When most homeowners start considering renovation projects, they think about redoing the kitchen, painting the bedroom, or updating a bathroom.
They don’t consider their roof.
Out of sight and out of mind for many homeowners, your roof keeps everything below it safe and sound. It should be paid more attention than it usually is.
During the early days of the pandemic—especially while the real estate market was very hot—supply chain issues, labor shortages, and pricing increases deterred homeowners from replacing their roof or siding or windows, Jim Carroll of JP Carroll Construction said. Some of that has begun to slow, however some shortages remain and prices are still higher than before the pandemic.
Along with buying a new home, many homeowners forego a roof inspection during the home buying process.
“In a hot real estate market, homebuyers may be tempted to remove any conditions from their offer to purchase, including a roof inspection, so their bid wins the house,” Carroll said. “However, hiring a roofing professional provides essential information about the property’s value, such as whether a potential new home’s roof needs repairs or a replacement.”
Carroll also said many insurance companies need information on the roof before they quote a homeowner’s policy. This affects your coverage and premium based on the age of the roof and when it was last inspected.
In many cases, homeowners don’t pay attention to the roof until it leaks.
“Even then, repairs are often put off until the problem is too great to be ignored,” Carroll said. “Roof leaks are more than just annoyances that must be remedied. They can be the cause of severe internal structure damage and can also contribute to the occurrence of mold and mildew which can cause indoor air quality problems.”
There are a few things every homeowner can watch out for so they know when their roof needs to be attended to.
