Naperville, IL, is no stranger to extreme weather conditions. With enough exposure to thunderstorms and heavy snow, even the best-installed roof can face some damage. You may think it’s safe to leave it on if the damage doesn’t seem too extreme, but that’s not the truth.
Roof damage can sometimes be unseen, leading to bigger risks within your home. If you don’t replace it as soon as you can, your home can become vulnerable to structural damage, health concerns, and water damage. Not only does roof replacement avoid such issues, but it also increases the property value of your Naperville home with a 55.8% ROI.
If you’re still not convinced, keep reading to find the risks a damaged roof can lead to and why you should replace it.
1. Structural Damage
Roof damage is not merely a surface concern; it can extend deeper into a home’s structural integrity. Once your roof is compromised, structural issues will follow. For example, water will enter the infrastructure of your home, seeping into walls, ceilings, and attic spaces. This will cause the wood to rot, weakening the supports and compromising the structure. The worst part of this is the risk of sagging ceilings and warped walls. Naperville winters can be harsh, so this is bound to happen with a damaged roof in this city. Repairing these structural issues is costly and time-consuming. Any structural repairmen will charge you thousands of dollars to fix all these issues within your home. So, it’s better to act early and pay a Naperville roofer a few hundred dollars to repair your roof instead.
2. Water Damage
Of course, a damaged roof also leaves tons of room for water damage. Any time it rains, snows, or sleets, the moisture will enter every nook and cranny of your home. Even morning dew will contribute to the bigger issue at hand: structural damage caused by moisture. Once the water enters the walls and ceilings, the structure of your home will begin falling apart due to wood rot. Even worse, it will create major mold and mildew growth inside your home, making it unsafe for living. It will also damage insulation, electrical systems, and even personal belongings. Even if only a small amount of moisture enters, it will still leave unsightly stains on ceilings and walls.
3. Energy Efficiency
A damaged roof can significantly impact the energy efficiency of a home. It compromises the insulation of your home, allowing heat to escape through gaps and holes in the roof during the winter. That means your heating system will work harder to maintain a warmer temperature, resulting in higher energy bills. The same will happen in the summer when the air conditioner will overcompensate for the excessive heat entering your home. In case of water damage, your insulation materials will also be degraded soon enough. It’s also possible that the water will enter your HVAC system and require you to replace them entirely. It’s much more affordable and safe to protect the heating and cooling systems within your home by repairing the room.
4. Health Concerns
A compromised roof will surely lead to health concerns, regardless of the type of damage it faces. For example, if the holes in the roof allow for water damage, then mold and mildew will develop in various parts of your home, even the HVAC system. That means the air in your home will soon become unsafe to breathe in. Exposure to mold can lead to a whole range of health problems, especially if you have respiratory issues, allergies, or a weakened immune system. You’ll end up plagued with coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, skin rashes, eye irritation, and exacerbation of asthma symptoms. Mold spores will also be released into the environment, making the air quality even worse. This doesn’t just create new health concerns, but it worsens pre-existing health conditions.
5. Decreased Property Value
If you plan on selling your home soon, a damaged roof is the last thing a potential buyer wants to see. First, this will give your buyers the impression that your property isn’t well-maintained. So, even if you’ve spent years keeping your home in tip-top shape, a small hole in your roof will send all your efforts down the drain. Of course, it also reduces the home’s curb appeal, comprising the aesthetics of the neighborhood you live in. Even if a buyer is willing to purchase your home, they may use the damaged roof as a negotiation point to significantly lower the sale price. That means you’ll get back a lot less than what you originally invested in the home.
6. Legal Implications
Yes, there are also some legal implications involved with having a damaged roof. If the water damage in your home leads to moisture entering and damaging your neighbor’s property, they may file a property damage claim. These can be costly since you’ll need to pay for the repairs. Other than that, as a landlord, you’re legally required to address issues like roof damage. Otherwise, the tenants may take legal action since it’s a breach of the lease agreement. If you’re selling the house and fail to disclose the roof damage, you may face legal issues if there’s a home inspection. Lastly, neglecting roof repairs can affect your ability to file insurance claims. For example, if there ARE any pre-existing roof issues, insurers may not offer coverage for damage.
7. Safety Concerns
It’s no secret that a damaged roof opens doors for tons of safety concerns. For example, if you ever need to climb your roof, the damage may leave the potential for you to fall through. Roof damage can also expose electrical wiring. So, you may get an electric shock if you come in contact with a live wire, which can be highly dangerous. Other than that, Naperville’s extreme weather can further damage the roof if it’s not attended to.
Conclusion
Naperville homes are vulnerable to roof damage due to environmental, climatic, and structural factors. If your home’s roof is currently damaged, it’s crucial to act fast to avoid long-term, structural, and water damage. Now that you’ve read our list of risks to consider, it’s time to contact a reliable roofing company in Naperville to get the job done.