Red and white monopoly houses

How To Pay for a New Roof: Financing Options To Consider

Apply for a
Personal Loan

Apply online with Rocket LoansSM and see prequalified offers within seconds. Same-day funding is available if you're approved.

Explore your mortgage options

NMLS #3030

*Connect with a mortgage specialist

We teamed up with Rocket Mortgage to help you get house-hunting sooner. Answer a few questions and an agent will reach out to discuss your options.

Get Started by selecting an option below

What kind of loan are you interested in?

What to expect

Tell us what you need and a representative from Rocket Mortgage will give you a call. You’ll have support at every step.

What kind of property do you want to purchase? What kind of property do you own?

Why we’re asking

Rocket Mortgage® can provide a more accurate rate estimate if they know what kind of property you’re interested in.

NMLS #3030
How do you use your property? How would you use this property?

Why we’re asking

Having a little more information upfront helps Rocket Mortgage® provide a personalized rate faster.

NMLS #3030
When are you planning to buy?

Still House Hunting?

Hope you find your dream home soon! In the meantime, it’s never too early to know your rate.

NMLS #3030
Are you a first-time home buyer?

It’s all good:

Whether it’s your first – or second property – Rocket Mortgage® can provide you with a rate estimate.

NMLS #3030
Do you have a second mortgage?

It’s all good

If you have a second mortgage, it’s no problem. Letting us know helps to customize your rate.

NMLS #3030
What is your credit score?

Don’t know your score?

Don’t sweat it! Make your best guess. Credit scores range from 300 (low) to 850 (excellent).

NMLS #3030

Tell us a bit more about you

What happens next?

A representative from Rocket Mortgage® will be in touch to discuss your commitment-free, personalized rate. Then you can decide whether you’d like to lock it in!

NMLS #3030

Enter your contact info so Rocket Mortgage® can get in touch!

By providing your contact information and clicking the "Agree & Send Information" button below, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You also expressly consent by electronic signature to receive telephonic sales, promotional, marketing and other calls and text messages, including any calls and messages sent by any automated system or other means for the selection or dialing of telephone numbers, or using an artificial or prerecorded voice message when a connection is completed, from Rocket Mortgage, its Family of Companies, our partner companies and our marketing partners at the telephone number you have provided, even if that telephone number is on a corporate, state, or national do-not-call list or registry. Your consent and agreement to receive such calls or text messages is not a condition of purchasing any property, goods or services from us, our Family of Companies or any of our partners.

NMLS #3030

We all want a roof over our heads. But what if something happens to the roof over your head, and you need to pay for a roof replacement? 

Roof replacements can get pricey. In 2022, U.S. homeowners spent between $5,619 and $11,949 putting new roofs on their homes. And the cost of replacing a roof has only soared as the cost of materials and labor has gone up.[1]

If your home needs a new roof but you don’t have the cash, you can finance a roof replacement. We can show you how roof financing works and the financing options available to you. You can build on what you learn and decide which roof financing option is right for you.

Need Funds for Home Improvements?

Apply for a home improvement loan from Rocket LoansSM and start planning your next renovation project.

Checking your options won’t affect your credit score.

How New Roof Financing Works

Before financing any kind of home repair, like a roof replacement, you’ll need to get a sense of how much it will cost and how much you can afford to pay.

Get an estimate

You’ll need to get an estimate from a roofing contractor. The estimate will break down the repairs they plan to make and estimate the cost of materials and labor.

What you pay for a roof repair or replacement will vary based on your local labor market and the price of materials. For example, if you live in an area that’s just been through a strong storm, there’s likely going to be a higher demand for roofing contractors. Usually, the more demand, the higher the price.

Every roofing contractor works (and prices) differently. Try to get more than one estimate. You might be surprised at the differences in cost. 

You should also make sure to research the contractors. Check online reviews and ask for references. Reduce the risk of becoming the main character in a contractor horror story. Make sure you’re working with a licensed, dependable contractor. 

Create a budget

Once you’ve attached a dollar figure to the cost of your new roof, you’ll know how much you’ll need to spend. 

If you need to finance your new roof, take a look at your budget and calculate how much you can afford in monthly payments.

Let’s say you took out a $10,000 loan to pay for your new roof. Here is what the loan would cost every month with different loan repayment terms (or lengths): 

Repayment Term4% Interest9% Interest
24$512.41$641.87
36$348.38$446.79
48$266.43$349.63
60$217.31$291.65

If a $300 monthly payment works for your budget, according to our table, you’ve got a few options available. You can either opt for a 48-month loan term at 4% interest, or you can decide on a 60-month loan term at 4% or 9% interest. 

Keep in mind that the longer you’re making payments, the more the loan is going to cost you and the higher interest rate you’ll likely be charged by your lender.

Let’s say you took out the $10,000 loan with a 9% interest rate. With a 24-month loan term, you’d pay $5,404.88 in interest. Extend the loan term to 60 months, and you’d pay $7,499 in interest.

Financing Options for a New Roof

Once you know how much you need to borrow and the size of the monthly payment you can comfortably afford, you’ll be in a better position to explore financing options.

The good news is there are several options available to finance a new roof. They can range from banks and credit unions to online lenders and companies that specialize in roof financing.

Credit cards 

Depending on the amount of money you need for your roof replacement, you may be able to skip the loan application and charge the replacement to your credit card or distribute the cost over multiple cards.

PROS of a Credit Card👍

No application required

If your contractor accepts credit cards, they can swipe your card and get started.

Payment plans

Some credit card companies offer the equivalent of a monthly payment plan. The company breaks up your charge into fixed monthly payments (usually over 6 – 18 months) that are added to your monthly minimum payments.

0% interest offers

You can take advantage of a balance transfer offer or apply for a new card with a low or 0% introductory interest rate that usually lasts for 6 – 18 months. If you have any balance left over at the end of the intro period, you’ll pay market interest on the remaining balance.

CONS of a Credit Card👎

Higher interest rates

The interest rates on credit cards range from 15% – 25%. The interest can make a large purchase and a rollover balance very expensive, very quickly.

Lower credit score

If your roof payment maxes out your card or gets close to it, it can affect your credit utilization ratio, which can lower your credit score.

Maxing out your credit

If you max out your card, you’re at risk of not having enough credit available for other purchases or future emergencies.

Personal loan 

You can apply for a personal loan from a bank, a credit union or an online lender. Personal loans deliver an upfront lump sum of money to borrowers that gets repaid in fixed monthly payments over 1 – 5 years. Personal loans are typically unsecured loans (no collateral needed). So qualifying for a personal loan will depend a lot on your credit score, debt-to-income (DTI) ratio and income.

PROS of a Personal Loan👍

No collateral

Most personal loans are unsecured. You don’t have to worry about losing collateral, like your house or your car, if you can’t make your payments.

Quick turnaround

Many lenders can process a personal loan application and get you your money in 1 – 7 business days.

Easier to budget

Because your monthly personal loan payments are fixed and predictable, they are easier to factor into your budget.

CONS of a Personal Loan👎

Higher interest rates

The interest rates on personal loans typically start around 8% – 9%.[2] You’ll pay less interest than you would with a credit card, but you’ll probably pay more than you would with a secured loan or other financing option.

Requires good credit

To qualify for a personal loan, most lenders require a credit score in the high 600s and up.

The amount you borrow is based on your credit

You can borrow between $1,000 and $20,000 with personal loans. The amount you qualify for will depend on your credit. If your credit isn’t great, you may not qualify for the total amount you need or you’ll be charged a higher interest rate.

Home Improvement Is Worth It

Prequalify for a personal loan from $2,000 to $45,000 from Rocket LoansSM and make your dream home a reality.

Home equity loan 

The money to replace your roof might come from inside your house. 

If you can tap into your home’s equity, which is the difference between the appraised value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage, you might find the money you need sitting in the walls of your home (not literally, but you get the picture).

You can use a home equity loan to borrow against your available equity and receive a lump-sum payment you would repay in monthly installments over 3 – 10 years. 

PROS of a Home Equity Loan👍

Low interest rates

Because your home acts as collateral, home equity loans usually have low interest rates.

Tax deduction

As long as the money is used to buy, build or repair your home, you can usually deduct the interest on your home equity loan from your taxes.

CONS of a Home Equity Loan👎

Risk of losing your home

Because your loan is secured by your home, you risk foreclosure if you can’t keep up with your monthly payments.

Limits on how much you can borrow

Most lenders allow you to borrow up to 75% – 80% of the value of your home, minus what you owe on your mortgage.

Closing costs

Most home equity loans charge closing costs, such as an origination fee, appraisal fee and more. Depending on your lender and the size of your loan, your closing costs could add a few hundred or thousands of dollars to your loan’s overall cost.

Roof company financing

Some roofing companies offer financing options. Usually, a contractor works through a third-party company to offer financing options to their clients. 

Like traditional lenders, roofing companies that offer financing will run a credit check to determine how much they’ll let you borrow and for what terms. Before you commit, make sure you understand the terms and conditions. 

PROS of a Roof Company Financing👍

Convenient

Working with a roof financing company means you don’t have to worry about applying for a bank loan. Everything is handled by the roof financing company.

A good option for bad credit

Roof financing companies may be more willing to approve you for a loan even if your credit score is low. They may charge more interest on the loan or require a shorter repayment term than other lending options.

CONS of a Roof Company Financing👎

Less competitive

Unlike a car dealership, which may partner with multiple lenders to provide auto loans to buyers, most roofing contractors work with one financing company. You’ll either need to accept their terms or find your own financing.

Government-funded home improvement loan

If you can’t qualify for a personal loan or a home equity loan, you may be able to get a loan with a little help from the government.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) offers Title 1 loans to homeowners who need help financing necessary home improvements.

PROS of an FHA Title 1 Loan👍

Low interest rates

The loan rates are fixed and comparable to home equity loan rates.

Higher lending limits

You can borrow up to $25,000. If you need to replace a roof on a multifamily property, you can borrow up to $12,000 per unit for a max of $60,000.[3]

Longer loan terms

The terms on the loan range from 6 months to 25 years.[3]

No collateral required

Loans up to $7,500 are unsecured. You won’t risk losing your home if can’t make your monthly payments.[4]

Lower credit requirements

FHA loans don’t have a minimum credit score requirement, but most lenders prefer a credit score of 620 or higher. And a borrower can have a DTI of up to 45%.[5]

CONS of an FHA Title 1 Loan👎

Annual insurance premium

The FHA charges an annual insurance premium that equals 1% of the total loan amount. That’s one dollar for every $100 borrowed.[3]

Need an eligible lender

You can only get a loan through an FHA-approved lender.

Insurance coverage

If you have homeowners insurance coverage, you could file an insurance claim to cover all or part of the cost of the roof. But this tactic only works under limited circumstances.

If your roof is damaged due to an accident or act of nature, you may be covered. If the replacement or repair is due to normal wear and tear, your insurer will likely not cover your claim because, in that case, it’s considered a part of standard home maintenance.

Before filing an insurance claim, it’s a good idea to:

  • Review your policy: Every insurance policy is different and has different criteria for what they cover and don’t cover. Also, in some areas, you may need specialized insurance. For example, you may need hurricane insurance if you live in the Southeast or tornado insurance if you live in the Midwest.
  • Know your deductible: Homeowners insurance policies usually have deductibles ranging from $500 – $2,000. The deductible is money you pay out of pocket before your insurer picks up the rest of the tab.
  • Check the age of your roof: Insurers typically won’t cover your roof if it’s over 20 years old because it’s deemed to be at the end of its useful life. Even if your insurer provides coverage, it may only be for the cash value of the roof (what it’s currently worth), not the full cost of replacement.

Raise the Roof for Financing Options

If your home needs a new roof, you don’t have to dig into your wallet for the money. There are financing options for you to explore. 

To get the best financing for your financial situation, you’ll need to get a handle on your money, from knowing your credit score to knowing how much home equity you’ve got stashed in your home. From there, you can select the right financing option and keep a leak-free roof over your head.

See What a Personal Loan Can Do for You

Our partners at Rocket LoansSM are ready to help.
Checking your options won’t affect your credit score.

The Short Version

  • Minimum credit scores for roof financing can start in the high 600s for home equity loans and personal loans, but lower for FHA loans and roof companies that offer financing
  • Before financing any kind of home repair, like a roof replacement, you’ll need to get a sense of how much it will cost and how much you can afford to pay
  • There are several options available to finance a new roof. They can range from banks and credit unions to online lenders and companies that specialize in roof financing
Back to top of page

  1. HomeAdvisor.com “How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Roof?” Retrieved June 2022 from https://www.homeadvisor.com/cost/roofing/install-a-roof/

  2. National Credit Union Association. “Credit Union and Bank Rates 2022 Q1.” Retrieved June 2022 from https://www.ncua.gov/analysis/cuso-economic-data/credit-union-bank-rates/credit-union-and-bank-rates-2022-q1

  3. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “Property Improvement Loan Insurance (Title 1).” Retrieved June 2022 from https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/title/title-i

  4. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “About Title I Property Improvement Loans.” Retrieved June 2022 from https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/sfh/title/ti_abou

  5. Experian™. “How Do I Qualify for an FHA Home Improvement Loan?” Retrieved June 2022 from https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-qualify-for-fha-home-improvement-loan/

You Should Also Check Out…

Our team of financial experts write, review and verify content for accuracy and clarity.