Roofing, Siding, or Doors? How to Prioritize Home Renovations

At Weather Tight, we work with people across Southeastern Wisconsin on their exterior updates and renovations. It’s not uncommon to see Murphy’s Law play out—if one thing needs an update, others will follow. So, how should homeowners prioritize home renovations when everything needs an update?

If you need roofing, siding, doors, and windows, how do you choose what to do first? At Weather Tight, we’re here to help.

Highest Need Should Be Your Top Priority

So you’re looking at drafty windows, a door that doesn’t properly close, damaged shingles, and an aging exterior finish. How on earth do you prioritize your exterior updates?

The first way to prioritize home renovations is to look at the area of the highest need. Cosmetic updates can often wait, but updates that impact your home’s structure, function, and comfort should come first.

For example, a door might be a lower priority than drafty windows, but if the door is broken and won’t properly lock, it becomes a safety concern. Or damaged siding might be a secondary concern, but a window that doesn’t close is an urgent issue.

If your home is getting older, you might find that several issues seem to crop up at once. It’s essential to consider each exterior update and its impact on your home in the long term.

Prioritize Home Renovations from the Top Down

So, what do you do if all the home projects seem urgent? How do you prioritize between roofing, siding, windows, doors, or another exterior update?

If all issues seem equally urgent, the best guideline is to work from the top down. A leaking, damaged roof can cause many structural problems with your home. You can face issues with wood rot, damage to your insulation, drywall problems, and much more. Starting with a roof update is an excellent way to protect the rest of your home from further damage.

Prioritize preventative measures such as updating gutters too. Although gutters may seem like a minor investment, they play an important role in keeping water out of your home’s structure. Here in Wisconsin, we’re especially susceptible to issues like ice damming, which can exacerbate the damage to your roof and gutters.

If the roof seems like a problem that can wait, windows are another critical fix. Generally, it’s less expensive in the long run to replace all the windows at once. Financing options can help you make urgent exterior upgrades now.

Plan for the Future

Many home renovations are preventative investments in the future value of your home. For example, new siding can keep your home warmer, thanks to both a proper installation and the protective Tyvek Home Wrap underneath. Siding removal and replacement can help you discover and uncover other issues lurking underneath your old siding. It can also save you time and money with an exterior finish that requires virtually zero maintenance.

Prioritizing updates might look a bit different if you plan to sell your home soon. A beautiful front door, an eye-catching exterior finish, or quality replacement windows can help you fetch a better price and really add curb appeal.

Likewise, updates to the windows and roof can save you in the bargaining stage, when homebuyers might request that you include them in the price anyway. If your home has any damage, it’s essential to address it before putting it on the market.

If you’re planning on living in your home for the foreseeable future, it’s still crucial to address home updates with an eye to the years ahead. You may assume that putting plastic on the windows every October or wrestling with your sliding door is a hassle you’re willing to live with. But so many homeowners are shocked at how much their updates change their enjoyment of their homes. We almost always hear, “Why didn’t I do this sooner?”

Investing in your home is wise. It will help you feel more comfortable, happier, and prouder of your house. It will also keep you from sleepless nights spent worrying about your leaking roof or unlocked windows. You won’t need to deal with wood rot or damaged insulation down the road.

What’s more, home renovations can save you a lot of money. Many updates lower your energy bills by improving the ventilation in your home. New windows prevent air infiltration and leakage. A properly installed roof will help your house stay warm in the winter and allow the house to breathe with a soffit and venting. Siding will also add more insulation and improved weather protection. New doors and windows also help your family stay secure and safe—a priceless priority.

No matter the exterior updates your home needs, it’s important to make sure you’re prioritizing and planning to take care of them. If you need guidance and help deciding, please reach out today. Our representatives can help assess which areas of your home have the greatest need for updates, so you can get them taken care of.

At Weather Tight, we know that our best customers are satisfied, repeat customers. We’ll work hard to earn your business, whether it’s for one small update or an entire exterior remodel. Reach out today to discover the difference that exterior updates can make to the comfort and beauty of your home.