Roof Inspections are an important part of being a homeowner.

Getting a roof inspection on your home can make a substantial difference. Maybe you’ve been lying in bed, unable to sleep because you’re unsure if your roof is leaking in the rain. Maybe you are concerned about your DIY repair job that didn’t exactly go as planned.

Either way, a roof inspection is more than just knowing whether or not your roof is in good condition. It’s peace of mind knowing your home’s roof is doing its job and won’t come back to haunt you.

ROOF INSPECTIONS: WHEN TO GET ONE

Knowing when to schedule a roof inspection is important. If you were only to get an inspection when you already have a leak or other problem with your roof, then you’ll be too late. Roof inspections will help to ensure that your home is protected from the start of damage and no later than that.

We recommend that homeowners get their roofs inspected after any severe storms pass through their neighborhoods. Whether or not you can see signs that your roof is already damaged, getting an inspection can reveal problems with your roof that you wouldn’t otherwise find.

DOING IT YOURSELF VS. PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION

A lot of homeowners feel comfortable getting up on their roof and inspecting it themselves. While it’s an empowering feeling doing it yourself, there can be some downsides to this.

PROS AND CONS OF DOING IT YOURSELF

First off, you’ll save yourself the time it takes to schedule an appointment. You’ll also save yourself a little money if there isn’t a roofing company in your area that offers free inspections. The downside to all this is that you might miss some key problems with your roof and overlook the damage that is difficult to detect. Sure you’ll be able to identify obvious roof penetrations, damaged or missing shingles, and other semi-obvious ailments. But you might have a difficult time identifying issues in the roof valleys, attic vents, or roof overhangs. The unfortunate truth is, the costly repairs are the small leaks that go unidentified and cause mold, rot, and other expensive damages.

PROS AND CONS OF PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION

Paying for peace of mind shouldn’t be seen as a bad thing, but it’s the only “negative” aspect of getting a roof inspection from a professional company. You will, however, receive the advantage of knowing precisely whether or not your roof is ready to be repaired or replaced by a professional.

At the end of the day, a professional inspection will be much more thorough and be able to identify risk areas and other signs that could lead to problems down the road. This way, you’ll have everything you need to know to make an informed decision as to whether or not you need a new roof.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A PROFESSIONAL

When hiring or getting a free inspection from a professional roof inspector or roofing company, there are a few different things that you should expect. First off, the roof inspector should have a ladder and climb it to visually inspect your roof from up close or get up on your roof to inspect it.

Inspectors should offer a detailed report that tells you the overall health of your roof and all of the components that make up your roof, including vents, gutter systems, and even chimney caps. All of these different materials can be damaged during severe weather.

Lastly, a roofing professional should offer a game plan or scope of how much the repairs to the roof would cost and whether or not it can be submitted to insurance. Submitting a roofing claim to your insurance company isn’t difficult, but you will need a thorough report from your inspector, including photographic evidence of the damage.

ROOFING ANALYSIS AND A GAME PLAN

After you have a thorough inspection and you’ve seen the analysis on your roof, you’ll be able to either sleep well at night knowing your roof is in good shape or get the proper roof repair needed so you can sleep well. When you partner with a roofing company such as Mars Roofing for your roof inspection, you’ll get not only a comprehensive roof inspection but also a game plan for how to fix the damage.

CONTACT MARS RESTORATION FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP!

Depending on how bad your roof is damaged and the extent of repairs, the cost to repair can range drastically. At Mars, our goal is always to ensure that you get the best possible service without having to pay a premium. If we’re able to repair your roof instead of replacing it, we’ll gladly do just that!

In need of an inspection? Reach out to us today; we’ll come out to do your inspection within 24 hours.

Are you interested in the history of Columbia, MD?

Located in Howard County, Maryland, Columbia is a planned community or census-designated place. This simply means that a few different boards and groups came together to discuss and “create” a community that exists as a metropolitan community in Maryland.

HISTORY OF COLUMBIA MD

Unlike the way most other cities are formed, planned communities can pre-plan enough to know and understand where they want different residential and business areas. Because this is all done in advance, there are fewer variables than those that might come with the way a traditional city organically develops.

HOW IT STARTED

While this city may have been “manufactured” by a commission set up by the State of Maryland, it is now considered one of Maryland’s best places to live and work. In 1967 after much planning and work, the city was opened.

Creator and Visionary James W. Rouse sought for the community to be a place where segregation and subdivisions wouldn’t take place or be a hindrance to residents. His hope was that racial, religious, and class segregation would be eliminated in this community.

DEVELOPMENT

Rouse hoped to encourage homeownership and develop a community that would benefit its residents and improves their quality of life. As it was developed, land could be purchased by homeowners, and properties could be built with a loan funded by local organizations.

Other operations included open classroom schools, interfaith centers, and a health maintenance organization were all part of the development and planning behind Columbia. Each of these ideas came from a series of meetings in 1963 that occurred for two days, twice a month, for six months. All of these meetings laid the groundwork for what became Columbia.

VILLAGES AND NEIGHBORHOODS

The villages and neighborhoods that make up Columbia, Maryland, have given it a small-town feel despite Columbia having more than 100,000 residents throughout. One village in Columbia consists of several neighborhoods and often contains its own middle and high school, shopping center, recreational facilities, community center, and biking or walking paths. Four of these villages also have interfaith centers where multiple congregations work and meet in the same building.

These are the villages in the order they were opened to established:

• Wilde Lake – (Est. 1967)
• Harper’s Choice – (Est. 1968)
• Oakland Mills – (Est. 1969)
• Long Beach – (Est. 1971)
• Owen Brown – (Est. 1972)
• Town Center – (Est. 1974)
• Hickory Ridge – (Est. 1974)
• Kings Contrivance – (Est. 1977)
• Dorsey’s Search – (Est. 1980)
• River Hill – (Est. 1990)

Each of these villages has neighborhoods within them, and they’ve all had plans in place that require them to meet a certain diversity rating. This has helped the communities develop in a diverse way that supports the lives and habits of everyone’s history. Additionally, it’s thought that this is one of the reasons Columbia has been ranked the safest place to live in the United States for three consecutive years.

FUTURE GROWTH

Columbia isn’t done developing and growing yet. The city’s planning stepped into a new phase in 2010, “The Downtown Columbia Plan.” A project that encompasses redesigning and adding to the layout of downtown will be completed in three phases. The 90 million dollar plan aims to add 4.3 million square feet of commercial office space, 1.25 million square feet of retail space,640 hotel rooms, 5,500 low-income housing units, and a Merriweather Post Pavilion redevelopment multi-modal transportation system for the residents.

The new downtown area in Columbia is set to act as a center for all of the villages located around it. If you’re interested in living and working in Columbia, Maryland, there are many places you can look at homes or apartments in the area. Realtor.com has several great properties listed on its website. Do note that around 60% of Columbia own their residence in contrast to 40% that rent, making this area a great place to buy a home.

CONTACT MARS ROOFING & RESTORATION TODAY!

If you’re already living in Columbia and you’re in need of roofing services, contact us. Mars Roofing is a premiere Columbia roofing company that can get the job done right!

It’s no secret that the age of your roof can dramatically impact the value of your home. But, something that many homeowners aren’t aware of is the effect that age has on your roof insurance claims. As we go through this blog post, the information we’re using is specific to asphalt roofing shingles. Other roofing materials will be similar, but their rates of deprecation differ.

You deserve to know how roof depreciation affects your insurance claims, so we’re here to tell you all about it. We’ll also cover ACV vs. RCV insurance policies and break down some simple depreciation rates.

WHAT IS ROOF DEPRECIATION?

Roof depreciation is a term used to describe the rate at which your roof depreciates from when you bought it or bought your home until the day you make a claim. Roofs usually depreciate at a rate of 5% each year from the date of purchase or installation. The first five years after installation will see the smallest amount of depreciation.

The two other factors that can also impact the value of your roof are wear and obsolescence. Your roof obviously wears with age, but in some cases, the wear will be more extensive due to improper roof care. Obsolescence specifically refers to different elements of your roof becoming outdated. This can, however, be argued as to how much it truly affects the cost of replacement.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Because your roof was worth more when you purchased it than the time it was damaged, your insurance company will use the rate of depreciation to determine how much money they’ll need to pay you for a claim.

However, two different insurance models affect how your insurance company will approach a roofing claim.

ACV VS. RCV

Roof depreciation is calculated at the time you make a claim. All three factors are taken into account. The sooner you make a claim after your roof is installed, the more money you’ll receive for the claim under either insurance model. But here’s how they both work.

ACV (Actual Cash Value)

ACV stands for Actual Cash Value. With this model, your roof insurance company will take the cost of a new roof and subtract it from the value of your roof at the time you make a claim. For example, if your roof has a listed ACV of $20k and you make a roofing claim at 20 years old, it may only have an estimated value of $5k after roof depreciation. In that instance, your insurance company is going to pay you $5,000 to help with repairs, and you’ll have to cover the rest.

RCV (Replacement Cost Value)

This model is a little different in that it considers roofing depreciation when you make a roofing claim. It’s possible that your roof has an RCV of $20k, but after 12 years, it may only be worth $12k. A roofing claim in this scenario could see a recoup of 100% of the cost to replace your roof through the RCV model. The downside to this insurance model is that it’s significantly more expensive for homeowners.

ACCURATELY ASSESSING ROOF AGE FOR INSURANCE

It’s important to remember that roof depreciation is calculated at the time of a roofing claim. If you have an ACV insurance policy, you’ll need to take roof depreciation into account when assessing roof age. You won’t be penalized for the roof being older, but it may have a reduced value because of its age.

The best way to protect yourself and get a fair assessment is to document your roof’s age and condition from year to year. Take several pictures and date them to show your insurance company when you make a claim.

An RCV roof insurance policy, however, will be calculated at the time of a roofing claim regardless of roof age. That’s a benefit that you’ll have to pay for in your home insurance policy, but it is a huge one.

ROOF DEPRECIATION RATES

If you’ve been trying to determine whether you want to pay for ACV or RCV insurance on your roof, then you’re probably wondering how much and what rate your roof will be depreciating. Here’s a simple chart that can help you easily understand what the cash value of your roof would be on average.

COST OF ROOF WHEN INSTALLED CASH VALUE

20k after 1 year 20k

20k after 5 years 15k

20k after 10 years 10k

20k after 15 years 5k

20k after 20 years <5k

GET HELP FROM THE PROFESSIONALS!

If you’re overwhelmed with the insurance process, we’re here to help you. As a roofing company, we’ve dealt with a few insurance claims over the years, and we’ve learned some of the best ways to handle claims.

The benefit of having MARS Roofing help with the insurance claims process is that you’ll be getting help filing a claim and a roofing company that helps get the job done.