An investor’s duty includes keeping their rental property in prime condition, starting with the roof in the case of single-family homes. A durable roof can withstand many years, but reshingling is inevitable.
What is the recommended frequency for reshingling the roof of your rental property? Before answering this, gather essential details such as the age, condition, and materials of the current roof.
Understanding Roof Lifespan
A fundamental aspect of property management is roof maintenance, where reshingling plays a critical role in keeping the roof structurally sound and durable. Recognizing the factors that affect roof lifespan and the signs that reshingling is needed is crucial for effective maintenance.
Factors such as the roofing material, local climate, maintenance levels, and the roof’s age all contribute to its longevity. Regular roof checks can reveal wear and tear indicators like leaks, curling shingles, and granule loss, which can signal the need for reshingling.
Determining Frequency of Reshingling
Shingles generally have a lifespan of about 20 years, so if your roof is older, planning for its replacement is advisable. Even with a relatively new roof, maintaining regular inspections is crucial to track its condition. Roofing experts at the National Roofing Contractors Association recommend inspecting your roof twice each year. You can either perform these inspections yourself or hire a professional to do them for you.
Planning for replacement costs can be done in advance, depending on the shingle type your roof has. Generally, composition shingles endure 12 to 20 years, and asphalt shingles 15 to 30 years. Wood shingles, lasting about 20 to 25 years, are considered mid-range in durability. Making minor repairs helps extend your roof’s life, but it will ultimately need to be fully reshingled.
Harsh climates involving bitter winters, robust winds, and persistent humidity can increase roof wear, thus reducing shingle durability. More regular roof inspections are recommended for properties in storm-hit or extreme weather regions to ensure structural stability.
Signs a Roof Might Need Reshingling
Monitor common indicators of roof decline during the inspection, which can be carried out by you or a professional. If shingles are found to be curled, buckled, or missing, this usually signals replacement is necessary. Signs like sagging, holes, or water damage indicate more serious roof failure. You should also search for signs of wood rot and mold, both of which can affect more than just the shingles. Regularly inspecting your roof helps in catching small problems early on.
Implementing Preventative Maintenance
Routine inspections and maintenance of the roof are essential to detect and rectify minor issues early on.
Tackling minor issues quickly, such as replacing broken shingles and sealing any leaks, prevents water damage and preserves the structural integrity. Regular debris removal and gutter maintenance are essential to prevent water accumulation and increase the roof’s durability.
Active roof maintenance is an investment that protects your property and increases its appeal and value to prospective tenants.
Your rental property’s roof is key to protecting both your investment and the personal property of your tenants. It is better to proactively maintain the roof rather than waiting for issues to arise. By being proactive, you eliminate the guesswork about when to replace shingles because you’ll be well-informed.
At Real Property Management Excellence, we handle the scheduling and coordination of maintenance for our clients’ properties. Contact us or call 919-827-1107 to see how we can make your life easier with our expert property management services in Raleigh and nearby.
Originally Published on September 11, 2020
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