No one wants to drop large amounts of money for home repairs unexpectedly. Many homeowners fail to plan for things like new windows, updating the HVAC system, and replacing the old roof. The problem with that is that sooner or later, all of these things need to be done on every home, and when we delay the repairs, sometimes we cause ourselves to be put into an emergency situation where last-minute, late-night maintenance specialists must be called. When it comes to roofs, we should never delay. Here are three things that happen when you wait to replace your roof.
Health Risks Develop-
Mold spores on lungs
There are several possibilities that can develop and cause health risks to yourself and your family when you do not repair your roof. Roof leaks cause two types of mold growth; systemic or limited growth. These mold spores begin growing and can produce allergens, irritants and potentially toxic substances. Indoor air quality testing will check for high levels of mold spores in the home. When mold spores get into the air in your home, they are breathed into your lungs. Continuous exposure to a moldy environment can cause or worsen pre-existing health effects. These spores could cause serious infections in your lungs that can spread. They tend to worsen and sometimes cause asthma. Children and the elderly, as well as the immune-compromised, are at higher risk of these infections. For more information on this, read up on it at The Building Performance Institue, Inc.
Structural Damage-
Damage to your health is not the only problem you will have to deal with if you do not repair a damaged roof. Structural damage can become very costly as it affects the entire integrity of your home. First, there is a security issue when a damaged roof has continued to remain unrepaired. With heavy rain or snow, a roof can collapse leaving the residence inside at risk of being hurt. Water can begin to leak into the home causing mold issues, rotting wood, mildewing insulation, sagging ceilings, and leaks around the windows. Animals can get in through openings in the roof and create nests and further damage with chewing and feces. When a roof is left unrepaired, a small amount of damage can continue to grow into a very hefty repair bill.
Decreased Home Value-
When a roof on a home is left unrepaired, the value of a home will decrease as time goes on. With the increased damage, mold issues, rotten structure, the value will continue to plummet. It’s not uncommon for these types of issues to lower your property value by tens of thousands of dollars. Resale of the home will become harder because future homeowners do not want to take the risk of what is under all that roof damage. There is also a huge increase in heating and air conditioning costs as the heating and air will leak through open spaces.
