Tips to Maintain Your Roof
The standard shingle roof will last around 20-25 years, depending on damage and natural wear and tear. Other types of roofing materials last longer, but are more expensive to install.
The amount and level of care you give your roof along the way can reduce or extend the time between new roof replacements. If you are good about maintaining your roof, you could end up only having to replace your roof once in your lifetime, so long as you give it the maintenance it requires.
Installing a new roof is expensive regardless of the type of roof. You’re better off doing maintenance and small repairs as needed in order to help extend the lifetime of your home’s roof.
If you are not confident in your roofing skills – or just don’t like the idea of climbing a ladder – you can call a licensed, certified roofer to help you with all of your maintenance and roof repair needs.
PREVENTATIVE ROOF CARE
Doing projects to prevent roof damage before it occurs is the cheapest route to extend the lifetime of your home’s roof. Here are a couple of preventative care ideas for your home’s roof:
Cut branches hanging over your roof. Gusting winds and rain storms can break branches and even knock over whole trees. Decaying, dying trees can 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 even 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 overflow into your landscaping. You can install gutter guards yourself or leave the job to a roofer or gutter cleaning company.
Schedule routine inspections. Shingles begin to lose asphalt granules after only a couple of years, and metal roofs will be dented or begin to show signs of aging like rust or tarnish. Having inspections done by a roofing pro can let you know if there’s an issue that needs to be taken care of.
Apply a roof coating. Roof coatings replenish the oils from roof 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 options so you can feel safe about applying these coatings on your home, where they will inevitably run off and come in contact with your children, pets and lawn.
Ensure your insulation and ventilation systems are in good condition. Too much or too little insulation can create a condensation problem. Lack of ventilation can lead to trapped moisture. This can quickly result in mold and mildew growth, as well as odors inside of your home. Besides being a nuisance, mold and mildew will eat away at wood and other home materials, damaging your home’s structure.
ROUTINE ROOF MAINTENANCE
From time to time, you’ll have to complete some general maintenance on your home’s roof. If this is done often enough, you’ll help prevent leaks and extend the lifespan of your roof, regardless of the type.
Do these projects at least once a year to prevent damages and keep your home’s roof looking good:
Roof cleaning. Cleaning a roof removes debris, mold and dirt. This will reduce the risk of pests building nests on your home’s roof, and it will renew the curb appeal. Cary Pressure Washing offers roof cleaning in Cary as one of our services.
Gutter cleaning. Cleaning out rain gutters is a necessary part of home ownership. Inspect your gutters regularly, especially if it’s raining, to observe if there are clogs that need to be removed. Most companies recommend gutter cleaning once in the spring and again in the fall.
Remove moss. If moss begins to grow, it means that your roof is too shaded and stays very moist. Moss’s roots attach to roof shingles and other types of materials and damage them if it isn’t removed fast enough. Most homeowners choose to have a professional do this so no damage is done in the process.
MINOR ROOF REPAIRS
Damages will happen, but so long as you tend to them quickly, no serious problems should occur. If you are a capable handyman, you may feel confident doing small roof repairs yourself. But if not, professional roofing companies are certified 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 removed from the shingles by debris, hail or heavy rain. These asphalt chunks help protect your home’s roof. If they start coming off, the roof will start to look worn, but, most importantly, it won’t protect what’s underneath. Only a small section needs to be re-shingled if the damage is only superficial.
Replace fascia. Occasionally, the part of your home’s roof that rests between the roof material and the top of the exterior wall (called the fascia) will need 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 hard to place roofing material. It’s the perfect location for leaks, and it is easily damaged. If more extensive 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 typically the most expensive home maintenance costs. With the typical lifespan of a roof being around 20 and 30 years, you will probably only have to replace it one or two times. Of course, if you move frequently, you could end up replacing quite a few roofs in your lifetime.
When buying a new home, a roof inspection is definitely worth your money. You can include the cost of a new roof – if necessary – in the closing costs or ask that the home seller have the roof replaced prior to the sale. When selling a home, give Cary Pressure Washing a call for professional roof cleaning in Cary to improve curb appeal for potential buyers.