Boston Roof Repair

There are few climates rougher on roofing than what you'll find in Boston. The combination of high humidity, harsh winters, salt air, and the possibility for some major storms all combine to make the need for roof repair in Boston as commonplace as a Patriots run at the Super Bowl. That being the case, the key to successful roof repair in Boston isn't so much prevention as it is diligence. Inspect your roof often for signs of problems, and when you spot the tell tale signs of damage or roofing failure, hire a contractor to address it immediately. Replacing an odd shingle or two is a piece of cake. Having to hire multiple contractors to replace rotting roof decking, ruined insulation, damaged ceilings, and to perform mold removal, all because you chose to ignore problems rather than deal with them in a timely manner, is more aptly described as a homeowner nightmare.

Boston Roof Repair Costs
One of the main reasons Bostonians put off roof repairs is that they're afraid to find out how much it's going to cost to get their roof back into tip top shape. That's understandable, especially considering that new roof installations in the Greater Boston area can easily cost $10,000 or more. ServiceMagic is always happy to be the bearer of good news, however, and reporting roofing costs is one instance where we get to put a smile on most homeowner's faces. As part of our follow up process on all the jobs done for homeowners who use our referral system, we're able to compile a hefty list of Boston roof repair costs, among other things. From that data we've determined that an average roof repair job in Boston comes in at right under $700. It's not pocket change, but it's a lot less than the price of ignoring the problem or installing a new roof. And when you take into account the fact that around half of the roof repairs in Boston end up costing less than $300, things start sounding even better.

Boston Roof Repair Timelines
The other common roof repair question Bostonians ask is how long a roof repair is going to take. It's an understandable concern since Bostonians used up all their patience waiting nearly a century for the Red Sox to finally win the World Series again. Fortunately, Bostonians have nothing to worry about. Drawing from the same follow up surveys where we collected information on costs, the data shows that very few roofing repairs take more than a day, though some can stretch out to a week or more. Why the discrepancy in project duration?

Mostly it has to do with the cause of your roofing failure. Broken or missing shingles, roof leaks caused by poorly sealed flashings around chimneys, attic vents, and piping, and loose shingles, can all be repaired fairly easily. If your shingles are buckling or curling, or if your roof damage is due to ice dams, then you've got a deeper problem to address. Buckling and curling are usually caused by moisture buildup beneath the shingles and in the roof decking, while ice dams are caused by uneven temperature distributions across the roof. All three are usually caused by poor attic ventilation, and the only way to prevent these roof problems from reoccurring is to address the ventilation issues as well, making for a larger, longer, and more expensive job.

Reasons You Should Never Put Off Roof Repair in Boston
While missing or failing shingles can be an eyesore on any Boston home, the motivation for attacking roof damage as soon as it's noticed has a lot more to do with preventing more serious damage than improving curb appeal. Always remember that your roofing works as an overall system, not as individual parts. Any chink in that armor is going to get larger over time, and, if left long enough, will result in the complete failure of your home's first line of defense from the elements. Take a simple broken or missing shingle, for example. That gap in your roofing makes all the other shingles around it more susceptible to damage from wind and ice, as well. Bring a typical Nor'easter into the equation, with the pre-requisite high winds, precipitation, and freezing temperatures, and suddenly that missing shingle has become a gap in your roofing five or six shingles wide, making further roof damage and costly leaks even more likely. That's precisely why addressing your Boston roof repair needs as quickly as possible is an absolute must in Beantown.