INCORRECT COST ESTIMATIONS WASTE MORE THAN MONEY
Planning for a new roofing project can be an extremely difficult task. Without a contractor or manufacturer who will truly come alongside you and help you make the best choice, it can feel like you’re sitting in the dark with no idea where to go. Getting an accurate cost assumption to plan with your budget is one of the most important facets of the new roofing project. Let’s look at how missing this projection can be a detriment to your business, and how you can make accurate cost estimations.
Underestimating Project Costs
This mistake has pretty obvious repercussions. If you underestimate the cost of your project, then you’ll either have to go way over budget and deplete your finances, or you’ll have to stop the project early. This could mean you’ve got tarps on your roof for a few months until you have the money, or that you have multiple roof systems for a few years. You might be living with leaks and trying to patch the roof while you wait for the funds to complete it. When estimating project costs, it’s a good idea to try and overestimate if you must miss the mark.
Overestimating Project Costs
When this happens, you aren’t really out anything like you are with an underestimation of project costs. The main issue here is that you might not get the same quality roof that you could have if you had correctly estimated costs. If you don’t think you have as much to spend, you might choose a roof with a shorter lifespan. Not all less expensive systems rob you of value. A silicone roof coating would be a good roof system to choose when you don’t think you have the funds for the roof you originally intended.
Making Accurate Estimates
So how can you avoid incorrectly estimating project costs on your next roofing project? We’ve got a few tips below to keep you on target.
Have a Good Roof Sketch
The roof sketch, and the accuracy of it, will help you understand what difficult factors you might face on your roofing project. The roof sketch itself doesn’t help you with your estimates, but a clear understanding of your roof will.
Understand the New Roofing System
You need to know what goes into your new roofing system to understand the labor. Will they need special tools? Is there tear-off? The new roofing system is a major component of cost, as you might imagine.
How Much Labor Will Be Required
The workforce on your roof have to be paid for every second they’re up there. Plus travel, plus hotels if applicable. Labor intensive roof systems are more expensive to install, and you should be aware of that going into it.
Utilize an Expert
If you don’t know much about roofing and aren’t confident in your estimating abilities, then you need to bring along an expert who can help you make good decisions. A good roofing contractor, or a manufacturer of the system you’re considering, will be happy to help you plan and estimate the project. They want you to be happy with their products, so they’re happy to help.
Conclusion
Estimating the costs of your next roofing project is a crucial step to make sure you get the best roofing system for your money without going over budget. If you need help accurately estimating a project, give us a call today and we’d love to help.
