As an investor in Sammamish, make a strong effort 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 what should be the frequency when it comes to having to reshingle your rental property’s roof? To have an accurate answer to the question, you should gather information about 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 don’t need much maintenance so it is easy to forget about them. Consider the condition of your roof and determine how old it is before you decide to reshingle your rental property’s roof. Most types of shingles last for 20 years, so if your roof is older than that, it might be time for a replacement. Just because your roof is fairly new, it does not exempt you from doing regular inspections as this is important to know your roof’s condition at any given time. Experts at the National Roofing Contractors Association recommend inspections twice a year. You can do the inspection yourself or you could also hire a qualified professional.
During the inspection, you and your contractor should be alert of the warning signs that your roof is 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. Also, check for wood rot and mold as both could spread and damage more than just the shingles. By doing frequent inspections, you catch small problems early.
While making small repairs will help to extend the life of your Sammamish property’s roof, the time will eventually come when the entire roof should be reshingled. Know the types of shingles of your property so that you can plan for the cost of its replacement ahead of time. Composition shingles generally last about 12 to 20 years, while asphalt shingles typically last 15 to 30 years. Wood shingles belong to the middle range bracket and have about 20 to 25 years of service.
Of course, these estimates vary greatly with the climate. Extreme winters, high winds, or near-constant humidity increase the rate of wear on a roof making you replace your shingles earlier. Inspect your roof more often to make sure that it remains structurally sound especially when your property is in an area where storms and extreme weather are constant.
Your Sammamish rental property’s roof is an essential part of protecting your investment and your tenant, not to mention your tenant’s possessions. Be proactive; don’t wait until you see water dripping down from the ceiling when it rains. Check frequently and do proper roof maintenance. Because it’s no longer a question of “when” you should be replacing the shingles when things are already going wrong. At Real Property Management Eclipse, 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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