We like to think of roofs as the crowning glory of any building, but they can also be incredibly expensive to get right and can easily stretch even the most generous budget. Read on to find out our 5 top tips to avoid going over budget with your roof…
1. Measure twice, cut once
Make sure that your roof area calculations are spot on. There is nothing worse than spending additional budget on ordering tiles or by having to unexpectedly order more tiles to finish the job.
Remember that the transport and fitting of added tiles needs to be considered and that this can quickly add up.
2. Allow for breakages
Tiles are relatively fragile and you will have to allow for breakages during transit and fitting. A good rule of thumb is to order 2.5% more tiles than you think you’ll need.
Again, avoid extra transport and fitting costs by allowing for breakages while you’re planning.
3. Get the right estimate
Unexpected costs are always a painful way to go over budget, and this can be a very real possibility if your estimate is wrong. It’s always worth spending a little bit more time during the planning stages making sure that your estimate is correct the first time, so that you can avoid any surprises later down the line. We would also recommend getting a fixed price from your contractor rather than a day rate, to avoid any additional charges as a result of project overrun.
4. Remember the special tiles
It may seem obvious to some people, but your roof isn’t covered by just standard tiles. Have a look at any tiled roof and you’ll quickly notice gable tiles, ridge tiles and bonnets too. The same rules apply for those as well: make sure your roof area calculations are correct and allow for breakages.
5. Check your roof
This one may not apply to new builds, but is definitely a factor in any renovation project. Make sure that you check your roof for hidden damage (such as rotten timbers etc) that may need to be repaired or replaced before you can even think of laying your new tiles. Again, invest time during the planning stages to help avoid any surprises later on.
What do all of these tips have in common? They can all be easily addressed during the planning stage of your project! What better way to avoid any unexpected costs can there be than that?
We hope that this article helped, but if you have any questions about tiles for your project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
