Once a home has been built, it’s easy to forget about your roof. We take for granted the fact that it’s holding off all of the rain, wind, and snow that accumulates in West Michigan weather, and we trust it to keep us safe. But when you forget about your roof for too long, you actually start to lose money. The more time that passes without a roof inspection or maintenance, the closer you’re getting to a hefty repair fee or even a full re-roofing job that you simply don’t want to pay for. The fact is, a neglected roof is an expensive roof, and we’ll explain why:

Leaks

The first thing that happens when your roof goes for too long without inspection or repair, is that it begins to develop leaks. In fact, leaks often occur way before you even notice them. By the time that you start to see drips coming through the house, you will already have far more water damage than just a simple leak. That’s why it’s so important to have your home’s roof regularly inspected. A roofing professional will be able to spot leaks before they become larger problems and fix them accordingly.

Mold

Once you have leaks, you’re bound to get mold. Unfortunately, that’s just one of the simple truths of homeownership. The base structure of most residential roofs is wood, which is an organic material that absorbs moisture. As moisture seeps into the wood, mold begins to grow and spread spores, expanding it under your roof. This is a problem, not only because it’s kind of gross, but also because it can pose a serious threat to your respiratory health. Mold is a major cause of coughs, headaches, chronic bronchitis, and a host of other respiratory illnesses that can seriously affect your quality of life. Keeping your roof in shape means more than just maintaining a warm house.

Increased Energy Bills

Another issue that comes with a neglected roof is a predictable rise in energy bills. When you don’t regularly maintenance your roof, it develops leaks and holes, and your heat and air conditioning literally go right out the roof. Your heating and cooling system will have to work much harder to maintain a consistent temperature, and all that extra work will show up on your energy bill.

Water Damage

As leaks continue to grow, and your roof is still not maintained, your roof will begin to develop serious water damage. Water can be a very destructive element when it comes to roofs, and as time goes on, your roof will begin to sag and rot as a result of all the excess water trapped in the interior of your roof. If allowed to continue, water damage will challenge the very structural integrity of your roof, and could eventually make your home unlivable.

Decreased Property Value

As can be expected, all of this damage will seriously decrease the property value of your home. If you’re looking to sell at any point, you’ll almost be required to re-roof your home, or you’ll have to sell for much less than the property is worth. One of the first questions potential buyers ask is about the quality and age of the roof. It’s a very important and very expensive aspect of any home, so if you’re looking to maintain a decent property value, you might want to have your roof inspected soon.

Insects and Pests

The longer your roof is left without inspection or maintenance, the more likely it is to develop an infestation. Insects and rodents like mice and rats love to hide out and build nests in the insulation directly below your roof. So as soon as your roof develops a leak or a hole, it becomes a wide open door to insects and pests, inviting them to come inside. If you discover signs of insects or pests, you can easily call an exterminator or pest control professional, but it’s important to note that the problem won’t stop until you get your roof, the source of the infestation, closed up.

Increased Costs

The longer you let any roof damage go, the more it is going to cost you. What started out as a ripped off shingle can easily lead to a leak, which can lead to water damage. That’s why we always encourage our clients to take a look at their roof after any storm or high winds, and just make sure everything seems in order. It’s also in your best interest to schedule yearly roof inspections. That way, a trained professional can get up there and look around to make sure your roof is ready to go for the winter. The more often you have your roof maintenanced, the longer it will last, and the less you will have to pay in overall repair costs. If left untouched for too long, the only solution to a neglected roof is a full re-roofing job, which costs far more than a simple repair or shingle replacement.

Danger

We encourage you to have your roof regularly inspected because a neglected roof is also a dangerous roof. When water damage, rot, and mold set in, they challenge the structural integrity of your roof, and the idea of the roof caving in can become a serious possibility. Roofs that have become too waterlogged, or whose support beams are rotting away can pose a serious danger to people living in those homes. It’s important to ensure that you’re not neglecting your home’s roof. After all, it is what keeps you safe and dry.

If you have any more questions about roof repair or maintenance, make sure to give the experts at Werner Roofing a call! We’ve been in the business for decades and would love to answer your questions or come out to inspect your roof. Call our office at 616-844-5382 or request a free quote online today!

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