What could be more boring than talking about roof shingles? Maybe talking about sub-roofing… But don’t worry. We’re sticking to shingles today!
One of the first things realtors and home-buyers look at when they pull up to the house – other than the overall aesthetic – is the ROOF. Because the national average to replace a roof is around $8000-$10000. That’s the kind of money no one wants to spend after they invest in a new home.
A few things to look for when examining a roof:
- Look for 3-tab shingles.
- If you’ve ever seen a nearly perfectly flat roof with no shingle overlapping, the homeowners probably had 3-tab shingles installed. Many homeowners buy 3-tab shingles because they’re the cheapest option. They certainly keep your home dry, but they tend to wear out more quickly than architectural shingles (the ones that overlap). It’s not bad to buy a house with 3-tab shingles, but you may need to replace the roof sooner because of it.
- Look for dark patches on the roof.
- If it hasn’t rained out, but you see dark patches on the shingles, there’s a good chance the roof has stains from algae which grows in moist environments. The roof may be fine, but the algae typically shows you patches on the roof that are prone to more moisture than others.
- Look for slants and dips.
- If you see slants or dips in the roof, WARNING SIGN! If they’re significant, you could be looking at some immediate roof replacement AND sub-roofing replacement (I guess we couldn’t help but mention it today!).
Every homeowner will have to replace their roof at some point. But it’s always good to think about the additional costs you may run into in the coming years. The next time you hop out of your car to look at a new home, don’t forget to look at those shingles!