The season of home maintenance is upon us. As the warm days of summer arrive, the chance for planning gutter replacements, window installations, roof repairs, and vinyl siding installments arrives as well. The fact that so many home and property owners use these summer months as the time for major projects, however, means that much of this work needs to be scheduled well in advance. When the best installation teams are scheduled first it is imperative that home owners make an early inquiry into getting on these schedules.
Summer Construction Projects Add Value to Your Home and Business Properties
Whether you are scheduling a gutter replacement or a roof replacement, you can find comfort in knowing that any of the money that you spend will add to the value of your property. In fact, depending on the quality of the products that you use, some return on investments (ROI) can be very significant.
Window Installations. Homes that have older windows often lose a lot of energy from the money they invest on heating and cooling costs. In fact, windows that are drafty and allow air to escape can increase a home’s energy bills by 10% to 25%. Newly installed dual-paned windows, on the other hand, are twice as effective at retaining air conditioning and heat when they are compared to single-paned models. High quality windows, when they are properly maintained, they can last 20 years or longer, depending on the material. For instance, according to a 2007 study, aluminum windows have a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years.
Gutter Replacements. In addition to improvements and upgrades to windows, gutter updates also add value to your home. On average, gutter replacements or installations will cost home owners an average of $916. The major importance of rain gutters, of course, is their role in safely and sufficiently diverting sometimes large amounts of water from a roof. As an example, on an average sized roof, even an inch of rain can add up to 1,900 gallons of water heading into the gutters. The newest gutters are easier to maintain, but older gutters can require special attention to cleaning tasks, important jobs that should be done twice a year. Fortunately, new gutters can come with several features that make them virtually maintenance free. When these new installations are made of quality materials and maintained properly, they can last anywhere from 20 to 50 years.
Roof Updates. One of the most important parts of your home is the roof, and under normal circumstances you should make sure that this important feature should be inspected once or twice a year. Although different roofs have different lifetimes, in general, asphalt roofs can remain in good shape for 15 to 20 years, depending, of course, on the quality of the shingles. When small problems are noticed, however, homeowners can expect spend an average of 1% to 4% of a home’s value on maintenance and repairs every year. This attention to the smallest of details can help a home owner extend the life of this important part of a property. When a roof reaches the end of its life, a home owner will typically spend between $4,761 and $9,314 on installing a new roof, with an overall average of $7,036 spent.
Many home owners schedule as many property improvement projects as possible for the warm summer months. It is important, however, to make sure that you pay attention to important features like windows, gutters, and roofs year round. The fact of the matter is, the best home owners work a maintenance fund into their monthly budgets. By making these plans, the funds for minor repairs are often available. In an effort to maintain the value of a home, property owners should be willing to invest any amount necessary in maintaining the value of a home.
