Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof lasts around 20-25 years, depending on damage and usual wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials will last longer, but they are more expensive to install.
The amount and quality of care you give your roof can reduce or extend the time between roof replacements. If you are lucky, you might end up only having to install a new roof on your home once in your lifetime, just so long as you give it the maintenance it requires.
Roof replacement is very expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re a lot better off doing routine maintenance and minor repairs as they arise to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you aren’t confident in your roofing skills – or just don’t like the thought of climbing up a tall ladder – you can always find a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all of your maintenance and repair projects.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing things to prevent most roof damage before it occurs is the most affordable 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. Powerful winds and rain can break branches and even push over trees. Rotting, dying trees will also drop their heavy branches onto your roof if they are not regularly 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 on top of your gutters to reduce clogging. They can limit the amount of gutter cleaning you have to do and prevent rain flowing into your yard. You can install gutter guards on your own or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning service.
Schedule regular inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after a couple of years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of age such as rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing pro will let you know if there’s a problem that has to be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from shingles so they don’t dry out, helping 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 products on your home, where they will run off and be in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Make sure your insulation and ventilation systems are in prime condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Limited ventilation will cause trapped moisture. This can quickly lead to mold and mildew growth, as well as musty odors throughout your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will wreak havoc on wood and other materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
Every once in a while, you’ll need to do some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done regularly, you’ll prevent leaks and lengthen the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the materials it’s made from.
Do these projects at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof will remove debris, mold and dirt. This will limit the risk of pests building nests on your home’s roof, and it will freshen up the appearance of your home. Alhambra Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Alhambra as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Check your gutters regularly, especially while it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that need to be cleared. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring months and again in the fall season.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it means that your roof is too shaded and stays relatively moist. Moss’s roots can attach to shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t gotten rid of fast enough. Many homeowners prefer to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages happen, but so long as you take care of them quickly, no major problems should occur. If you are a handyman, you might feel confident enough doing minor repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are able to tackle these fast fixes for you to keep your roof in optimal condition.
Replace damaged or worn shingles. Shingles have asphalt pieces attached to them. The texture can be knocked off the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain storms. These asphalt chunks help to protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s below. 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, letting mold and mildew into your home, and sometimes pests.
Re-caulk around the flashings. Flashings fill in the gaps on the roof where it is hard to place roofing material. It’s the most common location for leaks on a roof, and it is very easily damaged. If more extensive work is necessary, replacing the flashing is a simple project for professionals and proficient homeowners as well.
YOUR ROOF NEEDS LOVE TOO!
The roof is typically the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being between 20 and 30 years, you will likely only have to install a new one once or twice. Of course, if you move frequently, you might end up buying a lot of 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 necessary – in the closing costs or request that the seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When trying to sell a home, give Alhambra Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Alhambra to improve curb appeal for interested buyers.