front and in writing.

You may also want to discuss clean up. It doesn't sound as important as getting a roof on your home or business, but it is just as important. A nail in your tire, a neighbors or a patron of your business typically is not cause for celebration. Make sure that the clean up of your job is discussed before entering into the agreement.

Houston Roofing Specialist