Year after year, it’s easy to find excuses not to replace an old roof. Roofs are expensive and can take some time to replace. However, there’s a good reason for the cost and care that are put into installing roofs: They serve a lot of important purposes as part of your home. Let’s look at some of the ways that an old roof can seriously compromise the safety of your home, your utility bills, and the overall pleasantness of your house as a place to live.
Don’t Let in the Pests!
Old roofs have a tendency to develop weak spots or holes where the materials have been repeatedly stressed or hit by branches, hail, or other objects. These areas become targets for pests that are looking for a place to nest. Opossums, rats, bats, and raccoons are opportunists that will take advantage of an old roof to burrow into your attic or crawlspace. Although these animals might look cuddly, they all carry parasites and diseases that can travel to your pets or even your family members if they get into your food or attack someone in your home. By scheduling roof repair in Roswell to occur before pests customarily look for shelter in the autumn, you can avoid the worry and other problems that come with having a pest infestation.
Attic Air Flow Issues
When roofs start to get old, the ventilation they provide to the upper portions of your home is compromised. When air flow is compromised, mildew and mold begin to form with the help of the condensation that gathers around your roofing materials. This speeds the deterioration of your roof and makes it less stable. Mildew and mold can spread wherever there is lack of sunlight and a preponderance of moisture, so it’s possible for the problems to go from your attic to other areas of your ceiling. All in all, this is an undesirable situation that can cause more damage in the future.
Expensive Energy Bills
Your roof is the cap on the top of your house that prevents energy loss. When your home is warm in the winter, the insulation and integrity of your roof keeps that heat from escaping into the atmosphere. The same situation applies in the summer with cool air. If your roof has holes or other progressive damage, your utility bills will steadily climb. To compensate, your AC and furnace have to work harder to keep your home at the same temperatures. To keep your HVAC system in good condition and your home’s climate easier to control, get your roof fixed before it develops serious issues.
Flooding and Water Damage
Rain, sleet, hail, and ice storms can all cause moisture to become trapped in an old roof. As the years go by, roofs can sag or develop dents in places. This can cause areas where ice dams or large puddles of water can collect. Once these breach the top layer of your roof, you’ll get flooding and other unfortunate results. Making sure to time your roof repair to take place before your roof develops serious issues can save you time, money, and worry in the long run.
