Upgrade Your Roof in 2024: Tips for Installing a New Roof
If you’re looking for a way to upgrade your home—or if you need some repairs done after the Wisconsin winter put your home through its paces—you may be considering getting a new roof. If you didn’t know, Big Fish Contracting specializes in roofing, so we’re always excited to talk about roofing with people and find any way to help you with your new roof.
A new roof isn’t just a necessity; it’s an investment in your home’s safety, comfort, and aesthetic appeal. So, as we wait for the ice and snow to thaw, we’ll walk you through the process of renovating parts of your home and tell you what it’s like working with contractors so you can make decisions that are right for you.
So, how do you start the process of getting a new roof?
Pro Tip: Start Getting Quotes Early
Here’s a little insider secret we’ll share with you: Right now (late winter and early spring) is the best time to get estimates, especially on roofing. Why? Because the earlier you get in, the more you can save.
Most roofing contractors are eager to fill their schedules because winter’s their slow season, and they’re ready to kick it into high gear to make up for the holdup in projects. They’ll get more aggressive in pricing—in a good way—to incentivize you to work with them.
On the other hand, if you wait until the middle of summer, you’ll pay a bit more because contractors’ schedules will be busy, and they also experience material price increases. As the homeowner, you pay for a more active schedule and more expensive building materials from the contractor. Don’t give yourself the short end of the stick and start making calls to contractors now so you can save later.
Choosing a Contractor
So, say you got ahead of the game and started looking for contractors early in the year, and now you’re shopping around for quotes. But what does that process entail?
After you call a contractor and give them your information, they’ll visit your property to meet with you and assess the job. They will determine the tasks that require completion, what materials they’ll use, how long the job will take, and, of course, how much it will cost you. That will be your quote, and you’ll ideally do this with at least a few contractors, so you have a few quotes to compare—this is called the “bidding process.” Once you get all the offers, take a good look. It’s not just about the price; you want to trust them and have confidence that they’ll get the job done well. Ask them questions, read reviews, and ensure you’re clear on everything. This way, you can pick the bid that fits your budget and gives you the fantastic new roof you want.
Choosing the Right Roofing System
Your contracting team will also help you with the design process—the second-most-fun part (Right behind the most fun part: seeing your finished roof!). By now, your team knows what materials their vendors have in stock, and they can talk you through the 12 possible color choices and which would look best on your home.
Suppose you’re not doing siding or a complete exterior renovation. In this case, color choices can be narrowed down to staple colors such as black, grey, or brown in a quick manner. But remember that they can also help you curate an aesthetic for your home in advance. So, even if you’re getting your roof done now, you can make plans for what you want your home to look like in the future!
Pro Tip: Let Yourself Get Creative
If you’re planning an exterior renovation, here’s a helpful tip for you.: even if you’re nowhere near where you’re ready to get in touch with contractors, let yourself dream a little! Many people don’t consider all the options beforehand, so when D-day comes, they have a hard time deciding which colors or materials they want, even with the help and guidance of the pros. But it doesn’t have to be that hard!
This is your sign to spend some time on the internet—pursue Pinterest or Instagram and put examples of what you like in a “mood board,” as the kids call them. Or drive around and see what your neighbors have done with their homes. Get yourself inspired and take some stress off your shoulders in advance.
And You’re Done!…
Or, at least for the most part. Suppose we’re going to nitpick phrasing and vocabulary. In that case, you’ll be waiting because chances are, the contractor’s next availability is several months away. But you know what? It’s happening. You’re revamping your home, and it’s exciting, so be excited!
You’ve gotten the most extended parts over with. Still, it was worth it—the roofing will take one or two days at most, and more importantly, you’ve built a relationship with a contractor you can work with for years. Honestly, finding the right contractor is the most important part.
When it comes to picking one, you need to make sure they’re suitable for you and your situation, which can depend on whether you can trust them or whether they have the best prices for the best service. The pricing is obvious: you want a good deal and quality work. But trust is another beast, so we’ve made it our mission to make it easy for homeowners to trust us with something as important as their homes.
At Big Fish, we love to educate our customers and give them whatever information they need to help them make the right decision. Roofing and exterior design are our thing, so we have recommendations and favorite products. But we’d prefer that you make a smart and informed decision that will make you happy in the long run. To the best of our ability, we will give you honest opinions of the other products and their pros and cons and prove you can trust us with our high-quality work and results.
If you want to learn about other projects we do, what goes into a complete exterior home renovation, or even what products and materials we recommend, check out our recent podcast episode, where we break down more about the process and our favorite brands.
