July 29, 2017 | Filed under: Buying a New Roof,Research
Here is part 2 of 3 in the ways in which a roof can pay you back over time.
Most of us have to make careful decisions that will provide a good return on our investments. We have to buy products that will last and be beneficial, freeing us from future repair and replacement costs.
When it comes to roofing, most of us need to make roofing choices that have a long-term payback and return. That payback can come in 3 ways: increased home value, freedom from ongoing maintenance and replacement costs, and energy efficiency.
So, here’s the question that we need to answer:
Can the right roof pay for itself over time?
The answer is that yes, it can. Let’s take a look at the 2nd of those important factors in this equation:
Freedom from Ongoing Roof Maintenance and Roof Replacement Costs
No one likes having to repair or replace their roof. Roofing costs, regardless of the product being installed, seem to double about every 12 – 15 years. That number is being driven by the ever-escalating cost of skilled labor.
In thinking about roof maintenance, it’s important to keep in mind that most “temporary” or “disposable” roofs have 2 lives. Both lives are fairly short but those 2 lives are a Functional Life and an Aesthetic Life. According to national studies, the Functional Life of most roofs is about 17 years. However, the Aesthetic Life is closer to 5 – 7 years before the shingles have streaked and stained and the weather has taken a toll to where they look like an “old roof.” Once they hit that point, even though the roof may continue to protect against the weather, the perception is that it is on its “last leg” and it begins to detract from the home’s overall appeal and value.
There is a funny thing about roofs – anyone who buys a home suddenly becomes a roofing expert. If the roof on the home they are considering shows any age at all such as cracks, splits, moss, or algae growth, the prospective buyer looks up at the roof and insists for a discount on the home’s selling price because they are going to have to replace the roof before long. And, to a large degree, they are correct in doing that.
The conclusion of this is that, to add to a home’s value over the long term, a roof needs to not only be durable and long-lasting but it also needs to maintain a “just new” look that enhances the home. Metal roofs fit that bill very well.
To learn more about how the right roof can pay you back over time, we invite you to read part 1 and 2 of this series, explore our products and their lifetime warranties.