Replace Your Aging Roof and Enjoy These 8 Things

Most roofs become problematic with age. Fortunately, you can regain your aging roof's lost glory if you replace it. Below are eight things you will enjoy when you replace the roof.

An old roof has a higher risk of water penetration than a new roof. Roof leaks can lead to structural damage. The risk of leakage increases because of age-related defects, such as:

• Missing or damaged shingles
• Loss of shingle granules
• Compromised insulation and ventilation
• Rotten wood and corroded metal

A new roof will get rid of the above defects and minimize the risk of water damage.

Natural disasters, such as storms, can cause sudden and catastrophic damage to your roof. Again, the risk of such sudden damage is higher for an old roof than a new roof. For example, old asphalt shingles have lost some of their granules and flexibility. Such shingles are more susceptible to hail damage than new shingles.

Sudden damage to your roof exposes you to unexpected expenditures and inconvenience. You don't have to worry about such unexpected expenses when you replace your roof by choice.

A new roof improves your property's value by almost $12,000. Thus, the new roof can add thousands of dollars to your selling price if you decide to sell the property. You will also appreciate the increased value if you take out a home equity loan on the property.

Many roofs also lose energy efficiency as they age. Your new roof can be more energy-efficient if it gets:

• Energy-efficient materials, such as asphalt shingles with an ENERGY STAR rating
• Improved ventilation
• Improved insulation

For example, if your current roof doesn't have a radiant barrier, the contractor can install one during re-roofing. The radiant barrier reduces heat transfer from the roof to the attic, which lowers your cooling costs.

In most cases, roof maintenance costs also increase when the roof ages. Leaks might become frequent, moss and algae might populate the roof, and the flashing materials might start peeling away from the roof. The increase in maintenance costs is inevitable because roofing materials deteriorate with age.

Your homeowners insurance costs may also fall when you replace your roof. The risk of property damage determines home insurance premiums. When you install a new roof, you reduce the risk of damage due to disasters such as storms or fire. You can enjoy even better damage when you use high-quality roofing materials, such as impact-resistant shingles.

Both components of your roofing warranty — manufacturer's warranty and workmanship warranty — run for limited times. For example, in case of damage, the manufacturer won't come to your rescue if you have a 25-year warranty, and your roof is 30 years old. However, you can start a new phase in your roofing warranty if you replace your roof.

Lastly, you will also enjoy an improved curb appeal when you replace your roof. No matter which roofing material you have, its aesthetic value will drop as it starts to age. For example, an aging roof might look bad because:

• Its color has faded
• The shingles have lost many granules
• Moss and algae have discolored the roof

A new roof will get rid of such aesthetic defects, and your roof will look beautiful again.