We get it, roof repair can be a bit of a hassle. It’s one of those home improvement tasks you can’t necessarily fix yourself: you have to arrange to have your local roofing professional come out, and you have to shell out cash for the repair that you don’t necessarily want to spend. While your roof might usually feel like your last home improvement priority, it’s important to remember that your roof is your number one defense against the weather. It’s what keeps your home and family safe and dry. Since it is such an important feature of your home, it’s worth considering moving your roof up the priority list.
If you’ve been putting off roof repairs, or you’ve quite honestly forgotten about roof maintenance, here are 5 reasons you might want to rethink your home improvement priorities:
Roofs seriously affects property value and curb appeal
If you’re considering selling your home within the next few years, you’ll really want to put some effort into that roof. The condition of your roof is one of the first questions a potential homebuyer is going to ask, and it’s one of those obvious features that you can’t really twist the truth on. A neglected roof is a very apparent thing 0 prospective buyers will be able to tell just driving up if you’ve kept it up or if something’s been left in disrepair for far too long. A roof that won’t need much maintenance post-sale could even allow you to raise your asking price.
The sooner it’s fixed, the less it will cost you
Even if you’re not planning on selling your home in the near future, it’s important to note that the sooner you get repairs done, the less you’ll have to spend in the long run. Nearly all roof damage will get progressively worse: if you’ve lost a shingle, it can easily turn into a leak over time; if your roof has a leak, serious water damage can occur if the leak isn’t taken care of. Your best bet is to call up your local roofing professional as soon as you notice a problem. They can fix minor issues for minor costs.
Insurance
In the same vein as saving money, know that your insurance adjuster will be able to tell if you waited too long to call a roofing repair professional. If you request a service as soon as you notice damage, your insurance is likely to cover most of your claim, depending on the type of damage. But if you wait too long to get an issue fixed, you’ll probably only receive compensation for the cost of a basic repair job before the roof damage worsened from neglect. That means you’ll be paying more out of pocket for that roof repair, when originally it might have all been covered under your homeowner’s insurance policy.
Air Quality
It should come as no surprise that Michigan is a very humid place, especially in the summer. If there are any damages to your roof that allow water and humidity to seep into your home, it’s easy for mold to grow in sneaky places like exterior walls and ceilings. Mold in the home seriously decreases your air quality. If it’s allowed to continue to grow, it’s not surprising to see family members with increased instances of cold and allergy-like symptoms. Mold is an especially difficult issue to remedy, and can cost a lot more than simply patching a hole in the roof would have cost.
Roof Replacement
Roof replacement is a major expense that no one wants to shell out hard-earned cash for. And in reality, you shouldn’t have to more than once or maybe twice in a lifetime. A well-maintained asphalt roof can last upwards of 30 years and is easily replaced, but a roof that’s been neglected is another story. When you continue to put off roof repairs, they get worse and worse and can deteriorate your roof to the point that you’re forced to purchase a new roof far sooner than you should. What’s more, when it comes time to replace a roof, one that’s been neglected will be far more expensive. This is because neglected roofs often breed damage on a structural level – trapped moisture can rot support beams and grow mold within your ceiling – and this damage has to be taken care of before a new roof can go on the house.
While roof repair isn’t always the most fun home improvement project, it is a very important one. A damaged roof can lead to a whole host of structural problems that will cost you big in the long run. Get out in front of major repairs and call your local roofing professional at the first sign of a problem–you’ll save your roof and your wallet.
If you have questions about your roof, or if you’d like a roofing inspection to make sure everything is in order, feel free to give the experts at Werner a call. We’re one of West Michigan’s foremost roofers and have been servicing the area for decades. Werner Roofing would be happy to give you a free, no-obligation estimate on any roofing issue you’ve been having. Just give us a call at 616-844-5382 or request your free estimate online today!
