Much like waiting and hoping that the strange sound emanating
from the car’s engine is going to go away on its own only to have it wind up
being a far more expensive repair, many homeowners make the same types of
mistakes with leaking roofs. These mistakes include:
·
Ignoring the signs – Roof leaks can come in a variety of
forms ranging from imperceptible to waterfalls coming out of the ceiling. While
the waterfall in the living room will likely result in an immediate call to the
local roofing contractor, other leaks will drop hints of their existence, which
should never be ignored. These hints include spots on the ceiling that
progressively grow and get darker as time goes on, a blistered texture
developing on the ceiling paint, as well as cracking and chipped paint in the
areas where the side wall meets the ceiling. All of these hints, if left
unheeded, will allow the problem as well the price of fixing it to grow in
magnitude.
·
Thinking that leaks are only a problem when it rains – It’s
not uncommon for homeowners to deal with a roof leak by pulling the buckets out
to collect leaking water and then putting them away until the next storm
arrives, assuming that roof leaks are only a problem when they’re soaking the
inside of the house. This perception ignores two major eventualities; the leak
is probably going to get much worse over time and the residual moisture that
doesn’t leak through the ceiling creates the perfect breeding ground for mold
and mildew. In reality, rather than just being an isolated event that requires
some cleanup, an ongoing roof leak will increase the level of damage to the
home while also raising the potential that household members will suffer from
exposure to harmful mold.
·
Not considering financing options – While roof leaks rarely
occur at opportune times, it’s even more rare when repairs are included as part
of an ongoing budget. The result is often the postponement of taking action,
but there are other options besides paying cash for a roofing project. Whether it
is done through the roofing contractor, obtained by re-financing the home, or
set up through a line of credit based on equity in the home, financing a roof
installation can get the necessary work done with a monthly payment
arrangement.
Whether it’s a car or a leaking roof, getting repairs done
can stretch a household’s budget, resulting in delays and procrastination.
Generally speaking however, the longer the problem goes on the bigger it gets.
Taking action when a leak is detected and considering financing options, if
necessary, can keep repair costs in check while also protecting the health of
the household, which can’t be defined by a dollar value.
