Home Repair Costs Expected to Keep Rising

A ConsumerAffairs survey finds the average home needs nearly $3,200 in repairs, and 67 percent of homeowners who delayed a repair ended up paying more. Nearly 90 percent of contractors say they are challenged to find qualified tradespeople, and specialty trade wages rose around 5 percent from May 2025 to April 2026. Tariffs on aluminum and steel jumped to 50 percent in 2025; some copper imports and Canadian steel and aluminum later faced the same rate. The National Association of Home Builders reported in August a median 6.7 percent increase in material costs over the prior 12 months. Nicholas Riley of Driftwood Builders Roofing cites rising gas-driven transportation costs and stricter insurer rules on contractors. Janet Ruiz of the Insurance Information Institute says relatively small repairs today may become significantly more expensive projects later. Riley described a tile roof where valley debris trapped rain that leaked through underlayment into decking and drywall. Beth Swanson of The Zebra says HVAC replacement is a huge expense and recommends a checkup once or twice a year. Water heaters last 6-12 years, central AC 7-15, asphalt shingle roofs 15-20, and furnaces 15-25.