More than four in 10 homeowners have experienced damage to their home from drastic weather changes in the fall and winter, according to a new survey. The survey of 2,000 homeowners found that extreme weather has caused issues for 45 percent of homeowners – and the cost of fixing their properties adds up.
The average cost per year for those who experience weather-related damage is $3,497.
On average, homeowners surveyed have lived in their current house for eight years, which means repair costs could add up to nearly $30K.
With that price tag and upcoming weather changes in fall and winter, it seems homeowners would be doing what they can to prepare – but that might not be the case.
Commissioned by Owens Corning Roofing and conducted by OnePoll in advance of National Preparedness Month, the survey found that a surprising 56 percent of homeowners admit to taking an “ignorance is bliss” approach to home repairs and changing weather.
Of the 87 percent of homeowners who have experienced an issue, they currently have an average of three issues. The top issues Americans have faced in their homes include pests (such as mice/rats, termites and carpenter ants), drafty doors/windows and leaky roofs.
Fifty-one percent of those who’ve had an issue in their house say changing weather in the fall and winter was the catalyst – with those in the West and the Northeast most likely to agree (64 percent, each.)
Even then, 38 percent of homeowners aren’t planning to take any steps to prepare their home for the changing weather during the fall and winter months.
“Preparing in advance for seasonal weather changes is key to helping eliminate repairs that may arise,” said Jason Lewinski, Marketing Leader at Owens Corning. “We strongly encourage routine inspections to help identify any issues leading into the changing weather.”
For those who are planning to prepare their home (62 percent), over half (59 percent) have already conducted a roof check, while others have cleaned out the gutters to prevent ice dams (58 percent) or caulked around the windows and installed weather stripping for doors (57 percent).
But that might not be enough, as homeowners are not likely to contact a professional on a regular basis. The survey found that on average it’s been three years since homeowners have had a professional look at their home.
“While hiring a professional might sound expensive, it will save you in the long run from unexpected damage that can add up quick,” continued Lewinski. “Programs like Owens Corning Roofing Platinum Preferred Contractor Network can give you the peace of mind that trusted local experts, backed by a major national manufacturer, are available to help and do great work.”
Looking for a trustworthy and reliable roofing contractor in your area, but don’t know where to start? Visit the ‘Find a Contractor’ page at OwensCorning.com for a complete list of independent Owens Corning Roofing Platinum Preferred and Preferred Contractors.
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