As an investor in El Segundo, you must strive to keep your rental property in good shape. For single-family rental homes, the first step starts with the roof. A quality roof can last for years, but like all roofs, there will come a time for it to be reshingled. But what should be the frequency when it comes to having to reshingle your rental property’s roof? To have an accurate answer to the question, you should gather information about the age, condition, and type of materials used in your current roof.
Often, the most ignored part of the house is the roof. They are often forgotten because of their low maintenance characteristics. Your rental property’s roof should be reshingled depending on the condition or how old the roof is. The useful life of most shingles is 20 years, so if your roof is older than that, it might be time to replace them. Doing regular inspections even if your roof is not that old helps you keep track of your roof’s condition. Experts at the National Roofing Contractors Association recommend inspections twice a year. You can choose to do the inspections yourself or hire a qualified professional to do this for you.
During the inspection, you and your contractor should be alert of the warning signs that your roof is starting to fail. If you see areas where shingles are curled, buckled, or missing altogether, that could signal the need for a replacement. More serious signs of a failing roof include sagging, holes, or water damage. Be sure to check for wood rot and mold as these could spread and damage more than just the shingles. When inspections are done frequently, small problems are identified and addressed early.
While making small repairs will help to extend the life of your El Segundo property’s roof, the time will eventually come when the entire roof should be reshingled. Depending on the types of shingles your property has, you can estimate the cost for its replacement in advance. Composition shingles generally last about 12 to 20 years, while asphalt shingles typically last 15 to 30 years. Wood shingles belong to the middle range bracket and have about 20 to 25 years of service.
But if you factor in the climate, these estimates may be different. Extreme winters, high winds, or near-constant humidity increase the rate of wear on a roof making you replace your shingles earlier. When your property is constantly battered with extreme weather like storms, you need to inspect your roof more often to make sure that it remains structurally sound.
Your El Segundo rental property’s roof is an essential part of protecting your investment and your tenant, not to mention your tenant’s possessions. Be proactive; don’t wait until you see water dripping down from the ceiling when it rains. Check frequently and do proper roof maintenance. Because if things go wrong, there won’t be a question of whether or not you should replace your shingles; you’d be forced to do it. At Real Property Management California Coast, we manage maintenance schedules and coordinate maintenance efforts for our clients’ properties on their behalf. Contact us today to see how we can make your life easier with our expert property management services.
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