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Finding out that your roof needs to be replaced can be an unwelcome and stressful experience, but professional roof replacement is actually very beneficial in the long-term.

Just as replacing your roof before it is needed is a poor financial investment, so too is waiting too long, paying repeatedly for expensive repairs, and waiting for disaster to strike.

In the long-term, replacement is almost always better than extensive repairs and here are 7 of the biggest reasons why:

1. Avoid ongoing costs

At some point, the costs of frequent roof repairs will mount up to such an extent that it no longer makes financial sense to put off a replacement any longer.

As the tiles and shingles on your property age, the chances of a leak that you do some seriously expensive property damage rises and the fact is that the only way to make sure this doesn’t happen is to have a new roof installed.

The higher quality materials which make up modern roofs are far less likely to require maintenance in the near future, and even if they do this work will probably be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.

When choosing a new roof, make sure to opt for one from a well respected roofing firm, as the quality of the workmanship, warranty offered, and materials used are all hugely important in determining the maintenance that will be required in the future.

2. Improve energy efficiency

Replacing your roof is one of the best possible ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

What many forget is that the majority of the heat lost in your home escapes through the roof and limiting this is vital to limiting your energy bill expenditure.

Pairing your new Vertex Glasgow roof, constructed with the latest most thermally efficient shingles and tiles with proper insulation in your loft space could help save you a tremendous amount of money in the future.

Furthermore, modern roofs are designed to bear the weight of all the latest green technologies including solar panels which can further reduce your reliance on ever more expensive grid energy.

3. Less Stress

Once you replace your roof, it will be several decades before you need to think about doing so again, meaning you can relax and enjoy your home without ever having to worry about if your roof will make it through the next winter storm.

Nothing is more important than the safety of your family, and a new roof will give you peace of mind that they are protected at all times.

4. Increased value

Not only will you enjoy the benefits of a new roof, but if you ever decide to sell, future residents will too.

This won’t go unnoticed by potential buyers who will be even more attracted to your property due to the fact that repair work will not be required in the near future.

This could greatly increase the value of the offers you receive, making a new roof an even sounder financial investment.

5. Avoid water damage

Fixing damage to your roof itself is annoying, time consuming, and expensive but if the damage leads to water getting into your home, the damage done will be far more serious.

Precious belongings, documents, and expensive equipment are all under threat from leaks not to mention that electrical fires are a genuine threat should water meet live electricity.

Water seeping into the home also promotes the growth of mould and mildew growth that can make your home an unsafe living environment, especially for those with asthma or other breathing difficulties.

6. Identifying underlying issues

Major roof degradation is easy to spot as it will reveal itself in leakages, broken tiles, and fallen shingles.

Problems below the shingles themselves, however, are harder to identify, and removing your existing roof in preparation for a new one is the best way to check these areas for underlying issues.

Warped or rotting plywood will be exposed and replaced, and new flashing drip edge and weather protection can be laid down.

7. Insurance benefits

One of the major benefits of a new roof is that the chances of major property damage are reduced.

As a result of this, the chances of you having to make an insurance claim or a liability issue arising are reduced significantly.

There is a chance that your insurance company may recognise this and reduce your home insurance premiums.

In fact, once your roof reaches a certain age, insurers may not be willing to cover damage to it at all, meaning that the only way to secure home protection will be to install a replacement.

If you are a landlord, it is inevitable that there will be periods where your rental properties are unoccupied.

Whether home improvement work is being done or you are waiting on new tenants moving in, it is vital that security is maintained throughout the void period.

To help protect your investment and keep your property as safe as possible at this time follow these top vacant property security tips:

Do a full inspection

No two properties are the same and the key to developing an effective security plan is to inspect the entire property before leaving.

Not only should inspections be conducted at the start of the void period but, if possible, at regular intervals throughout to ensure the ongoing maintenance of your security measures.

Some of the key things to look for during a void property inspection include:

Locks

Check that all doors and windows are locked, including those attached to garages and sheds.

Many intruders are accomplished lock pickers so make sure to install the latest most secure locks and consult with a professional security firm who will be able to advise on the most effective units.

Maintain alarms and CCTV

Installing burglar alarms and CCTV systems are the most effective measures you can take to guard against criminal activity on a void property, but only if they are in good working order.

Check the condition and operation of your alarms and CCTV on a regular basis or select a monitored security system that will be maintained by a professional security firm.

Review Security Footage

A quick look around your property can only tell you so much and reviewing your CCTV footage is a good way to ensure you haven’t missed any security breaches.

If you do find an issue, such as a break-in, CCTV is the best way to determine exactly what happened, how your security was compromised, and what needs to be done to prevent a similar event from occurring in the future.

Deter Criminals

Active preventative measures such as alarms and security locks are great but the most effective way to prevent crime from occurring in your vacant property is to deter intruders from targeting you in the first place.

Here are some of the best ways to deter burglars from attempting to gain access to your property:

Install Lighting

Lighting is a good way to give the appearance of activity even when no one is currently inside the property.

If no one is able to visit the property on a regular basis consider installing lights on a timer that come on automatically to mimic those of similar occupied buildings.

Another option is smart lights which can be activated remotely via a mobile app.

Avoid the common signs of an empty home

Experienced burglars will no exactly what to look for when scouting out vacant homes.

Taking steps to prevent these signs being present on your property is a good idea.

For example, diverting post is one way to avoid letters piling up outside the property, a clear indication no-one is home.

If you are friendly with the neighbours consider asking them to park their car on your driveway whilst the property is vacant to avoid an empty appearance and ask a trusted person to visit on a semi-regular basis.

Make your security highly visible

CCTV and burglar alarms are extremely effective deterrents to criminals, but only if they are aware of their existence.

Install signs on the exterior of your property to alert those approaching to the presence of CCTV and install the alarm box in a visible location on the front of your property (high up to avoid tampering) so those approaching will be unable to miss it.

Motion activated lighting is another great visual deterrent to potential intruders who will likely turn heel and make a swift retreat if they are suddenly illuminated for the entire street to see.

Get suitable insurance

It can be quite difficult to secure insurance on a vacant property due to the perceived higher risk than those which are currently lived in but doing so is essential to protecting yourself against nasty expensive surprises later on.

Check with your current insurance provider to see if they will cover your property whilst it is not being lived in and ask for clarification on exactly what is covered and for how long.

Be aware that any property insurance you do have will probably be invalid after a relatively short period of unoccupancy so this is something you should resolve as soon as possible.

Get in Touch

For more information on vacant property security, monitored alarm systems, or to arrange for a security professional to come and do an inspection of your property, get in touch with www.v-360.co.uk and our expert team will be delighted to help.