There are really many benefits that come along with choosing to live in an HOA neighborhood. HOA communities are typically designed to be convenient, well-maintained, and attractive. Homes located within HOAs usually enjoy boosted property values as a result. HOA living also often includes built-in perks like managed lawn care, professional landscaping, consolidated services like utilities and trash collection, and convenient access to shopping, schools, and recreational opportunities. One caveat is that any home modifications – including a needed roof replacement – must be conducted within prescribed parameters.
How to Approach Planning for a Roof Replacement Within an HOA Community
If your home is governed by an HOA, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with your particular HOA guidelines before getting started on your new roof. They certainly won’t mind you getting a new roof installation, but they may have rules about what style or roofing materials are allowed. Here’s a good list of things to keep in mind:
• Maintaining a Uniform Look
Most HOAs don’t require homes to look identical, but they usually do have preferred styles of brick, siding, roofing, fencing, etc. These elements should be spelled out in your HOA bylaws. Whether you’ve taken time to read through those cover-to-cover, you essentially signed off on those whenever you decided to purchase or build a home in your HOA neighborhood. Maintaining a somewhat uniform look and feel for the neighborhood is typically a high priority for every HOA.
• Check Those CCRs
Most every HOA has its own set of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (or CCRs). You’ll want to read over these guidelines carefully to learn what your options are, so you can then talk to your roofing provider about what type and style of materials you want to go with. Your best first move is to flip to the section of your CCRs which details any applicable guidelines about acceptable roofing materials or styles. Knowing your boundaries and limits now can prevent you from having to experience a lot of unnecessary headaches later on! And in some cases, you actually have to get your roof plan approved by your HOA board before installation can proceed.
• Roofing Materials Not Mentioned in the CCRs
But what happens if the roofing material you want isn’t mentioned in the CCRs at all? If the roof you want isn’t specifically prohibited, then you may in fact be able to move forward with your plan. But first you’ll want to submit an official request asking your HOA to make an allowance for your desired roof installation. Sometimes it may just be a case of the HOA bylaws being written before some specific newer roofing materials (like the ones you want) first became available on the market. In any case, your HOA board should meet to discuss your request, and then they’ll make a decision based upon your request.
• Stick to Approved Roofing Styles & Colors
Maybe you’re a rebel at heart. Or maybe you just like to blaze your own trail and find your own path. We can certainly respect that! But this is one area in which it’s probably not better to act now and then ask for forgiveness later. Many HOA covenants are pretty specific about which roofing styles and colors are allowed within the neighborhood. And if the rules are pretty clear in the CCRs, then it’s also a safe bet that the HOA will actually enforce those rules, too. Sometimes the rules only speak to the primary roofing material, but in other cases they will also include stipulations about allowable roof features, gutter styles, and other particulars.
• Work to Keep the Channels of Communication Open
It’s important to follow the proper procedures, but it’s also just as important to make your communication with the HOA leadership as clear and as proactive as possible. In order to prevent (or at least minimize) any pushback you might get from the HOA about your roofing plan, make sure to keep a level head and find ways to speak in terms that are easier for your HOA to hear. For example, one of your HOA’s real goals in regulating roof colors and styles is to help protect property values within your HOA community. When presenting your case, if you can demonstrate that your chosen roof will actually benefit property values, the HOA board is much more likely to sign off on your proposal.
• Consult with an Expert Roofing Professional
Another important step for you to take early in your roof planning & selection process is to find the right local roofing professional with which to partner. A roofing provider like Skywalker Roofing will provide a thorough inspection of the condition of your current roof, and will then submit a detailed report including recommended best solutions. Having this in hand will make presenting a proposal to your HOA both easier and more authoritative. In addition, consulting with an established, trustworthy local professional can end up saving you some money in non-essential or even unnecessary roofing repair recommendations.
• Seek Legal Counsel When Needed
Let’s say you’ve seen the entire roofing proposal through with your HOA leadership, but you still don’t like (or don’t understand) the HOA’s final judgment on the matter. In this case, an attorney can help you understand the various legal options available to you. We aren’t here to advise you on legal matters, but an attorney may be able to help you better navigate or avoid legal disputes down the line. Some HOAs enforce their by-laws rather selectively, while others are much more strict in their approach. And another good tip for avoiding possible legal consequences? Partner with an expert roofing provider who really understands how to work withing HOA roof replacement guidelines.
One of the Best Ways to Navigate HOA Restrictions is to Partner with the Right Roofing Company!
No matter which roofing materials, colors, or style you want, it’s important to choose the right professional who is best-suited for handling the particulars of your roof install or replacement plan. Skywalker Roofing works with all popular roofing materials and styles, and we’re a preferred partner of leading roofing product manufacturers. Skywalker also happens to be an award-winning, local roofing contractor you can trust for all your home or commercial roof needs. We’re proud to serve the NC Piedmont Triad, NC Piedmont Triangle, Charlotte Metro/Lake Norman, and Roanoke, VA areas, and we’re the top-rated roofing provider serving both NC and VA. Reach out to our friendly team of experts today, and experience the Skywalker difference for yourself!