No matter what material your roof is made of, at some stage, it will need repairing and, eventually, replacing. If it’s composed of asphalt shingles, which the majority of roofs are, this will be, give or take, every 20 years.
Is it expensive?
Remember, although roof repair or replacement might seem expensive, it’s nothing compared to what the damage from a neglected roof might cost.
Roof Repair
So when is the best time to repair my roof? Well, before anything major goes wrong with it is the best answer to that question. This is why it’s a good idea to schedule a checkup once or twice a year, especially if it is more than 10 years old.
In the early spring, look under the eaves and in the attic for any drips or damp patches. These could indicate that your roof has been damaged by snow and ice during the winter and has sprung a leak. When you’re cleaning your gutters in early fall, take the opportunity to check if any shingles have become loose or cracked or discolored. In either case, if you see anything suspicious, contact Ridgecon Construction roofing specialists to get it checked out. We’ll tell you if it can be fixed or it’s time for a new roof. If it’s done in time, roof repair can delay the inevitable roof replacement by several years.
Of course, you might not need to clean your gutters yearly, so rather than get the ladder out just to check your shingles, ask your neighbor to let you know if they see anything amiss, and offer to do the same for them. You have better lines of sight of each other’s roofs and will be able to spot things that aren’t visible from the ground.
Roof Replacement
As I said, at some stage all roofs need to be replaced. If you maintain your roof properly, you can plan ahead to get this done when it suits you and not as an emergency. This will give you the luxury of choosing the best time of year for it.
Needless to say, Winter is not the best time to undertake major exterior construction projects like roof replacement. The short days, snow and ice make the work extremely difficult and dangerous, the cold adversely affects how the materials behave, shingles become brittle and easily breakable, and sealants don’t adhere and harden properly. The last thing you want is to be hit by a blizzard without a proper roof on your house.
Mid Summer is also not ideal. Although there are plenty of hours of daylight, the heat makes the work slow and unpleasant and can cut the effective working day in half, and high temperatures create almost as many problems with the materials as low ones.
As far as weather conditions are concerned, the ideal time for roof replacement is late Summer and early fall. The days are still long enough, the temperature isn’t too high or too low, and the weather is stable. The downside is that this is usually the busiest time of year for roofing companies. This means that you will have to book them well in advance, and it could end up costing you more than it would at any other time of the year.
If you can, plan to have your roof replaced in the late spring or early summer. The weather conditions are good, and, although it is a busy time, it’s not quite as busy as fall, as any roofing company in Michigan will tell you.
So now you may be wondering how much does a new roof cost? If you’re in Michigan, our Roofing Calculator can help you find out and start planning ahead for the inevitable.