Each year, seven percent of Americans re-roof their homes. Before they got to that point, they came across several different roofing costs. Like everything else with homeownership, there are expected costs and unexpected costs related to your roof. To get ahead of these expenses, you need to know what to include in your budget.
Expected Expenses
Expected expenses are things you should plan to pay for every single year without fail. These costs are about maintenance and finding potential problems before they become a financial burden.
Roof Inspection
The first and possibly most important expense is roof inspections. You should have your roof inspected twice a year. Ideally, these inspections will be before and after hurricane season. That way, you can repair any issues before extreme weather makes them worse and repair any problem hurricanes cause.
When you get an inspection, the inspector will examine the interior and exterior structure of your roof. They’ll tell you about any missing shingles or cracks that you need to repair. Then, they’ll look in your attic for any signs of leaks.
For some, inspections can feel unimportant and like a waste of money. But anyone who gets regular roof inspections can tell you that they’re valuable because they allow you to fix minor issues before they become expensive, unexpected roofing costs.
Cleaning Gutters
It may not seem like a roof expense, but cleaning your gutters is one of the best ways to maintain your roof. When your gutters are dirty and clogged, the water has nowhere to go. So, instead of safely exiting your roofing system, the water sits in your gutters and causes leaks, rot, and mold.
You should get your gutters cleaned at least twice a year; around the same time you get your inspections. If you live near a tree that sheds a lot of leaves or pine needles, it may be a good idea to get them cleaned every three months.
Unexpected Expenses
Unexpected expenses are going to be more expensive, but you can prevent some of them by staying up to date with your expected roofing costs. The key is to perform proper roof maintenance.
Roof Repairs
Possible roof repairs can be missing or cracked shingles, leaks, wood rot, gutter repair, and more. You’ll likely discover needed repairs through roof inspections or leaks. The longer you wait to address these problems, the more expensive they will be to repair.
You should replace cracked or missing shingles, remove wood rot, remediate mold, and fix all broken, cracked, or missing gutters. Water infiltration and mold are serious issues that could affect the health of your family. Although these costs are unexpected, you shouldn’t hesitate to have them fixed.
Roof Replacement
Asphalt shingles have a 15–30-year life span, and wood shingles last about 20-25 years. So, there’s a good chance that you will have to eventually replace your roof. This probably isn’t an unexpected expense if you need to replace your roof due to
There are instances where a roof replacement may come out of the blue. In situations of extreme weather, like hurricane season, your roof can take a severe beating. If the winds are strong enough and your roof already has weak areas, one hurricane could completely destroy your roofing structure in a worst-case scenario.
It’s rare but not impossible. That’s why roof inspections and repairs are so important.
Roofing Costs in South Florida
If you want to learn more about roofing costs in South Florida or get an estimate for roof repair, call AABCO Roofing at 954-426-8500. We’ll send one of our inspectors to your home as soon as possible to get started.
