Financing a new roof covering: Compare loans and optimise costs
8 May 2025
Katrin Straub
Managing Director at nextsure
A new roof covering is a significant investment, often costing over 25,000 euros. Choosing the right loan is crucial to save thousands of euros in interest. We'll show you how to optimally arrange the financing for a new roof covering with a loan comparison and make use of government subsidies.
The topic in brief and concise terms
The cost of a new roof covering with insulation ranges between 200 and 300 euros per square metre.
A modernisation loan is often cheaper than an instalment loan and available up to €50,000 without a land register entry.
Government subsidies (BAFA/KfW) can reduce costs by up to 20 percent or more.
Ein Dach hält im Schnitt 50 bis 70 Jahre, dann wird eine Sanierung unumgänglich, um das Gebäude vor Witterungsschäden zu schützen. Die Kosten dafür sind erheblich: Für ein 150 Quadratmeter großes Dach fallen schnell 30.000 bis 45.000 Euro an, wenn auch eine moderne Dämmung installiert wird. Eine durchdachte Finanzierung ist daher kein Nebenschauplatz, sondern ein zentraler Hebel zur Kostensenkung. Indem Sie verschiedene Kreditoptionen sorgfältig vergleichen, können Sie nicht nur die monatliche Belastung steuern, sondern auch die Gesamtkosten um mehrere Tausend Euro reduzieren. Dieser Beitrag führt Sie durch die Optionen, von Modernisierungskrediten bis zu staatlichen Förderungen.
Cost Analysis: These Expenses Await You with a New Roof Covering
The costs for a new roof covering vary greatly depending on the scope and materials used. A basic re-roofing without insulation costs between 100 and 150 euros per square metre. For a 150-square-metre roof, this equates to costs of at least 15,000 euros. If energy-efficient insulating above the rafters is installed as per the Building Energy Act (GEG), costs rise to between 200 and 300 euros per square metre. The total costs for such a project can quickly reach between 30,000 to 45,000 euros.
The following items make up the majority of the costs:
Materials: The choice of roofing material significantly impacts the price. Concrete roof tiles, at 25 to 35 euros per square metre, are an economical option, while high-quality slate tiles can cost up to 80 euros.
Labour costs: The labour costs for roofers account for approximately 40 to 50 per cent of the total costs and depend on the complexity of the roof.
Insulation: Intermediate rafter insulation costs about 30 to 35 euros per square metre and can reduce future heating costs by up to 20 per cent.
Additional costs: Items such as scaffolding, disposal of old materials (especially when asbestos is involved), and the installation of roof windows can add another 5,000 to 10,000 euros to the costs.
A precise planning of these expenses is the first step in determining the appropriate loan amount and developing the optimal financing strategy.
Credit options at a glance: installment loan, modernization loan, and building savings loan
There are mainly three types of loans available for financing your new roof covering. The classic installment loan is flexible and quickly accessible, often within 24 hours. However, the interest rates are comparatively high, ranging from four to eight percent. It is suitable for amounts up to about 50,000 euros and does not require an entry in the land register.
The modernization loan is earmarked and therefore offers lower interest rates. Banks often offer it with interest rates between three and six percent. Many institutions provide modernization loans up to 50,000 euros also without the expensive entry in the land register. You simply need to prove that you are using the amount for the property.
A building savings loan is another alternative, especially if you plan the renovation long-term. It combines a savings phase with a later, low-interest loan. This option offers high interest rate security, but requires more lead time. The right choice depends on your financial situation and the timeline of the project.
State Subsidies: How to Reduce Your Loan Amount by Up to 20 Percent
Before you sign a credit agreement, you should check for government grants. The Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) and the KfW Development Bank offer attractive grants and loans. For individual measures such as roof insulation, BAFA provides a grant of up to 20 percent of the eligible costs. For investment costs of 30,000 euros, this corresponds to a grant of 6,000 euros.
KfW supports energy-efficient refurbishments with low-interest loans and repayment grants. In the "Residential Buildings – Credit (261)" programme, you can receive a loan of up to 150,000 euros for a comprehensive refurbishment to an energy-efficient house. The repayment grant can amount to up to 45 percent, significantly reducing the repayable sum. A prerequisite for most grants is the involvement of a certified energy efficiency expert.
Additionally, since 2024, KfW has been offering a supplementary loan (358/359) of up to 120,000 euros for already subsidised individual measures. A combination of BAFA grant and KfW loan is often possible and maximises your savings. This way, financing can be cleverly arranged. Carefully reviewing the terms is crucial to selecting the right type of credit.
Expert tip: Negotiate loan terms smartly and save in the long term
A good interest rate is only half the battle. When comparing loans for your new roof covering, pay attention to flexible repayment terms. Free special repayments are an important lever to shorten the term and save on interest costs. Even an annual special repayment of just five percent of the loan amount can reduce the term by several years.
Compare the total effective interest rates of different providers, as these include all costs of the loan. Even a one percentage point difference in interest can mean a saving of over 1,500 euros on a loan amount of 30,000 euros over ten years. Use online comparison portals to get an initial overview, but also have direct discussions with banks. Sometimes a better interest rate can be negotiated in a personal conversation, especially if you can offer additional securities.
Our expert tip: Explicitly ask about the possibility of payment breaks. If an unforeseen financial bottleneck occurs, having the option to skip one or two instalments can provide valuable flexibility. A well-considered observation of interest rate developments will help you find the right moment to conclude. This way, you secure not only an affordable but also a flexible financing option for your roof.
More useful links
Die KfW offers detailed information on promoting energy-efficient refurbishment, especially roof insulation.
Das Statistische Bundesamt (Destatis) provides current data on construction prices and real estate price indices.
Die Verbraucherzentrale offers a comprehensive guide to finding suitable funding programmes for your home.
Finanztip provides information on various grants that can be utilized for roof renovation.
Die KfW explains the supplementary loan for individual measures on residential buildings.
Die Verbraucherzentrale provides information on the benefits of thermal insulation for the roof, facade, and basement to save energy.
FAQ
Wie lange dauert die Auszahlung eines Modernisierungskredits?
Wenn kein Grundbucheintrag erforderlich ist, erfolgt die Auszahlung eines Modernisierungskredits in der Regel innerhalb von vier bis fünf Werktagen nach Genehmigung und Einreichung aller Unterlagen.
Muss ich für einen Sanierungskredit Eigenkapital nachweisen?
Für einen Modernisierungskredit ist in der Regel kein expliziter Eigenkapitalnachweis erforderlich, solange Ihre Bonität für die Kreditsumme ausreicht. Eigenkapital kann jedoch die Kreditkonditionen verbessern.
Kann ich einen Kredit auch für eine Dachreparatur nutzen?
Ja, ein Ratenkredit oder ein Modernisierungskredit kann auch für kleinere Reparaturen am Dach verwendet werden. Staatliche Förderungen gibt es jedoch meist nur für umfassende energetische Sanierungen.
Was passiert, wenn die Kosten der Dacheindeckung höher ausfallen als der Kredit?
Sollten die Kosten die Kreditsumme übersteigen, müssen Sie die Differenz aus eigenen Mitteln decken. Alternativ können Sie bei Ihrer Bank eine Aufstockung des Kredits anfragen, was jedoch eine erneute Bonitätsprüfung erfordert.
Welche Unterlagen benötige ich für einen Modernisierungskredit?
In der Regel benötigen Sie die letzten drei Einkommensnachweise, eine Kopie Ihres Personalausweises und einen Nachweis über das Eigentum an der Immobilie (z. B. einen Grundbuchauszug).
Kann ich eine Dachsanierung von der Steuer absetzen?
Ja, Handwerkerleistungen für Renovierungs- und Erhaltungsmaßnahmen können steuerlich geltend gemacht werden. Sie können 20 Prozent der Arbeitskosten (bis maximal 1.200 Euro pro Jahr) von der Steuerschuld abziehen. Alternativ zur BAFA/KfW-Förderung können Sie energetische Sanierungsmaßnahmen über drei Jahre verteilt mit insgesamt 20 Prozent der Kosten von der Steuer absetzen.
