Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The average shingle roof lasts around 20-25 years, depending on storm damage and wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The extent and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or lengthen the time between roof replacements. If you play your cards right, you could end up only having to replace your roof on your home once in your lifetime, just as long as you give it the attention it requires.
Installing a new roof is expensive no matter the type of roof you have. You’re better off in the long run doing maintenance and small repairs as they arise to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just can’t stand the thought of climbing a ladder – you can find a licensed, certified roofer to give you a hand with all your maintenance and repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it happens is the cheapest way to lengthen the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are some preventative care measures for your home’s roof:
Cut branches that hang over your roof. Strong winds and rain can break branches and even push over trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their branches right onto your roof if they are not pruned. Falling limbs destroy all types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.
Install gutter guards. Gutter guards are metal or mesh covers that can be installed over your gutters to reduce clogging. They can reduce the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and help prevent rain flowing into your yard. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs can get dented or begin to show signs of age like rust or tarnish. Having regular inspections done by a pro will let you know if there’s an issue that has to be handled.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, making your roof last 5 years or more beyond its expected lifespan. There are regular and plant-based products so you can feel safe about spraying these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably run off and possibly come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation systems are in excellent condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation issue. Limited ventilation will result in trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as odors in your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will ruin wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll want to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll help prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these projects at least once every 12 months to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests and rodents building nests on your home’s roof, and it will instantly freshen up the curb appeal. Carrollton Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Carrollton as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters often, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are any clogs that need to be removed. Most gutter experts recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss starts growing, it means that your roof is shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots attach to shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Most homeowners decide to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but as long as you take care of them right away, no serious issues should result. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident enough doing small repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofers are more than willing to complete these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in good shape.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt bits attached to them. The texture can be knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or strong rain storms. These asphalt pieces help protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will begin to look worn, but, more importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is superficial.
Replace fascia. Sometimes, the section of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will have to be replaced. The fascia can leak, allowing mold and mildew into your home, let alone pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in the gaps on the roof where it is difficult to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks on a roof, and it is easily damaged. If more complicated work is needed, replacing the flashing is a simple task for professionals and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is one of the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will probably only have to install a new one one or two times. Of course, if you move several times, you could end up installing quite a few roofs during your lifetime.
When purchasing a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can also include the cost of a new roof – if one is needed – in the closing costs or request that the home seller have the roof replaced before the sale. When selling a home, give Carrollton Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Carrollton to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.