Most homeowners do not spend a lot of time thinking about the state of their roofs. The only problem with this is that the roof in an important part of the home. Every year, repairs to shingled roofs costs between 1 and 4% of the value of the home. For a home that is valued at $200,000, the price tag will be $2,000.
Water is a big problem for shingled roofs.A single incidence of water damage typically costs $2,386 to repair. If there is standing water that needs removal, the cost is usually $2,688 to repair. Another problem for shingled roofs is wind. That can set a homeowner back $5,757 to repair, this can go as high as $10,00. If there is any fire or smoke damage, it can cost $4,172.
Given how expensive repairs are, it is always a good idea to take care of the roof. Here are some tips to avoid needing roof repair:
- Keep an eye on your roof. Shingled roofs should be inspected regularly, Each spring, you should check to see if any damage was done to roof over the winter. At the end of the autumn, you should go and check for leaves and debris. Anytime you have a storm you should check for storm damage.
- Keep an eye on your gutters and downspouts. This is the bane of many homeowner’s existence. The gutters and downspouts need to be cleaned and cleared of leaves, branches and other debris. After you have cleaned the gutters, you should go back and make sure there are no gaps or breaks in seams. Check the brackets on the gutters. If any are not securely attached, fix that. If there are gaps in the seams or the gutters are not attacked securely, this can cause leaks and damage to your home. Gutter repairs are cheaper to do than water damage to your home.
- Keep an eye on the flashing. Because flashing covers holes in the roof, it needs to be tight and not dried out.
- Keep an eye on your trees. You should keep the trees around your roof pruned and make sure there are no limbs that could break off onto your roof.
- Keep an eye out for bugs. They want in. Termites and carpenter ants want to eat the wood in your home. If you notice any shredded wood, sawdust or soft spots, you may have an infestation.
- Keep an eye out for animals. They also want in. Birds, raccoons, chipmunks and squirrels would love to burrow into you home where it is warm and dry. Any soft spots that were caused by insects can give them a way into your home. These cute animals can cause a lot of damage that can be expensive to fix.
- Keep an eye on your yard. You do not have to go to the top of your home to check to see if any shingles have blown off. It is important to keep an eye on shingled roofs to make sure you are not losing shingles. You should look in your yard for whole shingles or bits and pieces. If you see many of them, you should have a roof service come inspect your roof.
- Keep an eye on your roof. Look for signs of pests, bugs and animals may leave droppings. Check for signs of leaks. If you see any evidence of water coming from the roof, you should have a roofing contractor check out your roof. If you can catch leaks while they are small, they will be cheaper to fix.
- Keep off your roof. Unless you absolutely have to walk on your roof, you should not do it. Shingled roofs can be dangerous to walk on and you can do damage to shingles that may already be brittle or damaged.
- Keep in touch with your roofing repair contractor. Every six months, you should schedule a professional inspection of your roof. It makes good sense to just schedule that in advance, that may get you a discount on the service.
Your roof is important to the integrity of your home and it takes a beating. Rain, wind, snow and the sun all take a toll. Maintenance can save you money.