How to Deal With Roofing Surprises that Affect Your Budget

As a reputable contractor in roofing and stucco repair, Precision #1 Contractors Inc. understands just how important it is to have a well-built roofing system on your home. In fact, the roofs that are built by our contractors are made to protect homes against the natural elements, especially when they come unexpectedly. 

But having a good roof alone isn’t enough; it has to stay in good shape with regular care and maintenance. This is because you’ll only be able to spot issues on your roof during a maintenance check, as not all of them are easily seen. And with a roof inspection comes the trouble of cost for unexpected repairs. 

A roofing and stucco remediation inspector will often have to get up on a roof and even tear off the shingles and asphalt before they can fully determine what needs repairing. But having no idea what type of damage your roof has doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare for it. 

To help you out, we’ve put together some of the most unlikely surprises that will otherwise break your roofing budget. Let’s first understand how professional roofing inspections work:

What Happens During a Typical Roofing Inspection?

Before giving a detailed estimate, your hired contractor will usually have an inspector check your roof, free of charge. However, even the most experienced inspectors won’t easily spot every roofing issue. In a literal sense, some issues will only come to light after pulling off the shingles or tiles to expose what’s under your roof.

Unlikely Problems Your Roofing Inspector May Uncover

• Inadequate Decking – Decking is the plywood sheathing that sits below your shingles. If the roofer notices that the decking is springy or bouncy while working on your roof, they’ll likely recommend new sheathing. While modern decking is made from half-inch-thick plywood or OSB panels, some local building departments didn’t have this requirement, which means the plywood used will likely be thinner. This is now considered inadequate, so professional roofing contractors will usually replace it during the renovation process.

• Rotten Decking – This happens because decking doesn’t always get replaced in every roofing project. If the decking seems to be in good shape, any good roofer will usually leave it alone. But if your roofing is found rotting or soft when the roofers tear off your home’s shingles, they’ll need to put in new sheathing first before adding the rest of the roofing materials.

• Drainage Issues – This is another issue that’s not easily detected from ground level. A blocked drainage system can result in pooling water on your roof’s surface, which can only be spotted when an inspector gets up on your roof. If not addressed properly, the pooling water will lead to more leaks and even a roof collapse.

• Storm damage – While you’ll probably notice if a branch or other debris piles onto your roof, hail damage can be much more damaging. Although your roof shingles are likely rated to protect your roof from the worst hail damage, small hailstones can still cause problems. Tiny holes in your roof can expose your underlayment to rain and other moisture, which will cause mold, rot, and leaks. A roofer will likely notice hail damage almost immediately, so you need to hire one who’s trusted and reputable.

How Much You’ll Likely Spend

Your price depends on how much your roofing and stucco repair contractor charges for labor, but you can expect to spend around $70 to $100 for each sheet of plywood. However, your roofer should only charge you for the labor and materials used in your roofing project. For instance, a standard piece of plywood roofing sheathing measures 4 x 8 feet and covers around 32 square feet of your roof. The thicker the plywood your roofer uses, the more expensive the job will be. And with the average roof measuring about 3,000 square feet, you can expect to spend a few thousand dollars of your budget.

How You Can Avoid Unexpected Roofing Problems

• Preventive Maintenance Program – This helps in avoiding unexpected issues on your roof. Don’t approach your roof with an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality; you have to step up and make a preventive maintenance program that allows you to discover and fix potential problems before they cause failures to your roof. Make sure to do this with a trusted contractor.

With our services, you can plan out a program that combines regular maintenance checks with preventive measures to ensure that the same issues on your roof won’t happen twice. Our roofing contractors can even point out the smallest issues that will likely have serious consequences, including everything from cracked shingles to mold.

• Conduct Regular Inspections – It’s also recommended by The National Roofing Contractors Association that you have your roof inspected at least twice a year: once in the fall after the hot weather has subsided, and once in the spring once the ice and snow has melted down. With a professional inspection, the roofer will get up on top of your roof so that they’ll be able to see more clearly for any issues that need addressing.

Having pre-existing issues may also set you back up to 20% of the original budget for your roof replacement project. This is why you should also have your roof inspected after a severe hurricane, storm, or other extreme weather events.

Regular inspections and maintenance checks on your roofing system should be done by a professional to help preserve its long-term health and performance. By spotting problems early on, you and your hired roofing contractor can have more time to agree on the best solution for your home.

Having a professional repair your roof is much more cost-effective in the long run than a DIY re-roof since you’ll be able to spot the issues while they’re still minor and save you more money. And as the best roofing repair and stucco remediation experts in the area, you can be confident with what we offer at Precision #1 Contractors Inc. You can reach us by calling (215) 364-5115 or through our convenient contact form online.