Taking excellent care of your home generally requires you to complete numerous smaller maintenance tasks on a regular basis. However, from time to time, you will also need to tackle much larger and more expensive tasks. This may be related to major replacement projects or even upgrades.
If you are serious about keeping your home maintained in superior condition in the years to come, it is important to plan ahead for these major maintenance tasks. This includes creating a timeline and a budget so that you are ready to complete these projects as needed.
Re-Piping the Home
It is easy to overlook the importance of your home’s pipes because of their hidden location in your walls. However, your pipes can deteriorate over time. Replacing some or all of the pipes can be very expensive. It is wise to learn more about the condition of your pipes periodically through a regular plumbing inspection. By taking this step, you can better determine when you may need pay for this major expense.
Replace and Caulk Siding
Many homes have at least some siding on the exterior. This is a typically durable and affordable material, but it can deteriorate over time. Typically, your home’s siding must be re-caulked and re-painted every few years for the best results. It also may need to be replaced as frequently as every 10 to 15 years.
Replacing, repainting and re-caulking the siding can be expensive, and you need to prepare your budget for this unavoidable expense. This can play a direct role in curb appeal, pride of ownership and property condition.
Upgrade Your Roof
Depending on the type of roof that you have, it may provide you with up to 30 years or more of use and benefits. However, poor maintenance and severe weather can decrease the longevity of your roof. Making repairs as needed is an important step to take, but all roofs will eventually need to be replaced.
This project can easily cost thousands of dollars or more. You may be able to mitigate a full replacement by focusing on making repairs as necessary. When you do upgrade your roof, consider selecting a quality roof material that may improve your energy efficiency and other factors.
Replace Old Windows
You also may need to replace your older windows at some point. You may think that windows can stay in place until they break, but the seals inside windows can deteriorate. This affects their appearance as well as their energy efficiency. A window inspection can tell you if the time has come to update your windows.
Remember that you may qualify for tax breaks to offset the cost, and you could apply for car title loans or other types of financing to pay for this expense. If it is not yet time to replace your home’s windows, you can consider re-sealing them on a regular basis so that your home’s energy efficiency is improved.
As you can see, there are many possible expenses that are necessary to properly maintain your home in great condition over the years, including minor and major projects. While these major expenses may be few and far between, it can take some homeowners years to save up for them. Now is the time to plan for these and other possible expenses for major maintenance projects.