You don’t have to spend thousands on your next home improvement project.
When something is worn out, most homeowners automatically think they need to rip it out and replace it. However…
If possible, restoration should almost always be your first course of action. Not only does it prevent materials from going to the landfill, but your wallet will thank you later as well.
Restore instead of replace works for just about everything. Your cabinets. Flooring. Roof.
Let’s take a closer look.
What You’ll Learn
- Why you should always consider restoration first
- Types of roof restoration options
- Benefits of low-impact improvements
- When replacement is the better option
Consider Restoration First
Homeowners are starting to think this way more and more these days.
They know how expensive replacements can be. National averages for roof replacement range from $9,858 to $41,822. Yikes.
Restoration is a fraction of that cost.
It extends your roof life by years for just a small fraction of the price of a new roof. And homeowners are discovering restoration can be done to almost any part of their house. Cabinets can be refurbished rather than replaced. Floors can be refinished. And your roof can often be treated.
Don’t just take our word for it though. When a professional roofing contractor comes to inspect your roof, they will be able to point out certain areas that could use some restoration. They have the skills and tools to rejuvenate your roof’s appearance by fixing certain areas.
It’s a win-win.
Roof Restoration Options
Roof restoration is one of the most misunderstood home improvements.
Most homeowners believe they need to completely replace their roof once it reaches a certain age. However, roof restoration can add 5-15 years to your roof’s lifespan.
Let’s walk through what roof restoration entails:
- Inspection and assessment of damage
- Cleaning
- Repairing certain areas
- Application of coating
- Sealing
This process allows you to address any problems the house may have without ripping the entire roof off. Your underlying roof structure can stay the same while you restore the outer portion.
Asphalt shingle roofs are a perfect candidate for restoration. They usually last between 20-30 years. However, where you live and how well you take care of your roof can affect that lifespan. Let’s say you decide to have some restoration done around year 10.
Your roof could look almost as good as new.
Some homeowners have even had positive results with roof restoration after 20 years. Just because your roof isn’t brand new, doesn’t mean restoration won’t help.
Benefits of a Low-Impact Improvement
There are quite a few benefits to restoration.
Savings
We’ll start with the obvious. Restoration costs much less than replacement.
Simple math tells us that since you use less materials and pay for less labor with restoration, your cost as a homeowner will decrease.
Sustainability
We mentioned this above, but sustainability is a big win for restoration.
Homeowners aren’t tossing old materials into a landfill. New materials aren’t being pulled from the earth and created. Your environmental impact is lessened greatly.
According to recent data, 55 percent of Americans said sustainability was important to them when renovating their homes. This was the number one reason.
Quick Turnaround Time
Since you aren’t tearing off old materials and replacing them with new ones. Restoration takes less time.
Some restoration jobs can be done while you’re at work or out of the house. There will be less downtime for you and your family.
Retain Your Home’s Look
If you have an older home, you know they just have certain character that newer homes lack.
Be it roofing materials, cabinets, flooring. Older homes have it in some shape or form. Restoration allows you to keep those original materials.
Instead of taking things out, you’re repairing what already exists.
When Replacement Is Necessary
Restoration is great, but it isn’t for every situation. You will occasionally run into a project that can only be completed with replacement.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself if restoration is the right answer:
- Does the roof understructure have damage?
- Is there water underneath the roofing material?
- Have you had to repair your roof several times over a short period of frame?
- How old is your roof? Are the materials nearing the end of its lifespan?
- Will you meet building codes with a restoration?
You should always have a professional come out to take a look before you dive into restoration. If your roofer thinks your home is a good candidate, go ahead with restoration.
If you continue to have problems with your roof that cannot be resolved with restoration, it might be time to replace your roof.
Making the Decision
Like with most home projects, you’ll want to weigh out your options.
First, you should know the condition of your roofs current state. How old is your roof? What damage does it have? Is there still some life left in the roof?
Next, decide what you want to do.
If you want to extend your roof’s life with as little money as possible, restoration is the way to go. You can usually get several more years out of your roof by restoring what you have.
You may want to replace your roof. Maybe you just got your home and want the peace of mind of a new roof. Or perhaps your restoration quote was too expensive for your liking.
If you do go with replacement, you can recover up to 110% of your costs when it comes time to sell your home.
No matter what you decide, make sure you hire qualified contractors to do the job. They can better point you in the direction of what will work best for your situation.
Taking Care Of Your Home The Right Way
Think of restoration like this.
If your car starts to give you problems, you don’t automatically take it to the junk yard. You take it to a repair shop and see what they can do.
Low-impact home improvement should be thought of the same way. Instead of rushing out and replacing something, see if you can restore it.
Follow these next steps to start restoring:
- Have a professional come out and inspect whatever it is that needs restored.
- Inquire about restoration.
- Get cost estimates on how much it will take to restore something as opposed to replacing it.
- Think about how you can help the environment by restoring something instead of replacing it.
- Make your decision.
You’ll be surprised at how many things can be restored.
Final Thoughts
Restoration should ALWAYS be your first thought when you’re trying to decide what to do about that aging fixture in your home.
It costs less than replacement. It helps the environment by not taking up space in landfills. You get to keep the look you enjoy on your home.
And who knows? It may even add years or decades to what you’re looking to restore.
The point is, try restoration first.