Your Last Roofing Inspection Was When?

If you're like many homeowners you have never been on your roof and don't know much about what's up there. You figure that if there's no rain or snow in your home, everything must be okay. The problem with this reasoning is that by the time you realize your roof could be failing, you might have already incurred expensive water intrusion damage.

Schedule Regular Inspections With a Roofing Contractor

The old adage is that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." The speaker very well may have had the roof in mind. An experienced roofing contractor can spend an hour on your roof every year taking care of minor issues that left unattended, might result in hundreds of dollars of interior damage to your home. The contractor can also provide you with advance notice of when to start budgeting for a new roof and help you choose from the many types of roofing materials available today.

Choosing Types of Roofing Materials

When the time comes to install a new roof, the material you choose can contribute to giving your home a whole new look. Standing seam metal can result in an antique appearance that might look right at home in New England or Colonial Williamsburg. Metal shingles might make your home look contemporary and modern or Cedar shakes could turn it into a rustic retreat—or at least make it appear that way. If you like Southwestern styling, you may want to ask your roofing contractor about roof tiles and whether they're suitable for your climate.

Slate has been used as a roofing material for hundreds of years, and if you want an elegant appearance, it's hard to beat. When considering types of roofing, don't overlook asphalt shingles because you want something less common. Modern asphalt shingles are very different from those on your parents home—there are numerous styles, colors, and thicknesses to pick from and many are very budget-friendly.

You can even make your home more energy efficient with the roof materials you choose—some shingles and metal products are designed to reflect heat from the sun to lower your summer cooling bills. You might also want to ask your roofing contractor about "green" materials such as synthetic slate and aluminum.

Pricing for a New Roof

The costs for having a new roof installed can vary greatly depending on the size and style of your home and the types of materials you're considering. Asphalt shingles are usually the most economical choice and can start around $160 a square for material and installation costs for an average home. Slate is at the other end of the price spectrum, and choosing it could result in costs of over $800 a square for a new roof to be installed.

The good news is that you may be able to recover some of your costs for a new roof—Remodeling Magazine's "Cost vs. Value Survey" for 2010 shows that on average homeowners might be able to recoup about 60 percent of their costs for a new roof when they sell their home. That percentage may fluctuate depending on where your home is located.