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ExteriorsDesign DilemmaHome Repair
gulliverswift

repair or renew?

Penny Holley
last month

I love the old weathered tiles on the roof of my house and the faded oak/western red cedar balconies but the time has come to downsize and sell. My agent and the surveyor say the roof needs replacing as do the balconies which are 20 years old.
Should I take this advice to achieve a good price - as I don’t mind the disruption but a buyer might mind. What materials should I use - one thought is wood and wire balconies - or do you think I could pressure wash and seal or paint to prevent further ageing? If I replace with new wood it will stand out against the faded cladding…

I’ve heard about solar tiles that look like slate but that sounds expensive. The roof does not leak so would someone repair it and give it a guarantee? I have called x 3 builders in next week but then thought of this lovely advice section….. I was looking up balconies and it reminded me.

Any suggestions thoughts ideas for cost effective stylish worthwhile repairs and renewals to roof and balconies. The house is 5000 sq feet so there is a lot of roof. Are costs through the roof nowadays?!

Featured Answer
  • PRO
    Piur & Co interior design
    last month

    Hi,

    if you could provide more info on why did estate agent recommended that?

    what needs to be prepared? how extensive are any damages?

    if the roof is in good condition, has all the waterproofing done ext, and it's just the LOOK and general age of the roof, then you can have your roof just professionally cleaned, and sprayed with anti moss agent.

    Have the balconies been maintained and treated against the weather? Nothing rotten or degrading? if there are sections that need repairs, you can repair them but then stain the new wood to resemble the weathered wood.

    another thing you could do is repair, sand and paint all the wood, you lose that weathered look, but the house will look more polished, which might sell better.

    These are just some potential ideas to minimise costs and help you sell.

    I would also pressure-wash what you can.

    Personally, I love the weathered look, but buyers like to see that the house was maintained well, so anything that gives that impression will help you sell.


    Comments (15)

    • Jonathan
      last month

      In my experience buyers are prepared to pay more for a house that appears to have had everything done. And personally I don’t think people looking for a 5000square foot house are going to accept cost effective repairs I think they expect everything done to a good standard or they want a renovation project.

      So you should ask yourself have you got the funds and energy to do it. If the answer is yes then replace the roof, cladding and balconies and be prepared for the possibility that having done everything you find yourself in love with the place and considering staying.

    • Penny Holley
      Original Author
      last month

      The agent feels the house will sell better if it does not look like there is work to do that will be costly. Exactly as you say. I think the solution is to pressure wash the wood none of which is rotting but it is very weathered. So I can treat it against the weather? Is there stain that resembles weathered wood? I agree that cleaning and replacing broken tiles would improve the roof.
      I do regularly remove the moss which makes me sad as I love the look but it does damage the tiles. I did not know about anti moss! You have been so helpful. Thank you.

      I have asked Houzz to recommend some specialists in the uk near Reading Berkshire.

    • Jonathan
      last month

      I’m confused- didn’t the surveyor say you need a new roof and balconies? Why are we talking about tarting them up. It they need replacing now they will need replacing after tarting them up too and assuming any prospective buyer has a survey of their own they will find that out, renegotiate the price or withdraw from the sale. It seems like cosmetically improving something that needs replacing is a waste of money

    • Penny Holley
      Original Author
      last month

      Sorry yes you are quite right about repair being a waste. But what the surveyor said was that a new roof would be needed in five years…I am hoping to sell this year and downsize and sadly cannot stay much as I would like to. So you are quite right I don’t want to look like a renovation project. Once inside I have tried to create the style of Amber Lewis? So California meets Scandinavia? So you are right I want the outside to be of good quality. I will get quotes for renewal but what is the average life of a roof? Is renewal in 5 years off putting?

    • Jonathan
      last month

      Your roof tiles likely have a 50/60 year life span. The felt under the tiles will likely be showing its age at 30-40 years. Personally I think it looks charming but tired. So I would seek the advice of your estate agent and I suspect you will conclude one of the following:
      1/ that you want to sell now and by spending some money on the exterior you will get a faster sale for the highest price.
      2/ you might conclude that that you can’t face the building work and it’s easier to take a hit on the price and let the next people spend on the exterior.
      3/ that building work would use up most of this year (because it’s not a quick job and because you will no doubt have a wait for a good builder) and so you might decide to not do any work and sell in a years time hopeful that the housing market will be buoyant at that time and you will sell for more making downsizing easier

    • Penny Holley
      Original Author
      last month

      Thank you so much Jonathan. That is so helpful and knowledgeable. Your time spent setting out these choices is much appreciated. I am not looking forward to the next year but I do want to sell so it looks like it’s time to invest the money and effort. Any builder/roofer recommendations most welcome willing/able to work in Reading area.

    • PRO
      Piur & Co interior design
      last month

      Did the surveyor specify what needs to be replaced?

      I do think the notion of replacing a roof in 5 years would be off-putting to the buyers.

      So in regards to the roof, I do think it would be good to address that so it's not something that would put off buyers.

      In regards to the balcony and other wooden elements, You can hire a professional to come and inspect, if any bits need addressing replacing, sort that, out and restore it to a more polished standard.

      You can get everything sanded and then varnished, or painted, as the wood needs protection against the outside elements. So it's not just a matter of looks, but also protection and longevity which is important to any buyer. In regards to the average life of a roof, it varies but generally, for the old tiled roof, it's 20-25 years. So yeah replacing after 5 years is not ideal for a buyer in my opinion. But newer or different materials can easily give you 50 years or more.

      it depends on the material degradation.

      Metal roofs have generally the longest lifespan and lowest maintenance, but can be noisier when it rains if not very well insulated.

      I think there needs to be a balance between restoring and ripping things out and getting everything new.

      If something can be restored to a very good standard that will be good for 10+ years, then I would say restore, but if something would be just a temporary fix best case, then remove and get it done properly would be my recommendations.

      I'm sorry if I missed the part about the surveyor recommending a new roof, I thought it was just a visual appeal from the perspective of the estate agent.




    • PRO
      Piur & Co interior design
      last month

      In regards to the paint, or varnish for the wood, I would ask the estate agent, and also check properties in the area that have been recently sold for the top money, but also keep in mind your house esthetic.

    • Penny Holley
      Original Author
      last month

      Thank you so much Piur Design. I’ve just sent you a message on your website to thank you. Excellent advice and very thoughtful. I do also have some interior choices to make and can send pictures.

    • Daisy England
      last month

      In your situation l would leave it alone. It’s a beautiful house. Roofing tiles might be a standard choice but refurbishing the timber works offers more choice and regardless of what you choose how will you know the prospective buyers like what you’ve chosen? Reflect all this in your reduced price, let the buyer make their own personal choices and take the hit on price.

    • Penny Holley
      Original Author
      last month

      That’s very wise and thank you so much for your comments.

    • Angie
      last month

      I’m with Daisy on this, price accordingly and let the new owners take it from there. It is a lovely house, I should think there will be plenty of demand. You could always review things if you don’t get a buyer. You could get some quotes to give an idea how to price the property, and for prospective buyers to know what they’re taking on. But you’ll save yourself a lot of upheaval by not having works done yourself. Good luck!

    • Penny Holley
      Original Author
      last month

      I’m nervous of pressure washing but it definitely needs cleaning. I am going to test a small section . I will test shades of Osmos oil separately in case the expense is justified by the improvement. I totally agree that a buyer will put their own stamp. I do want the wood to be recently maintained so a buyer does not feel it’s a problem they have to address. But I agree not to renew but to clean and to price accordingly. You have all been so helpful. What a great community.

    • Sonia
      last month

      I personally wouldn’t do a thing. Price it correctly. See if you get any interest first, if you don’t then try to get feedback if possible from estate agent as to why viewers were not interested. New owners will do their own updates anyway so why spend all that money? Your house is beautiful as it is and as long as everything is sound then no need to do much.

      When we sold my mums house,the new owner ripped out a beautiful marble fireplace and painted the lovely oak flooring - sacrilege! I only knew this as he rented it out for a while and I saw the pictures online. What I’m trying to say is whatever you do may not be to a new owners taste and they may well change things.

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