THE MONTHLY MATH, HONESTLY

Most roofs in New York are financed. There's nothing wrong with that — a roof protects your largest asset, and spreading a five-figure cost is rational. What matters is understanding the machinery so the monthly number doesn't hide anything.

How it works behind the curtain

Contractors partner with home-improvement lenders. You apply at the kitchen table, approval takes minutes, and the lender pays the contractor after completion. The contractor pays the lender a dealer fee — a few percent for standard plans, more for flashy promos. That fee lives somewhere in your price, which is why a legitimate quote is the same number cash or financed.

The plans you'll be offered

• Standard APR loans (roughly 8–12% in 2026): an $18,000 roof over 10 years lands near $230/month.
• "0% for 18 months" promos: real, but the contractor pays a large fee for them — and deferred-interest versions charge back-interest if a balance survives the promo window. Read that clause twice.

Questions that protect you

• "Is the price identical if I pay cash?" (It should be — and cash may earn a discount.)
• "Is this deferred interest or true 0%?"
• "Any prepayment penalty?" (Should be none.)

Common questions