The Right Roof Can Pay You Back
June 18, 2017 | Filed under: Newsletter Articles
We are zeroing in on how a roof can pay you back over time. Wouldn’t we all love to see our roof investment pay for itself?
There’s an old saying that we think is very applicable when searching for a roof:
“Only the very rich can afford to buy cheap.”
This means that most of us have to make prudent decisions to provide a good return on our investments. We have to buy products that will last and be beneficial, freeing us from future repair and replacement expenses. On the other hand, the very rich can lead lifestyles based on disposable products – because they can afford to replace them again and again.
Most of us need to make roofing choices that have a long-term payback and return when it comes to roofing. That payback can come in 3 ways:
- Increased home value
- Freedom from ongoing maintenance and replacement costs
- Energy efficiency
Potential buyers of your home will likely share in this desire for return on investment. This means that they, too, will place value on a roof that does these things.
So, here’s the question that we need to answer: Can the right roof pay for itself over time? The answer is that yes, it can. Let’s take a look at the important factors in this equation.
1. Increased Home Value
Home improvement industry researchers estimate that a quality roof will immediately add close to 70% of its cost to the home’s value. Studies that have looked at higher-end roofs have rated those even higher in payback than a standard roof. While we’d love to stand firm on these claims, we have found that the interaction between roof cost/quality and home value is quite a bit more complicated than that.
All real estate markets are different. And, as most folks who have bought or sold a house know, two things are required to complete that transaction – a willing seller and a willing buyer. The two of those may end up “dancing” a great deal to end up at an agreed-upon price. To a large degree, the house’s buyer will determine the value of your home’s roof. If you have a roof that they want and appreciate, it will increase how much they are willing to pay for the home. On the other hand, if your home’s roof looks ordinary or needs replacement, it will reduce what they are willing to pay for it.
Along the lines of home value and roof aesthetics, though, we advise going one step further. Drive through a few neighborhoods of higher value homes, and you will quickly see that many of those homes have more distinctive roofs. Depending upon your geographic area, you will see the following roofs: Slate, Wood Shakes, Tile, Metal, Dimensional Shingles, and Composite Materials. These types of roofs hallmark nice homes and even become essential if a home is going to command an above-market price.
Particularly with today’s metal roofs that look like slate, shake, and tile, a metal roof can be a great way to enhance your home immediately through increased beauty and value and the “high end” implication of an upscale, higher value home.
2. Freedom From Ongoing Maintenance and Replacement Costs
No one likes having to repair or replace their roof. Regardless of the installed product, roofing costs seem to double about every 12 – 15 years. The ever-escalating cost of skilled labor is driving that number.
In thinking about roof maintenance, it’s essential to keep in mind that most “temporary” or “disposable” roofs have 2 lives. Both lives are fairly short, but those 2 lives are a Functional Life and an Aesthetic Life. According to national studies, the Functional Life of most roofs is about 17 years. However, the Aesthetic Life is closer to 5 – 7 years before the shingles have streaked and stained, and the weather has taken a toll to where they look like an “old roof.” Once they hit that point, even though the roof may continue to protect against the weather, the perception is that it is on its “last leg,” and it begins to detract from the home’s overall appeal and value.
A funny thing about roofs is that anyone who buys a home suddenly becomes a roofing expert. If the roof on the home they are considering shows any age at all, such as cracks, splits, moss, or algae growth, the prospective buyer looks up at the roof and insists on a discount on the home’s selling price because they are going to have to replace the roof before long. And, to a large degree, they are correct in doing that.
The conclusion is that, to add to a home’s value over the long term, a roof needs to be durable and long-lasting and maintain a “just new” look that enhances the home. Metal roofs fit that bill very well.
3. Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is another crucial aspect that will attract a prospective home buyer. Homes that are more energy efficient tend to sell faster than less efficient homes, resulting in higher selling prices. Many homeowners also like roofs that can easily have solar added to them later.
There are primarily 3 ways in which a roof can be energy efficient. Those are:
- increasing the attic ventilation along with the new roof
- moving to a lighter color or more reflective roof
- adding a thermal break to minimize heat transfer through the roof system
Increasing Attic Ventilation
Re-roofing is the perfect time to address your home’s attic ventilation. Recent research by our nation’s leading energy laboratories has focused increasingly on ventilation. It has been proven to be a more effective way to decrease attic temperatures and therefore lower cooling costs than even reflective roofing. When re-roofing your home, make sure that the soffit intake vents are clear of insulation and functioning. Also make sure that, in terms of air flow, they can support maximum exhaust vents in or near the peak of the roof.Reflectivity
Reflectivity, however, is still important and is an area where metal roofs clearly out-perform other roofing materials. The use of metal roofs in lighter colors or in dark colors that utilize heat-reflective pigments has postiitonedd these products as an easy way to make a metal roof be energy efficient.Thermal Breaks
Due to their design and installation, metal roofs can also include thermal breaks. A thermal break is basically a dead air space between two materials for the purpose of stopping conductive heat transfer (also known as “thermal bridging”). Thermal breaks are used in double and triple pane windows to stop heat transfer. With a metal roof, the thermal break can be between the metal itself and the roof deck. This is naturally achieved with many of the heavily formed shake, shingle, and tile metal roofs which keep the metal up off of the roof deck. It can also be achieved by installing the metal roof on battens that lift it up off of the roof deck.Solar Applications Finally, the durability and design of metal roofing lends itself well to eventual solar applications, and an increasing number of homeowners care about that as well. Having a home’s roof be “solar ready” can add value to the home.
Summary
While it is impossible ever to predict the exact amount of value that a new roof will add to a home, the benefits of a metal roof are things that are sought after by prospective home buyers. It becomes a natural conclusion: the benefits of metal roofing will sell faster and for a higher value. Those benefits include:
- Freedom from future roof expenses
- Lasting beauty that stays “looking new.”
- Reduced utility costs through energy efficiency and eventual solar panel installation
What Type of Roof is Best for You?
There is a free online tool to help you in your search for the best roof. The Roofing Needs Profiler asks 30 easy and quick multiple-choice questions to help homeowners decide whether an “Entry-Level,” “Mid-Grade,” or “Investment Grade” roof is right for them and their home. Your report will then explain the suggested grade of the roof in detail and help you understand the reason for its recommendation.
As always, know that we’re here to help. Our goal is to make sure that all homeowners make the right roofing decision for themselves and their homes. We’re committed to providing education and information through our website and newsletters. Please get in touch with us at info@classicroof.com or call us at 1-800-543-8938 whenever we can help you.
