Owning a home is never a small expense. Even when you get a great deal, you are most likely going to face additional expenses almost immediately. There is always going to be something that needs done, fixed, or replaced. Often times, people avoid preventative maintenance as a means of saving money. However, this is probably one of the worst approaches you can take.
Preventative maintenance may feel like an unneeded expense at the time, but in reality, it will save you hundreds, if not thousands down the road. Preventative maintenance will help you to avoid costly emergency maintenance expenses. Emergency expenses are always costly because they are unexpected, but also because emergency maintenance calls simply cost more. Having to call a contractor out on a weekend last minute will cost more per hour than regularly scheduled maintenance.
For example, water damage can be extremely destructive and costly to fix. It can eat away not just walls and ceilings, but the wood structure of the home. It can lead to instability and the growth of mold. If water damage goes unchecked, it can result in tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
One home report suggested that normal water damage costs an average of $2400 to fix, which does not include fixing the cause of the water damage. Removing standing water can cost another $2600. Depending on the extent of the damage, the combined costs can quickly reach $10,000.
A common source of water damage in a home is gutters and downspouts. If not properly installed or maintained, gutters and downspouts can actually direct water right into your home instead of carrying it away from your home. Gutters can crack, leak, and become disjointed at the seams. Downspouts can leak or fall apart.
Gutter systems can become clogged or bogged down with leaves and debris causing them to back up, overflow, leak, and break. While good quality, professionally installed gutter systems can save you thousands of dollars and protect your home from water damage; old, broken, or clogged gutter systems can cause the damage.
Seamless gutter installation by professional installers with experience in the trade are ideal of the home owner that wants to avoid costly emergency maintenance expenses down the road. In addition to seamless gutter installation, ongoing gutter maintenance is essential. Once something happens to your gutters, they will get progressively worst and progressively less effective if they are not fixed. Gutter repair services are highly inexpensive compared to the cost of water damage under your roof or along your foundation.
Other areas of the home where water can get in and cause damage are the windows and doors. High-quality windows installation can ensure that they are installed correctly the first time and avoid future leaking or inefficiency. In addition to potential water damage, windows are a significant source of energy loss.
Low quality windows will not provide the insulation needed to maintain the temperature of the home. This causes the heating and air units to work harder. Your monthly energy costs will be higher and your furnace and A.C. units won’t last as long because they are overworked.
Energy is also often lost through doors. Anything that creates an opening between the interior of the home and the outside water can be a source of problems. Similarly to the windows, low quality doors or improperly installed doors can lead to energy loss and potential water damage.
Unfortunately, gutter installation tends to be one of those things that do not look that difficult, so many home owners will try to do it themselves. There is no replacement for seamless gutter installation by a trained professional. If the gutters are not properly installed, they will cause problems from the start.
So remember, when it comes to your home, proper installation and ongoing preventative maintenance is the key to controlling costs. Professional seamless gutter installation, window installation, and door installation is always going to be the best option for your home.
