Your roof is one of the most important elements of your home. Aside from significantly affecting the aesthetics of your property, your roof also acts as a barrier against extreme weather conditions, keeping your family safe and comfortable. Your roof can also protect all of your valuables and increase the value of your property.
However, your roof is often one of the most overlooked aspects of the house. Since you rarely climb up there, as long as there is no leak, you think it is still in perfect form. However, this isn’t always the case. It’ll be challenging for any homeowner to properly take care of their roof if they only wait or watch out for signs of leaks. The roof is a complicated structure that can be damaged in many ways.
More often than not, however, a leak is a symptom of a worse disease. You can bet that your roof repair costs would already multiply because you failed to call a roofing contractor beforehand for inspection and maintenance. Time is of the essence when taking care of your roof–the longer you leave any of your roofing problems unaddressed, the more money you’ll have to pay for its repairs or replacements. When this happens, the entire household will also experience inconvenience as contractors will be coming in and out of your house to conduct the repair or replacement.
According to Home Advisor, you will likely spend between $350 and $1,400 for roof repair. However, the national average is $849, with labor costs running from $45 to $75 per hour. Among the most common reasons for contacting a contractor include:
1. Missing or blown-off shingles
2. Sagging roof
3. Leaks
4. Roof flashing damage
5. Chimney flashing leak
6. Damaged valleys
7. Gutter
8. Ice dams
Now, the price may be steep, but it does not compare to when you have to replace a roof, which will cost five digits.
Ideally, you should set aside 1% of the total cost of your property to pay for housing repairs and maintenance. For example, if your house costs $250,000, your budget per year should be around $2,500.
Here are some things to consider so you can avoid expensive roof repair costs:
1. Get regular inspection — If you have an older house, you should inspect the roof twice a year. For brand-new homes, you can wait at least a couple of years before hiring a professional. It also depends on the material used for your roof. An extensive inspection will only cost you around $200-300, so you can quickly come up with the money every six months.
Regardless of how tempting it is to do the regular inspection yourself, make sure that you don’t do it. DIY roof inspection can lead to accidents and injuries that’ll cause time and money from you.
If you don’t want to take any chances, it’s best if you hire pros, such as Direct Roofing Systems, to do the job for you. These contractors have years of experience in inspecting and repairing different kinds of roofs. Hiring them will give you peace of mind knowing that your roof is only handled by the best in the industry. Since they can keep your roof in tiptop condition in the years to come, their services are actually cost-effective in the long run.
2. Patch holes immediately — When you notice water spots on your ceiling, do not wait for it to develop into a full-blown leak. Get a professional to patch the hole while it is still small. Doing so will only cost you a few bucks.
One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is to wait for another ‘sign’ before they start repairing holes in their roofs. You shouldn’t have the same mindset because leaving these problems unresolved can result in more expenses and stress.
3. Trim trees — Mature trees offer excellent curb appeal and shade. On the downside, their branches and twigs are also hazardous. You should always trim the heavy branches so that they do not fall on top of your roof and cause damage.
4. Clean your gutters — You should always take time to clear your gutters of leaves and other debris. When they clog the drain, the stagnant water can bring the whole component down, taking some shingles along with it. Replacing your entire gutter system will cost you between $500 and $1,400.
5. Install mesh or nylon guards — One way to help you avoid going up to the roof often is to install nylon screen or mesh to cover the entire length of your gutter. The guard will help keep away the leaves. You can also replace your standard filter with a dome-type downspout strainer.
6. Watch your slope — The rule of thumb is that the deeper the slope, the higher the likelihood it would be for your roof to withstand strong winds. For a subtropical climate, a 15-degree or 30-degree slope would be ideal.
Your roof is one of the overlooked parts of your house, but it is also the most expensive to repair. If you follow the tips above, you can avoid the costly roof repair and reappropriate your budget on other things.
