As an investor in Rochester, you must strive to keep your rental property in good shape. For single-family rental homes, the first step is the roof. A quality roof can last for years, but there will come a time that your roof will need to be reshingled. But how do you know how often you should reshingle your rental property’s roof? The answer would depend on the age, condition, and type of materials used in your current roof.
Like in most houses, the roof is often ignored. This is because roofs are low maintenance that they can easily be forgotten. Knowing when to reshingle your rental property’s roof depends on how old your roof is and its condition. Most shingles typically last for 20 years, so if your roof is older than that, it is best to plan for a replacement. Perform regular inspections regardless of the age of your roof so that you keep track of your roof’s condition. Experts at the National Roofing Contractors Association recommend inspections twice a year. You can decide to do these inspections yourself or you could hire a qualified professional to do it for you.
During the inspection, you and your contractor must be keen to spot common warning signs of your roof starting to fail. If you see areas where shingles are curled, buckled, or missing altogether, that could signal the need for a replacement. More serious signs of a failing roof include sagging, holes, or water damage. It is also important to check for wood rot and mold since this could spread and cause more damage than just the shingles. Frequent inspections help you spot small problems early.
While making small repairs will help to extend the life of your Rochester property’s roof, the time will eventually come when the entire roof should be reshingled. Determine the types of shingles you have in your property so that you can determine the cost of replacement ahead of time. Composition shingles generally last about 12 to 20 years, while asphalt shingles typically last 15 to 30 years. Wood shingles classified in the middle range have 20 to 25 years of length of service.
But these estimates could vary depending on the climate. Extreme winters, high winds, or near-constant humidity can increase the rate of wear on a roof and dramatically decrease the service life of your shingles. When your property is located in an area where it is exposed to storms and extreme weather, the roof would need to be inspected more often to maintain its sound structure.
Your Rochester rental property’s roof is an essential part of protecting your investment and your tenant, not to mention your tenant’s possessions. Don’t wait for things to go wrong. Take a proactive approach to proper roof maintenance. That way before things do go wrong, you won’t have to question yourself when to replace the shingles. At Real Property Management Seacoast New Hampshire, we manage maintenance schedules and coordinate maintenance efforts for our clients’ properties on their behalf. Contact us today to see how we can make your life easier with our expert property management services.
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