Roof repair costs can sometimes be quite steep, especially
for larger homes and those with roofs in very poor condition. Homeowners with
an older home might even wonder if those roof repair costs are worth the
investment for them, or if they’re simply throwing money away on a home they
might sell eventually or that needs other repairs as well.
Roof repair costs might run $300 to just over $1000 but can be recouped with lower utility bills, less risk of eventual water leaks, mold growth, and other damage, and improved curb appeal. A new roof can also increase your home’s resale value.
While every homeowner needs to make their own decision about
roof repair costs for their home and if they should invest in those costs for a
house that’s several years old, you might note some vital information about the
advantages of roof repair or a new roof installation. This information will
ensure you’re making the best choice for your home’s long-term value and
condition and are not overlooking some important benefits of a new roof even
for an older home.
Why Invest in Roof
Repair Costs
A home’s roof does
more than just keep out the rain and snow! A roof in good repair, high-quality
roofing shingles and other materials on a home’s roof offers many benefits
overall; check out a few of those here so you know why it’s good to invest in
roof repair costs no matter the age of your home.
A home’s roof keeps your heating and cooling from
escaping throughout the year, while also blocking heat and cold from outside.
Missing, worn, or otherwise damaged roofing shingles cannot insulate a home
properly and, instead, let out your heating and cooling, spiking your utility
bills and creating a very uncomfortable environment inside the house.
The granules on shingles are designed to keep
water from pooling on the roof, reducing the risk of water damage. When
shingles are missing those granules, your home is at risk of water leaks and
resultant mold growth.
Missing, torn, or damaged shingles allow water
and snow to pool on the home’s roof, often resulting in cracks and resultant
water leaks.
Roofing damage typically gets worse over time so
that small cracks and leaks become larger and lead to soft spots along the
interior roof rafters and joists. Larger cracks and soft spots can lead to
eventual roof collapse!
Missing or damaged shingles that allow for water
leaks inside the home might lead to mold growth along the structure of an attic
or crawlspace. Once mold begins to grow, it can spread quite rapidly. Extensive
mold growth is hazardous to your health and is typically expensive and
difficult to clean properly.
As shingles get older and more brittle or soft
and crumbly, they will continue to crack, split, and fall away from a roof.
Ignoring needed roof repairs now can then lead to larger repair bills once you
do address those damaged roofing shingles.
A damaged roof detracts from a home’s overall
appearance and can make your entire house and property look rundown, outdated,
or otherwise worn and shabby. A new roof installation can restore the appearance
of your home instantly, and investing in needed residential roof repairs also
ensures that your property looks its best overall.
A new roof can improve your property’s overall
value, while a roof that needs extensive repairs can sometimes lower your
home’s value.
Repairing a home’s roof now ensures that it’s in
good condition if you decide to sell your home down the road. You can then
fetch a higher price for the house and avoid having to make extensive repairs
before you put it on the market. Homes with newer roofs are also more likely to
sell overall, so that your roof repairs become a selling point when you’re
ready to list the house!
How Often Should You
Have a Home’s Roof Replaced?
Residential roof repair protects your home’s value and appearance and helps to lower your overall utility costs, as said, but eventually, a home’s roof is beyond repair and needs replacing. How often you’ll need a new roof installation for your home will depend on a few factors:
Shingles and roofing tiles have an expected lifespan, and this will vary according to their manufacturing quality. High-quality roofing shingles might last some twenty years, whereas low-quality roofing shingles need replacing every ten to fifteen years, on average.
Harsh sunlight dries out asphalt shingles, causing them to crack and split and then fall away from a home’s roof. Be prepared to replace a home’s roof more often in tropical and very warm or sunny areas more often than in areas with a milder climate.
As with harsh sunlight, strong summertime storms and heavy snowfall strip away the granules on roofing shingles and loosen roofing tiles. If you tend to neglect cleaning snow off your home’s roof during wintertime, this also adds to the damage done to shingles during winter months, which then shortens their expected lifespan.
Soot from airplane and car engines will settle onto a home’s roof, drying shingles and leading to premature breakage and damage. Homes near busy airports or expressways might need a residential roof replacement far more often than homes in the country!
Signs You Need an
Older Roof Repaired or Replaced
Don’t wait until you see holes in your home’s roof or have
water coming into the attic or crawlspace before you opt to have an older roof
repaired or replaced! Consider some signs that it’s time for a roof replacement
or repair in your home:
When shingles get dry and brittle, their edges
tend to curl. If your home’s roof seems uneven or looks wavy and curvy along
the bottom of shingles, those shingle edges are curled and they need replacing.
Missing shingles or visible roofing paper should
be addressed right away! Shingles that have split or shifted out of place also
need replacing.
Roof shingles are covered in a granular material
to keep water from pooling on the roof, as said. If you notice any “bald spots”
or smooth areas along the surface of shingles, they need replacing.
Excessive heat or humidity in the home during
summer months or a cold and drafty interior during winter often signals that
your home’s roof has leaks and holes and is letting out your heating and air
conditioning.
Since roofing shingles have an expected lifespan, it’s good
to note the age of your home’s roof and check it for needed repairs or
replacement as those shingles get old and outdated. Investing in a shingle
replacement or reroofing before the roof develops holes due to age protects
your home’s interior from water damage while also keeping the home’s interior
well-insulated.
Roof Replacement
Cost: 5 Ways to Save Money!
While a roof replacement cost is often worth the investment
no matter the age or condition of your home, you might still be wondering how
to save money on a new roof or roof repairs. Note five ways to save money on
your home’s roof replacement costs and then discuss these with your roofing
contractor as needed.
Ask your roofing contractor if there is an off-season for roofing work and if scheduling work during their slow times saves you money. In many areas, roofers are not so busy in early spring or during the hottest summer months, so they might offer discounts to homeowners scheduling roofing repair during those times.
Be sure you check with your homeowner’s insurance, to note if any roof repair costs are covered by your policy. Age, neglect and other such reasons for needed roofing repairs are often the responsibility of the homeowner, but if your home has been damaged by hail, lightning, strong winds, and the like, your roof repair costs might be covered by insurance.
Always ask each roofer giving you an estimate if tear-off, cleanup, and other services are included. Note, too, if reroofing includes new flashing, chimney patching, and other needed work. You’ll save money by opting for a roofer that offers an all-inclusive service versus a roofing repair contractor that tacks on charges for work like cleaning up.
Consider having roofing repairs or a new roof installation performed in sections. Many roofers will repair or add new roofing shingles to one side or a quarter of a home’s roof one year, then another side the next year. Spreading out the costs over a year or so can make those needed repairs more affordable.
Be wary of super-low bids. You might assume that choosing the cheapest contractor is a good way to save money but subpar work often means more repairs in the long run, and cheap roofing materials don’t insulate your house properly, spiking your utility bills. Investing in a quality contractor who uses certified roofing materials actually saves you money in the long run!
Whatever your roof repair costs, remember that a durable, high-quality roof is an investment in your home. At the same time, a low-quality roof with missing or damaged shingles, damaged roofing paper, and other needed repairs does little to insulate or protect your home’s interior and detracts from your property’s curb appeal. While roof repairs or a new roof installation might be costly, it’s a cost worth considering no matter the age or condition of your home!
