Sometimes we take our roofs for granted and ignore their need for regular maintenance. While you may think you’re currently saving money, this could not be further from the truth. Not investing in your roof (especially during the winter in Canada) and properly maintaining it could result in thousands of dollars of damage later on. To ensure you’re not suddenly left without a roof above your head, take the time to invest in regular roof maintenance. If you don’t, you may get stuck with some of these dangerous issues.
Expensive Electricity Bills
Yes, we’ve all been spending more time at home – but this might be the reason for your expensive electricity bill. If you’ve noticed a significant increase in your energy bills over the years, your roof could be to blame. When you ignore regular maintenance, leaks and holes that naturally occur are left untreated. Over time they will only grow bigger and cause your energy bill to grow as well. This is because when there are holes or leaks in your roof, your heating and air conditioning escape through them. This causes your heating and/or air conditioning unit to work extra hard. This extra work will show up as additional dollars owed on your energy bill. To ensure small holes and leaks are taken care of as soon as they form, be sure to schedule a regular maintenance appointment with a roofer.
Leaks Lead to Mold
If you ignore your roof and it begins to develop holes, water will eventually find its way in. This will lead to water seeping into your home. By the time the water finally makes its way to where you notice a wet spot on the ceiling, the damage has already been done. One of the bigger dangers of a leaking roof is the growth of mold and spores. Most residential roofs use wood as the base structure. As the leak in your roof continues to be exposed to water, moisture seeps into the wood and creates mold.
Living with mold and not realizing it can lead to a number of health issues. Mild symptoms such as coughs and headaches can lead to more serious issues such as chronic bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses. The mold can continue to grow and spread throughout your roof and attic. Your roof could be infested right now and you would have no idea without booking an appointment with a roofing specialist.
Weakened Structure
In addition to mold affecting your health, water leaking can also compromise the structural integrity of your roof leading to further dangerous issues. As mentioned above, because wood is one of the primary materials used in roofing structures, water becomes a very destructive element. The longer you ignore the water leaking through your roof, the more damage will occur.
Issues like sag and rot will begin to set in as a result of the water trapped within the interior of your roof. Years of this will challenge the structural integrity of your roof and could eventually lead to your roof collapsing in parts. To ensure this doesn’t happen because of a tiny leak, connect with a roofing expert who can properly assess your roof for water damage.
Lowered Property Value
If you’re thinking about selling your home in the near future, you will want to ensure your roof is in proper working condition. Trying to sell a home with a damaged roof is not a good idea. One of the main things looked at by home inspectors is the roof. New home buyers are always interested to know about the age and quality of the roof. If you neglect your roof, not only will you likely have to pay for it to be replaced by the new homeowners, but your home will also sell for much less. This means that all the money you thought you were saving by not having regular maintenance checks will have to be spent on fixing it anyways. You can avoid having to pay for a new roof you won’t be able to use by scheduling regular maintenance checks while you still live there.
Safety Hazards
Even if you’re not planning on selling, why would you want to live in a home with a dangerous and dilapidated roof above your head? Ignoring your roof for an extended amount of time only increases the risk of danger living under it. Years of water damage, mold and rot will continue to compromise the structural integrity of your roof. Eventually, your roof could cave in. This is not only a danger to your home itself but to your entire family living within. A roof is meant to protect your loved ones from the elements outside. If it is not properly maintained it could eventually end up hurting them. Do not risk your safety to save a few hundred dollars.
Below are the average costs of Roofing services across different cities in Canada:
| City | Average | Minimum | Maximum |
| Barrie | $2,995 | $100 | $27,200 |
| Calgary | $1,872 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Edmonton | $2,124 | $100 | $40,000 |
| Hamilton | $3,259 | $100 | $34,000 |
| Oshawa | $2,116 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Ottawa | $2,046 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Toronto | $2,968 | $100 | $50,000 |
| Vancouver | $2,742 | $100 | $50,000 |
*Costs based on 12850 verified Canadian homeowner reviews as of March 2022
Now that you’re aware of the dangers associated with an unmaintained roof, there’s only one thing left to do: book an appointment with a roofing company. Spending the money now for a roof inspection could end up saving you thousands in the long run. Not only will regular roof maintenance save you money, but it could end up saving your entire home and family. Take the time now to have your roof checked out by a pro. You’ll be glad you did.
Article updated on June 14, 2022.
