4 Reasons to Consider Exterior Remodeling During a Roofing Project
By the time your roof needs repair, it is likely that other parts of the home exterior need attention as well. Roofing and exteriors work together to form a complete outer shell for the home, and any part of the shell that becomes damaged is likely to cause other areas to begin to decay. Before you sign a contract for the roofing work, inspect some other areas to determine whether the home exterior needs some love while the work is being done.
Weathered or Damaged Siding
There are a lot of symptoms that you need to repair the roofing and exteriors. Common problems with home siding include nails that have partially pulled out the studs, rotten corners, joints that have pulled apart, and damages such as noticeable holes, missing trim, etc.
Decayed Soffits and Fascia Boards
The end of your roof trusses are vulnerable to insects and decay. To protect them, an endcap called a fascia board is attached to the ends of the trusses, and the eaves are sealed using plywood, Hardie board, or vinyl sheeting, called a soffit. It is common for the fascia boards and soffits to begin to decay after a roof leak has occurred. This is especially true of the soffit, which can literally hold water between the soffit and the truss because there is no outlet for the fluid to escape.
Planned Home Sale
Anything you do to beautify or repair the home prior to putting it on the market will have a positive effect on the home's value. A new roof adds a respectable amount of value, and replacing the siding at the same time gives the house a complete facelift that makes it more noticeable to passers-by. Making your roof replacement a home remodel is a great way to get more for the house and sell it faster. Installing skylights or rainwater reclamation systems to the home at this time can be especially appealing to environmentally-conscious buyers and may reap more than the actual cost of installation.
Rodent or Insect Infestations
If your home is being attacked by rodents and insects, there are probably signs of the intrusion around the lower portion of your home's siding. Look for small piles of debris that resemble wood dust on the ground below the siding. Carpenter bees will make small round holes that they use to get into the walls, and rodents like rats and mice will make similar but larger holes. While you are inspecting for rodents, be aware of any holes you find near the foundation. These holes typically indicate that you have burrowing pests such as gophers, armadillos, rabbits, or gopher tortoises. These creatures do not directly attack the home, but their tunnels can wreck the foundation, leading to major repairs of floors and walls.
Replacing the home roofing and exteriors at the same time makes good economic sense, but it also makes good practical sense in the bargain. Having a home contractor working on both projects at once can get the work done sooner and result in less inconvenience for your family.
