Don’t wait to complete these 4 home improvement projects in 2024
Roof
Likely the biggest failure spot in any home, your roof is something that needs to be replaced before disaster strikes.
Roofs form a shield protecting your home from rain moisture, and the outside. When this shield breaks, the damage can be severe. Insulation can be destroyed, mold can grow, and animals can get in. It can be a true disaster.
Roofs can last up to 25 years, but need to be inspected regularly to ensure they are in good condition and not ready to collapse.
Siding
What your roof does for the top of your house, siding does for the side. It completes the shielding that keeps your home safe, dry, and undamaged.
With siding, the issues can be hard to identify before it’s far too late without regular inspection. While the damage to your home due to siding failure is similar to that of your roof, often the initial signs of failure are hard to spot. While your roof will leak onto the floor, siding can collect water in your walls, wreaking havoc before you even know it.
This is particularly true here in the damp northwest, where in the winter moisture will not be drying up any time soon.
Exterior painting
Painting the exterior of your home is about a whole lot more than improving the look of your home.
While it’s important to make sure your home looks good (and an exterior paint job is a great way to make sure it continues to look good long term), painting your home ensures your siding’s integrity remains. When you neglect the exterior paint of your home, siding has extended exposure to moisture and the wear and tear that the earth’s atmosphere unloads onto it.
By painting your home, not only will you have a home that looks great, but one that is more structurally sound and durable, too.
Windows and doors
Not updating your windows and doors in akin to just throwing money away. Old style windows and doors leak your controlled climate into the outdoors. This leaves your home drafty and your bill sky high.
With modern windows and doors like those from Marvin your home will stay climate controlled. This keeps the bill down and your home at a much more stable temperature. They also have beefier security and do not let moisture in, keeping mold away from window sills.
What do you risk by not keeping up on home improvement?
We’re asked by clients all the time which issues with their home can wait and which are urgent and need to be taken care of immediately. While it’s never a good idea to leave any issue for too long, there are some that will cause problems with your home and build on themselves. These are the ones you need to solve (And solve YESTERDAY).
Read on to learn what you risk by not fixing these issues and which home issues need to be fixed ASAP.
Damage to other parts of your home
Probably the biggest risk you face by not keeping up with home improvement projects is further damage that could have been avoided.
Nothing in your home is meant to last forever. This is particularly true for homes here in the Pacific Northwest. When you avoid replacing these parts of your home that need replacing, bad things happen.
Think about your roof. It’s an investment intended to last 25 or so years. If you bought your house 10 years ago, and a roof was installed 20 years before that, your home is 5 years overdue for a new roof
While you can wait to fix your roof until the moment water pours through your home like a waterfall, think of the cost: water damage to the rest of your home. This leads to potential structural issues, not to mention added stress.
By getting ahead of this sort of disaster, you can save money.
Mold
Mold is one of the most damaging things that can happen to a home. In addition to seriously undermining the structure of your home by rotting away at wood and other materials, it also greatly affects the air quality.
How does mold get into your home in the first place? Generally, this happens by water getting through cracks in your roof, siding, or foundation without you knowing. Once this happens, the issue usually gets worse and worse until you either notice the leak or the mold itself. Mold damage is VERY hard to correct, and you will likely be looking at a costly and difficult repair that may have to be completed multiple times until the mold is completely gone.
The far bigger risk though is your health. Mold can cause serious respiratory issues and even death in a worst-case scenario.
Decreased home value
At the forefront of all homeowners minds should be the value of their investment. You risk the value of your investment big time by not fixing issues as they develop.
In addition to the issues already listed above, not fixing problems with your siding or exterior paint can lessen the curb appeal of your home. How your home looks is a potential buyer’s first impression of your home. This lessens its value and will reduce the number of people who will be interested in the space.
Additionally, a home that looks like it’s falling apart does not look good. You run the risk of angering neighbors and dragging your whole neighborhood’s value down with it.
Lower quality of life
When you wait to fix issues in your home, it can be hard to relax. Every noise, unidentified spot of moisture, or creak could be an issue that has to be dealt with in that moment. It can be hard to not be constantly worrying about what the problem is around the corner.
When you get ahead of issues and keep your home in tip-top shape, you can actually enjoy your home and not worry about it. A rainstorm can be fun instead of a worry-fest where you think your roof is about to collapse!
Not only that, but your home will look great and be a palace you can be proud of!
Don’t wait and let your home lose value. Call Cutting Edge Contracting Today!
Are you experiencing any of these issues with your home and want to make sure your home stays in good condition long term? The pros at Cutting Edge Contracting can help you get your home in tip-top shape. We’ve been working in Portland and Vancouver for years and know how to maximize value in area homes and always leave them ready to tackle PNW weather decades into the future.
Contact us to get started.
Sean Kelly is the COO & President of Cutting Edge Contracting. His background in business, accounting, and the construction industry helped him become the award-winning manager of a nationally-known paint company before joining Cutting Edge.
