How to apply for a government grant for a new roof

Depending on the type of roof grant sometimes there can be conditions attached which might pertain to the eligibility of suitable applicants or impact on what you do with the property for a specified period afterwards.
The Single Family Housing and Repair Loans and Grants which can benefit very low income elderly home owners are subject to a maximum sum per applicant of $7.500. Also, the grants are only offered to homeowners who are a minimum of 62 years old or more and whose total family income is below 50% of the median for their area. Crucially, there is a condition that attaches which states that if the house is sold within three years of the grant whether for roof repair or renewal, then the grant money must be repaid.

The Weatherization Assistance Program for families that qualify does not cover new roofing so you can only seek assistance with roof repairs – the average award is $6,500.

Weather Related Emergencies

There is a raft of roof grants available to those who have suffered severe damage to their home in exceptional and adverse weather conditions. This type of incident can be covered in the first instance by home insurance but local and central governmental aid is often made available via the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA will verify your loss claim and will pay an amount to make a home safe, sanity and functional which clearly includes an adequate and secure roof. However, sometimes these payments can take months to come through and funds may be limited against the number of people who want to make a claim

Finding Out About Roof Grants in Your Area

Because each location across the states could offer a mix of federal and local roof grants, it is important to use an authentic roofer company as they will instantly know what is out there and current. Enticing customers with roof grants is good for their business and could mean the difference between clinching the deal or not so most roofers are pretty savvy if there are grants on offer which could help them win business. So, shop around when looking for a roofer and see what kind of suggestions your contractors come up with – you don’t have to use that particular contractor but you might find out some useful information.

Many local state governments will offer voucher or rebate programs to encourage homeowners who are considering upgrading to a more environmentally friendly product. This might involve installing solar panels, using recycled shingles or other green roof materials. Some roofing contractors will also be incentivized by local or national government to promote products made from green materials and sometimes this benefit can be passed onto the customer.

In some situations, there may not be an actual roof grant available to you but a roofer or local government information hub can point you towards assisted finance or loans at a favourable rate if they are being used to improve your property.

Other Forms of Finance

Some homeowners will approach their mortgage company and try to raise capital either with a new mortgage package if they have enough equity in their property or by asking for a loan to carry out home improvements. This can be a good way of spreading the cost as the money is usually advanced over the remaining term of the mortgage so it is quite affordable on a monthly basis. Also, lenders can see the uplift in the value of the house once the works are complete.

Roofing contractors may offer their own finance scheme linked to a third-party provider and there are also some local government schemes or community initiatives which offer incentives to those looking to repair or replace their roof with eco-friendly materials which can help mitigate the cost.

Hidden Costs That Are Easy To Overlook

With a new roof or an extensive roof repair, the focus is always on the ballpark figure for the cost of the actual roof work so it is easy to get a shock when the quote arrives and you realise just how much else you haven’t factored in. Other charges to look out for include:-

• Dump fees to dispose of old roofing materials
• Scaffold hire for extensive roof repairs or a completely new roof
• Professional fees for permissions and consent if you intend to change the roof design, height or appearance
• Bringing your roof up to code – your roof and house may have been built to meet old building codes that were outdated decades ago so if your planned work is extensive, remember to ask your roofer whether you think you might have to meet new building codes particularly on a re-roof, and how that might impact on the cost
• Pests and mold can be a real problem in humid parts of the USA causing hidden mold and termite damage which leads to long-term decay to underlayment and timbers – this might not be apparent until the roofer lifts the shingles and starts work
• Leaks in a roof can go unnoticed and remain hidden for longer than you might think oftentimes not coming to light until the shingles are lifted. Quiet leaks can cause rot in the rafters and other parts of the wooden roof structure which will all need to be replaced before repair or re-roofing can take place
• Water traps can be hard to spot and cause hidden or unseen damage. A water trap is an area that is prone to too much runoff and this can lead to pooling and leaks. Water traps lead to quicker wear on roof shingles and other materials like brick or siding. Mitigating water traps by altering the roof design could increase the overall cost and impact your roof budget

Make sure that your chosen contractor does a proper roof inspection before he quotes, lifting some shingles if necessary to ascertain the true extent of the work; this will lead to the most accurate quote as the idea is not to find any nasty surprises once the project starts. Always leave 15%-20% of wriggle room for unforeseen costs – there is bound to be something!