We all know the classic business saying, “You’ve got to spend money to make money.” We have a little bit of a spin on that: “You’ve got to spend money to save money.”
Homeownership can include lots of projects that could fall within this category: getting a more efficient heating system, putting in new windows that don’t have cold drafts, or something as large as getting solar panels. We’re going to add another one into the mix: roof maintenance and repair.
Spending that time & money on repair and maintenance saves you from spending much more money on larger issues that would result from lack of maintenance.
Not only that, but roof maintenance can work to reduce your bills in other ways as well.
Intrigued? We thought so. Keep reading to learn a few ways you can save money with roof repair.
1. Maintain and Repair Insulation
Insulation is what keeps the heat in and the cold out in the winter (vice versa in the summer). Insulation is often forgotten about, though, since it’s mostly in the attic & walls, aka places that you don’t go to or see unless you absolutely have to.
Insulation is also a crucial part of your roofing system. It often is the barrier between your roof and your attic or ceilings. If your insulation isn’t installed properly, if it’s old, or if it’s been damaged, your roof system as a whole is affected.
In fact, many roofs aren’t insulated properly or haven’t had their insulation reinforced, repaired, or maintained.
Taking the time to periodically inspect your insulation (or have it inspected by a professional roofer) can help you see problems before they start affecting your home’s energy bills or lead to more expensive damage.
If there is damage or issues, spending the money to fix it is well worth your time. This will increase your home’s energy efficiency, help prevent costly issues like ice dams, and identify any leaks or issues that are causing insulation issues.
2. Cleaning Your Gutters
Cleaning your gutters is much more than that annoying chore that you keep putting off. It’s actually one of the most important roof maintenance tasks that you need to stay on top of… not to mention one of the best ways to save money in the long run.
How?
First of all, cleaning your gutters often reduces the risk that you’ll need to replace your gutters, which can get expensive. Neglecting your cleaning chores can lead to a build-up of leaves, sticks, debris, and more that can lead to leaks, mildew, and other gutter-killing damages.
Unmaintained gutters also fail to do their main job: divert water away from your roof and foundation. If left clogged or unmaintained, water can build up against your roof, your attic, your basement, and your home’s foundation.
This can lead to water damage and potential structural issues. These cost much more to fix than periodic gutter cleanings do, so be sure to stay on top of it to avoid worsening issues.
Water damage caused by neglected gutters can cause leaks (that can cause massive damage all around your home), mold & mildew issues, and destroy vegetation surrounding your property.
If you’ve left it a bit too long and think you have a leak, read our article on why you need to fix roof leaks ASAP.
3. Roof Cleaning
While you’re cleaning your gutters, make sure you take the time to clean your roof as well. Better yet, have your roof cleaned by a professional.
The importance of roof cleaning can’t be understated. Cleaning your roof is crucial for preventing issues from worsening including ice dams, shingle damage, and mildew & lichen growth. Leaving snow, debris, excess water, dirt, and moss to grow on your roof is a recipe for expensive damage. These things can lead to leaks, cracks, wood rot, water damage, and more.
Those things themselves are expensive to repair if you don’t get at them early with preventative roof maintenance. That doesn’t even take into account the other costs associated with those issues like poor energy efficiency, mold & mildew problems indoors, structural damage, and more.
Worst case? You neglect roof cleaning and you could be looking at a premature roof replacement, which (as you might’ve guessed) is much more expensive than a periodic cleaning.
Prevent Worsening Issues with Roof Maintenance
If there’s one trend you should pick up from these tips, it’s that fixing issues and keeping up with roof maintenance prevents issues from getting worse… and subsequently more expensive. These tips can save you money and prevent you from spending excess money in the long run.
Need some help with your roof maintenance? Need something repaired? We can help. Contact us today to get more information on our roof repair services or to ask any questions.