A house is the largest purchase many of us ever make, and your house payment is often the largest monthly expense you have. However, most homes require maintenance and regular repairs as well. These range from leaking faucets to major renovations, yet there are major repairs every homeowner will have to make at some point. Here are 6 common home repairs homeowners have to prepare for. We’ll explain why these repairs occur and share tips on how to reduce the odds they are necessary.
Foundation Repairs
Foundation repairs may be necessary because the soil in your area is shifting. However, cleaning your gutters regularly could prevent the pooling of water against the foundation. Verify that downspouts drain several feet away from the house. Fix the sump pump in your basement and seal it against water to reduce the risk of foundation walls shifting or cracking.
When it does become necessary to fix the foundation, take care of things sooner rather than later. The cost of a foundation repair starts at ten thousand dollars. If the shifting foundation starts to cause cracks in the walls, the price tag can only go up from there. This means you want to get things fixed when the doors and windows are hard to shut instead of waiting for cracks to form in the walls and the floors to start sloping.
Driveway Replacements
Driveways can wear out, especially if they’re asphalt. Concrete driveways can crack under heavy loads or due to shifting soil. If you apply a sealant to your driveway, you’ll make it last a few more years before you have to repave the entire thing. Pay attention to drainage around the driveway to prevent the same ground shifting that damages your home’s foundation.
You also have to pay special attention to what type of material you’re going to use, and how you will be using the driveway. An asphalt driveway, for instance, is a great choice if you’re going to be doing some heavy-duty work, but it requires significant maintenance. Aggregate, on the other hand, can also take a beating, but takes much less maintenance.
You also have to take the weather into consideration. If you have fairly dry and hot weather, aggregate works well. But if you live somewhere where you get a lot of snow, asphalt is a much better option. Gravel is very difficult to plow without it chipping away.
If you’re looking for something durable that also looks good, then look no further than paving stone. However, know that it’s one of the costliest options out there. Maintenance, on the other hand, is minimal and easy. If you need to repair a part, you can simply find the same or similar pavers and replace them. Concrete is another option if you’re looking for something durable that looks fairly good while being able to handle dirty work. Know, however, that it isn’t easy to fix and will cost you if there is some damage.
Roof Replacement
Roofing replacements are necessary at least every twenty years. However, roofing repair may be necessary after a hail storm, a fallen tree branch on the roof, or excessive wear and tear. You can fix lost shingles and spot leaks for a few hundred dollars, assuming you catch it soon enough. If the damage is extensive or serious, the cost of roof repairs ranges from $3000-$13,000.
One solution is to inspect your roof twice a year. Look for curled up shingles, shingles that lose their granules, or holes. A good time to do this is when you’re cleaning the gutters, though it should be done after serious storms, too. Inspect the roof from the bottom, too, by going up into the attic. Look for mold, water leaks or signs of water damage. If you find any of the above, arrange to have the roof repaired immediately. You don’t want a slow leak to cause water damage to your home’s structural elements. Once the roof is sagging, you have to replace the roof.
Call in experienced professionals like Semper Solaris at https://www.sempersolaris.com. They can perform roofing repair or roofing replacements depending on what is appropriate in your case. They have been in operation for over 20 years, and offer long term warranties on parts and labor on all their products. They can also install new solar panels on your roof, and one of the best times to do this is when you have your roof replaced.
Check the flashing around exhaust vents and the chimney. The flashing creates a watertight seal on these cracks in the roof surface, and if it is damaged, you’ll have to have the flashing replaced immediately. If the structure underneath has developed moss or water damage, you’ll probably need to have the roof replaced.
Hot Water Heater Repairs/Replacements
Hot water heaters aren’t something we think about until we can’t get hot water. However, you can often detect problems as they’re developing. A hot water heater will often make loud or unusual noises before it develops a major leak or stops working. If the water heater has a modest leak, get it replaced before it floods your house. Rust-colored hot water is another major warning sign.
Flush the hot water tank once a year to prevent the build-up of sediment in the tank. Check the pressure valve periodically, which is a common location for leaks, and repairing a hot water heater costs half as much as replacing it. Watch for water damage in and around the water heater. For example, rotted wood and a musty smell on the surrounding walls mean there is a leaking pipe somewhere.
Termite Damage
Termite damage doesn’t occur in every home. However, if it hits your home, it can become a major problem if not dealt with immediately. Warning signs include swarms of flying bugs that resemble ants that don’t have an obvious source, hollowed-out wood, and mud tunnels in the walls of your home.
Termite treatments cost several hundred dollars apiece, but it prevents the seven to eight thousand dollars average cost of termite damage repairs. You can minimize the odds of a termite infestation by keeping wood and mulch away from your home and having pest inspections done regularly.
Water Damage
We’ve mentioned some of the signs of water damage caused by roof leaks, but it can be caused by other things as well. Burst water pipes can cause major damage to your home. One solution is to ensure that your home never gets so cold that pipes burst because they froze.
Wrap pipes in unheated parts of the home to reduce the odds of this happening. Check appliance hoses and water pipes for cracks and leaks. Replace them when you see this so that you don’t get worse water damage. Pay attention to discolored or moldy wall sections, since this could indicate a water leak inside the wall. If the walls or ceiling are water damaged, the repair bill starts at around $1,500 and can approach $10,000 if you’re having to replace floors and crown molding.
Vigilance and preventative maintenance are essential to maintaining the value of your home and minimizing the risk (and total price tag) of various common problems. However, you need to save up for home repairs because they are a part of homeownership.